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Link to this page: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/17055
Posted on 4 July 2013 at 14:36 GMT
Dave Nellist: "Boring" or "Witty and highly political"?
Dave Nellist has sent the following letter to the Guardian in response to an article by Martin Kettle today (Falkirk may seem minor, but for Labour it really matters):
Martin Kettle ("Falkirk may seem minor", July 4) describes me as one of "the most boring men in British politics".
Am I offended? No, to be remembered at all a quarter of a century later is not to be sniffed at.
But what does Martin mean by 'boring'? Certainly not lacking in humour, as your colleague Michael White a few years ago kindly described a speech I gave at the Savoy (I know!) as "witty and highly political, done with style and without compromise" and "one of the best speeches I have ever heard" (Guardian 15/11/2007). I like that much better.
But perhaps what Martin is really complaining of, in describing Militant-supporting MPs as 'boring', was our consistent, principled, unwavering promotion of socialism, as Labour was being changed all around us, to its unrecognisable state today.
I understand Len McCluskey's campaign to try to re-win Labour away from its overlapping agenda on austerity with the other establishment parties.
But if it doesn't work, and the omens are not favourable, there's a small but growing campaign which believes we have to start again from scratch to build a new party, and we're planning to stand 600 candidates in next year's council elections.
And if we can get traction, I promise, Martin, politics won't be so boring!
Dave Nellist, Chair, Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (and Labour MP 1983-92, Socialist Party councillor 1998-2012),
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The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.
The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.
The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.
- The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
- When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.
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