Non-fiction: Don’t Let My Past Be Your Future

Powerful defence of the welfare state – but blind allegiance won’t save it

Health minister Aneurin Bevan with workers and a patient on the first day of the NHS, photo University of Liverpool Faculty of Health & Life Sciences/CC, photo University of Liverpool Faculty of Health & Life Sciences/CC

Health minister Aneurin Bevan with workers and a patient on the first day of the NHS, photo University of Liverpool Faculty of Health & Life Sciences/CC, photo University of Liverpool Faculty of Health & Life Sciences/CC   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

Mary Finch, East London Socialist Party

Harry Leslie Smith, the World War Two veteran and welfare state campaigner, has crossed the supposed generational divide and issued a “call to arms” to young people to organise to change society.

‘Don’t Let My Past Be Your Future’ paints a powerful and devastating picture of the absolute destitution faced by working class people through the story of his own youth in 1920s Yorkshire.

He describes the dark, damp, dilapidated housing he was born in, and which his family was regularly forced to flee because they couldn’t afford the rent.

He was put to work at the age of seven – his family had no other choice. Harry’s father had already lost his job and was struggling to find any employment following a serious injury.

1945 is a constant point of reference throughout the book. The sweeping reforms that workers won as a result of the threat of revolutionary struggle transformed lives. The creation of the NHS and the welfare state showed millions of workers where the potential power in society lies.

But although Harry is far-sighted on many issues, his book unfortunately misunderstands some of the key processes shaping today’s politics.

Brexit, like 1945, is a regular feature of the book, looming over the whole narrative with a sense of impending devastation. Harry correctly recognises the alienation and frustration which led to the Brexit vote – workers were sick of paying for the bosses’ crisis, and saw a way to express their frustration in the EU referendum.

Yet he seems to hope Britain will find a way to remain in the EU. This is understandable, given the failure of Jeremy Corbyn and the union tops to lead mass struggle and fight for an independent, socialist Brexit.

But socialists have explained from the beginning that the EU is, and always has been, a bosses’ club. Capitalist governments created it to maximise the profits of Europe’s capitalist classes, and defend against greater public ownership, the planned economies to the east, and international competitors.

Every supposed benefit for workers of being in the EU was actually won – and can only be defended – by workers’ struggle, just like the NHS and welfare state which Harry so eloquently champions.

And Harry’s frustration over Corbyn’s lack of enthusiasm during the referendum campaign is still confusing. Why would Corbyn show any serious dedication to staying in the neoliberal EU, when – like Tony Benn – he previously always held the position that Britain should leave?

Corbyn only adopted a position of Remain under pressure from the Blairite wing of the party.

Later, immediately after the referendum results were announced, the Tories were on the verge of collapse.

A general election seemed imminent. But rather than press the advantage, the Labour right launched another coup attempt against Corbyn.

In reality, the Blairites are capitalist politicians, and as terrified of a pro-worker leader becoming prime minister as any Tory. Harry is therefore also mistaken to call for Labour’s left and right wings to reconcile. Corbyn’s leadership is untenable for the Blairites, and they will do anything to get rid of him.

It’s clear Harry remembers Labour as the party the working class used to create the NHS. But millions of working class and young people remember far more vividly the terrible role of New Labour, including accelerating the privatisation of the NHS.

He also says he stuck with Labour during the Iraq war, at the same time as millions were taking to the streets in mass demonstrations against it. Young people and workers won’t be convinced by blind allegiance. After a decade of austerity, we are demanding more.

The only way forward for Corbyn’s Labour is to take the battle to the Blairites and fight for a democratic, socialist Labour Party which truly represents the 99%.