What we think
Horrific scenes played out at the weekend (3-4 August) as hundreds of people gathered outside hotels housing asylum seekers in Rotherham and Hull, throwing bricks and bottles, and, in Rotherham, breaking in and setting it alight. As the images were plastered all over the mainstream TV and press as well as social media, many Black, Asian and migrant people are now very understandably fearful.
Thirty or more far-right ‘protests’ were called in towns around the country. These racist, Islamophobic events, organised in the name of driving out migrants, follow the far-right Tommy Robinson’s national rally in Trafalgar Square on Saturday 27 July, attended by thousands.
Counter-protests
These events are terrible and must be opposed, although it is also important to note that the racist protests have varied greatly in size. Many of the protests were numbered in tens rather than hundreds. In many cases, the local far-right protests have been greatly outnumbered by counter-demonstrations of local trade unionists, residents and anti-racist campaigners. Socialist Party members participated in and helped to build these among the local trade union movement and communities.
In areas such as Sunderland and Bolton, Muslim youth mobilised to defend the mosques and oppose the far right. The far-right events are rejected by the enormous majority of people in all communities. In all instances where there was violence and vandalism, local communities came together afterwards to help clear up.
And, in a conscious decision, what wasn’t promoted in the establishment media was the tens of thousands who marched on Saturday 3 August against the war on Gaza in central London, opposed by a small far-right group of about 100; or the huge Trans Pride demonstration, again of tens of thousands, that marched on Saturday 27 July, the same time as Tommy Robinson’s rally. Events which demonstrate the unity and strength of the working class are not to be promoted by the capitalists’ media!
Police powers
The new Labour government and media are now discussing if the police need more powers. Police chiefs have been quick to say they do not have enough resources. While many people will look to the police to defend communities and arrest the perpetrators of violence, beefed-up powers could also be used against Muslim youth acting to defend their communities, anti-war activists, or trade unionists taking action.
Far-right individuals like Tommy Robinson are aiming to exploit the deep-seated alienation and desperation of people driven down by decades of poverty and austerity.
Capitalist scapegoating – Tory and Labour
Capitalist politicians – both Tory and new Labour – have doubled-down on scapegoating migrants, pointing the finger at people arriving in small boats as the source of the problem, while they slash and privatise services to the point of destruction, and grind down pay and benefits. Meanwhile, they enable the rich to get richer and richer.
Keir Starmer’s government has been elected on the lowest share of the vote of any governing party and it is clear why. For a section of working-class people there is no expectation of anything improving under this new government. The terrible murders and stabbings of children in Southport have been the trigger for the events of the last week, but the conditions that could enable the far right to exploit anger and desperation were there already.
The divisions the far right try to create would make it easier for the bosses and their pro-capitalist political parties to continue to drive down all workers’ living standards. Already, the news coverage of these far-right protests has quickly replaced the news of Starmer suspending MPs for voting to scrap the two-child benefit cap, Rachel Reeves’s new austerity announcements to fill a “£22 billion black hole” in public finances, and the promise of no money to universities facing insolvency.
The vote for Reform in the general election was a warning of how right populist and far-right forces could step into the vacuum as anger grows under a Labour government. But the massive strike wave in 2022-23 showed the huge potential power of the working class to fill that vacuum with the fight for the pay, jobs, homes and services we all need. Standing up to racism is not separate from that.
Trade union lead
A serious trade union mobilisation against racism and the far right is needed. If that was linked to fighting for pay, jobs, homes and services, the trade unions could mobilise much bigger numbers when needed on anti-racist demonstrations.
Such a movement would go a long way to undercutting support for the far right, as it would be a pole of attraction that could unite all sections of the working class – bringing together the Muslim youth defending their mosques with the organised working class, of all backgrounds, with its potential power to force better pay, council house building, and funding for services from this government.
In 2018, the Trades Union Congress (TUC) agreed to launch a campaign for ‘Jobs and homes, not racism’. It is time for that to be enacted. That should include a serious approach to mobilising for local demonstrations, and providing stewards. Just relying on the police for protection can pose unnecessary risks to the safety of participants.
The TUC and the unions should call an emergency national Saturday demonstration on the theme: ‘Workers unity not division – jobs and homes not racism’.
Working-class political voice
And an essential part of the fight against racism and the far right must be to strive to win a political voice for working-class people that campaigns for socialist policies. At the height of the rail and postal strikes in 2022, Mick Lynch, the general secretary of the RMT rail union, and Dave Ward, the general secretary of the Communication Workers Union launched Enough is Enough. Half a million people signed up, many hoping this would be the beginning of a new political voice. But instead, unfortunately, Enough is Enough was left to peter out, and the far right are cynically claiming the name.
In 2010, the late RMT general secretary Bob Crow initiated, along with the Socialist Party and others, an electoral alliance against austerity, the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC). One of the questions considered at the time was whether Bob should stand against the then leader of the far-right British National Party (BNP), Nick Griffin, in East London, where the BNP had 12 councillors. That kind of a lead needs to be taken now by trade union movement. As Starmer’s Labour government continues to implement anti-worker policies, the unions should call a conference to discuss the building of a political vehicle for workers.
In 2017, Jeremy Corbyn’s anti-austerity manifesto led to Labour winning a million votes from Reform’s predecessor party, Ukip. A party based on the organised working class that fought for anti-racist, anti-war, socialist policies – for the pay, jobs, homes and services we all need – would undercut support for far-right groups and help to isolate the few violent individuals that want to build them.
‘The enemy is the ruling class’ – Liverpool TUC secretary addresses anti-racist demo
Below is a speech to the anti-racist counter-demonstration in Liverpool on 3 August 2024, delivered by Dave Walsh, President of Liverpool Trades Union Council and Socialist Party member
Transcript of Dave’s speech
We know who the real enemy is. The enemy is the ruling class, and we’ve learned those lessons time after time. Liverpool trades council is the oldest in the country – 175 years old. Workers organised across all the different trade unions to work together to fight for working-class communities.
It played a role in 1911 in this city, in the great transport strike, a general strike that was successful, but we knew who the way who the enemy was because they shot dead two of those striking workers. The ruling class did that. We’ve learned those lessons time after time.
In the 1980s, the city council in Liverpool made a stand against Thatcher, refused to implement austerity. 47 of them carted off to court and surcharged. We learnt again who the enemy is: the establishment, the ruling class.
After the Hillsborough disaster, the ruling class made us the problem, we were to blame. Again we’ve learned the lessons, time after time, who the enemy is.
We’ve learned those lessons, but there are a layer of people who are looking for answers to the problems that they are facing, and Tommy Robinson, and Nigel Farage, and the Reform Party, are growing because they are giving them ‘answers’.
They are saying the reason why you can’t get a job and a home, the reason why you can’t get a hospital appointment and a doctor and a dentist, it’s because of migrants, it’s immigrants, it’s because of trans people, it’s because of every minority… The young, the old – they’ll divide us on any lines they can. That’s why they’re growing.
So we’ve got to answer those questions with real answers, that address those problems. Labour have just won a landslide victory, but that landslide victory was built on the smallest turnout since 1918, the lowest vote for a government since 1918. It’s tenuous. It’s paper thin.
But they’ve got an opportunity in power to win those people back that have lost all faith, that have lost confidence that are disenfranchised. Labour have got an opportunity to win them back: Create the jobs, build the houses, build the infrastructure, give the youth the future. Address the problems with the environment, get rid of the private owners of water, stop them ruining our lakes, our rivers, our seas. Take it all back into public ownership!
Last week, a motion was put to Parliament to get rid of the two-child benefit cap. Keir Starmer said he can’t afford it. £4 billion too much. Put that in perspective, last year the richest hundred people in the country got richer by £40 billion. 10% of that and you can take a quarter of a million kids out of poverty, give them a future, give them a decent life: food, a warm home.
£4 billion is affordable, just take it off the rich. They’ve been taking it off us for 40 years! The way to take it off them? Break from Tory policies, don’t stick by their fiscal rules, by their spending plans.
Get rid of privatisation. Reverse it!
Get rid of austerity. Reverse it!
Get rid of the anti-trade union laws. Give the workers the power back to win back what’s ours – what we build, what we make. That’s how the Labour Party could win back the working class.
But if they’re not willing to do that, then the trade unions have got to ask themselves a question. I’m in Unite, Labor’s biggest donor. Are we going to give all our money and resources to a party if it does not give us the policies that can address the problems we’re facing?
[‘No way!’ shouts from the crowd]
I want to make this point. Over the two-child benefit cap, Labour was far as to suspend seven Labour MPs for having the temerity to vote for that motion. Ian Byrne is here and he is one of them.
Let’s call on the Labor Party to take these actions forward. But if they’re not willing to do that, then the trade union movement, with six and a half million workers – with all its money and resources. Take those resources and organise a conference of the working class so we can debate these issues. Because it was the trade unions that created the Labor Party if they’ve left us, that’s okay. We can create another party. We can create a party with socialist policies!
Trade unions: don’t let the Labour Party hand over millions of votes to Reform. Call on the Labour Party to deliver a socialist programme. If they’re not willing, then organise us a big conference, to build a new workers’ party.
Model trade union motion
This union branch/trades council condemns the violent protests called by far-right and fascist groups
- They have sought to exploit the horrific incident in Southport on 29th July
- We send support and solidarity to all those affected by that attack, especially the families of those killed or injured
- With absolutely no evidence and on the basis of deliberate misinformation, the far-right have targeted refugees, migrant workers and the Black and Asian and Muslim communities
This union branch/trades council believes:
- That it is essential that the trade union movement plays the leading role in building a united movement against the far-right. This is especially the case as history has shown, the far-right and fascist forces have targeted unions and striking workers
- With 6.5million members, across all working-class communities, the unions can unite workers against racist division which weakens our movement and only assists the bosses
- But this requires a militant industrial and political programme
- The strike wave over the last few years has shown that workers and their unions are prepared and able to fight to defend jobs and living standards, and when they do so, they become a pole of attraction for all those suffering from austerity
- The vote for Reform is a warning of how vital it is to build a working-class political voice that fights for socialist policies. The new Starmer-led Labour government has announced cuts affecting parents and pensioners, showing its intention of continuing austerity. A party based on the organised working class that fought for anti-racist, anti-war, socialist policies – for the pay, jobs, homes and services we all need in order to prevent the far-right harnessing growing anger of working-class people with Starmer’s Labour
- It is therefore necessary that such a movement fights for the policies that can transform the lives of working-class people, including on jobs, pay, housing, the NHS and education, after decades of neo-liberal policies of successive governments. Motion 44 passed at TUC Congress in 2018 launched a “Jobs, Homes, Not Racism campaign to unite the wider trade union movement and to campaign effectively against the far right.”
This union branch/trades council demands:
- That the TUC and the unions call an emergency national Saturday demonstration on the theme: ‘Workers unity not division – jobs and homes not racism’
- That where the far-right call protests in localities, the trade union movement – including unions, regional TUCs, local union branches and trades councils – takes the lead in organising counter-protests, linking up with migrant, refugees and any targeted communities as well as anti-racist and anti-fascist organisations
- That all such protests are well stewarded by trade unions to guard against any threat from far-right groups
- That the unions fight to compel the Labour Government to implement pro-worker policies and if it does not do so, the unions will call a conference to discuss the building of a political vehicle for workers
Reports: Protesting against the far right
Lancashire
Socialist Party members supported two counter-protests in Lancashire. In both cities, local trade unionists and community campaigners easily outnumbered those responding to the events called by the far right.
In Preston, they could only gather a small group of racists, and some confused youth – even some black youth. But that meant we could engage a few of them in discussion, to explain that they were being conned by the wealthy to divide the working class. One even ended up apologising to us, and took away our Socialist Party leaflet.
Over 60, including some more serious far-right elements, turned up in Lancaster. Some were outsiders, some locals.
But they were unable to assemble on the steps of Lancaster Town Hall, as they had planned, because over 200 of us had already occupied them, in an excellent mobilisation of the local community.
We kept up lively chanting for hours, making sure the racists below us knew that “there are many, many more of us than you”. They marched off through the town, looking dejected, then returned to find that their numbers had dwindled, but ours hadn’t!
These two successful counter-protests will have hopefully helped to isolate the far-right organisers in Lancashire from the youth and a few families that turned out alongside them.
However, the trade union movement now needs to mobilise in greater numbers for future counter-protests, as well as organising the fightback on jobs, homes, and services that can show those taken in by the far right that it is only through united working-class struggle, that we will win a future for all our communities.
Martin, Lancashire Socialist Party
Swindon
Our counter-demo of 40 had been organised quickly in response to social media posts calling for an anti-immigration protest in the town centre. A few from a handful of demonstrators did their best to goad us with insults, one attempted to grab hold of one of our banners.
After the counter-demo, we were also able to discuss more with others who had turned out. We want to revive Swindon’s defunct trades union council. A body like that could organise and coordinate opposition to the far right democratically.
I had a particularly good discussion with two older men, who at first expressed some sympathy towards the anti-immigration protestors. One of them, seeing the front page of the Socialist – ‘Make the super-rich pay: Fully fund public services’ – simply said: “I agree with that”.
They asked what I thought about Nigel Farage and Reform UK. I talked about how right-wing populists identify some real issues – low pay, underfunded public services etc – but then offer no real solutions. They both supported our call for a new mass workers’ party, based on the trade unions.
This conversation was a powerful demonstration in miniature of how a workers’ party, armed with a fighting socialist programme, could undercut right-wing support, as Corbyn demonstrated in 2017, when he won over a million Ukip voters to Labour.
Scott, Swindon Socialist Party
Rotherham
Socialist Party members attended the counter-demonstration outside the Holiday Inn. It soon, became the scene of right-wing violence as protesters descended on the hotel, which houses refugees and asylum seekers.
Socialist Party members called for workers’ unity for jobs, homes, and services for all. However, it was clear early on that the counter-demonstration was unprepared and disorganised to deal with the growing crowds on the other side.
Led by Stand Up to Racism and Rotherham trades union council (TUC), with limited stewards – only 2-3 for the 200 in attendance – left counter-protesters vulnerable and at risk.
The trade unions have the power to mobilise people to protest safely. They represent tens of thousands of workers in Rotherham.
The police made little effort to control the far right, and quickly we were surrounded with no safe exit, with projectiles being thrown at us. Rotherham TUC and the police were forced to plan an immediate retreat.
Protests must be stewarded with the safety of protesters being the foremost concern of organisers, with plans and assessments for worst-case scenarios accounted for.
This experience showed the need for trade unions, anti-racists, community and youth organisations to work together in a coordinated manner – for example, through local trades union councils – to steward counter-demonstrations. It also showed the need for regional mobilisations of the trade union movement when local organisations need support.
The ineffectiveness of the counter demo meant that the hotel was left vulnerable to the events which occurred, with police seriously outnumbered. Far-right protesters went on to riot the hotel.
From smashing windows to arson, they threw bricks, chairs, and wood at police. Not to mention inflicting serious traumatic harm to those within the hotel – there was a clear attempt to set the hotel alight, with families inside.
However, it was not just the lack of organising which was apparent, but also a lack of effective political intervention. These events make it clear that the workers’ movement must organise an anti-racist campaign to counter the likes of Tommy Robinson.
The chants used at the Rotherham protest were vague, and did not raise the improvements needed for working class. When Socialist Party members made suggestions, it was ignored by the Stand Up to Racism organisers with the megaphone.
To combat the far right, we need to unite workers around the demand ‘smash racism – jobs, homes, and services for all’.
Maddie, Sheffield Socialist Party
Nottingham
500 people came to oppose the message of division and hate pushed by the far right. We outnumbered the 200 far-right protesters.
We heard about what the far right were planning on the Wednesday, held an organising committee involving various organisations and individuals, including Socialist Party members on Thursday, and succeeded in mobilising our event on Saturday.
At the rally, alongside others, Socialist Party members spoke on behalf of the Nottinghamshire Trades Union Council, and the Save our Services campaign.
We put forward a class approach of building unity to defend services, pointing to the huge strike wave in the last couple of years to show the potential of building a mass movement, the dangers of feeding the fears of more people, and the potential for the far right under a Labour government that attacks the working class.
Some of the far right were throwing bottles, with at least two anti-racists injured, and at least one taken to hospital. The campaign did correctly organise stewarding. But one lesson for the future is that more stewards are needed.
After events organised by the far right in 2020, the trades union council agreed it would organise a campaign in the unions, going to speak on the issue to union branches. That plan needs to be revived.
This would help explain the issues, mobilise numbers, and boost a stewarding force. The campaign will be continuing to organise.
Nottingham Socialist Party members
Leeds
The weekly Gaza protest, calling for a ceasefire and release of the hostages, was attended by 1,000 people.
There was a far-right demo of 150. It was clear that they had a hatred of the trade union movement, were deeply Islamophobic, and threatening to the totally peaceful Palestinian march.
The counter-protest was supported by Leeds Trades Union Council, and many trade unionists. The rally was addressed by Palestinians, local trade unionists, and Richard Burgon, one of the MPs suspended by Labour for voting against the two-child benefit cap.
Far-right groups are threatening and violent. They do not have the support of the working class, and, indeed, ordinary people have been disgusted at their actions.
Kevin, Leeds trades union council
It was an intense experience, with the far-right shouting some utterly vile things. But it was inspiring to see so many ordinary people come together to oppose their bile, and show that bigotry will not be tolerated by the vast majority of the working class.
While the likes of Robinson are the main culprits in spreading misinformation, and starting these riots, the flames of hatred were fanned by mainstream capitalist politicians. Reform, the Tories, and even the Labour Party have attempt to play into the idea that migrants are to blame for the problems caused by capitalism.
The counter demonstration to the far right proved that collective action is the best way to defeat them. They were utterly outnumbered and outmatched. Their desire to start physical fights with us ignored, and their ridiculous demands mocked
We can defeat the far right with a socialist programme that cuts through their lies.
Tom, Leeds Socialist Party
Hartlepool
Events in Hartlepool won’t be forgotten quickly. A far-right mob attempted to descend on the small local mosque.
Police were pelted with bricks, the window of a local butchers was smashed, and an Asian man was assaulted whilst walking home to a chorus of laughs from the crowds.
These events did not occur in a vacuum. Many people from the area also remember the racist abuse of Dover Athletic footballer Inih Effiong during a Hartlepool United match five years ago.
I had the displeasure of witnessing the events. I was only a few rows behind the perpetrators of the abuse.
Although I have painted a grim picture, there is hope, the following game the stands of the football ground were flooded with signs that read: “Love ‘pools’, hate racism”.
Hartlepool was once a bastion of the Labour Party and trade unions, but deindustrialisation and the ineptitude and arrogance of local Labour MPs, have taken their toll.
The far right have unfortunately gotten their hooks into the town, and many towns like it. But we can make a difference.
We need to unite across communities on the basis of working-class unity, the idea that working class people, from whatever background, have far more in common, than they do with people who want to divide and rule on behalf of their paymasters in big business.
The fightback to reclaim our streets starts now.
Daniel, Teesside Socialist Party
Liverpool
250 gathered to protect the Abdullah Quilliam Mosque from a far-right demonstration of 40, a significant moment of solidarity and community support.
Socialist Party members held signs: “Workers’ unity – jobs, homes, and services for all”. We also sold our Socialist paper to protesters, and passed out leaflets too.
The crowd united in chants of solidarity, including joining us chanting: “The workers united will never be defeated”.
In contrast, the far right appeared disorganised and confused, sporadically shouting baseless accusations at the mosque. Many in attendance on that side, including some locals, seemed to be there simply to observe, rather than actively participate .
As the protest wound down, the mosque’s Imam approached the far right, attempting to engage them in a peaceful dialogue. While not all were receptive, some were open to conversation. Imam said that one individual expressed frustrations, not with the mosque, but with policing issues.
Demi, Liverpool Socialist Party
Hull
I joined Socialist Party members at the counter demonstration to the far right. The police arrived an hour after the far right.
We were lucky there were no serious incidents in this time. One man confronted us, and pushed one of us. This shows the importance of properly and democratically organised stewarding by the trade union movement.
The far right was rioting and looting, damaging shops, and setting them on fire, before they attacked a hotel, where they believed asylum seekers were held.
Martin, Hull Socialist Party
Leicester
30 far right turned up, and were outnumbered by over 200 anti-racists. The far right had said they would rally at the Clocktower, a central point in Leicester. But when they got there, they found that the anti-racists had already taken that ground. They did not have the numbers to feel confident to carry out the kind of violence reported in other places.
Steve, Leicester Socialist Party
London Gaza demo
Tens of thousands of people marched through central London against the war on Gaza. This was the 17th national demo, and there was still a combination of people who had been on every demo, and some protesting for the first time. We had important discussions with people about how an end to the conflict could be won.
But the recent events in Southport and other places also hung over us. People wanted to discuss how increasing divisions could be challenged, and raised that potentially fewer people felt able to join the protest, because of fear of the far right, and seeing the smashing of shops and a mosque on TV. But for the people who were there, it was a defiance against racism, division, and growing inequality.
The far-right demo was small, with police standing between them and us. Steward encouraged people to walk by.
Properly organised stewarding, democratically controlled by the workers’ movement, can help give people confidence to protest.
Helen, London Socialist Party
Birmingham
Socialist Party members mobilised to join hundreds of other protesters, sickened by far-right rioting.
One of the speakers described how “my grandparents came to this country to work and contribute to society. They’ve never had a problem with trying to get on and integrate with the rest of the community. And now politicians and news channels are trying to whip up hatred against people like us”.
A women we spoke to at the demo also said: “Society is splitting more and more into two – the people with money, and the rest of us. We need to bring together the people who are struggling, like us”.
Bill, Birmingham Socialist Party
Manchester
The far right organised a demonstration of 150 people to espouse hatred, racism, and islamophobia. They marched around the city in the morning, before violence erupted in the afternoon. After a fight with the police, the rioters looted a Sainsbury’s.
The trades council called for all union branches and left-wing groups to counter-protest the rioters. Some also joined the weekly Palestinian protest that has been present every Saturday since the start of the war. There was also a pro-trans march.
Counter-protesters matched, if not slightly outnumbered, the amount of thugs. However, given the weight of the situation, and the number of union branches in Manchester, more needs to be done to ensure the far right know that racism is not welcome.
More needs to be done to unite the working class against the right wing. The very same people exploiting the working class, are pitting us against each other on arbitrary racial, national, and gender lines.
Socialist Party set up a stall at the protest to circulate our message of homes, jobs, and services for all to fight racism, and cut through the division.
Zakk, Manchester and Salford Socialist Party
