spot Campaigns

spot Organisations

spot Arguments for socialism

All Organisations subcategories:

Art

Commercial

Committee for a Workers International

Government

Labour Party

Left and radical

Media

Nationalist and National Liberation

Pro capitalist and Imperialist

Religious

Social Networks

* Socialist Party

Sport

Trade Union

Transport

Voluntary & non-profit

Socialist Party keywords:

Manifesto (53)

Militant (305)

Socialism 2005 (11)

Socialism 2006 (16)

Socialism 2007 (17)

Socialism 2008 (13)

Socialist Books (17)

Socialist Party (7346)

The Socialist (1175)

Witch-hunt (87)

Militant

Highlight keywords |Print this article

From: The Socialist issue 970, 8 November 2017: 'Paradise' for billionaires, austerity for us

Search site for keywords: Letters - The Socialist - Socialist - Militant - Labour Party - Labour - Tony Saunois

The Socialist inbox

The Socialist inbox: letters to the editors, image Suzanne Beishon (Click to enlarge)

Do you have something to say?

Send your news, views and criticism in not more than 150 words to Socialist Postbox, PO Box 24697, London E11 1YD, phone 020 8988 8771 or email [email protected]

We reserve the right to shorten and edit letters. Don't forget to give your name, address and phone number. Confidentiality will be respected if requested.

The expulsion of the Militant editorial board began a widespread purge of socialists from Labour, photo Militant (Click to enlarge)

Militant erased

As Stalin consolidated his power he rewrote history and erased Trotsky from photographic records of the revolution. 100 years after the 1917 revolution, it seems Andy Beckett, in his Guardian article 'Abbott, Corbyn, McDonnell: the wilderness years', attempts a literary equivalent.

In his recording of the events of the late 1970s and 1980s he erases from the record the role of Militant (now the Socialist Party) in the poll tax, the struggle of Liverpool City Council; or any mention of Terry Fields MP who was imprisoned for non-payment of the poll tax, Dave Nellist MP or Pat Wall MP; or Kinnock's initiating of the witch hunt against Militant.

Militant was central in these and other struggles in the Labour Party at that time. Even if you are opposed to the ideas defended by Militant, surely trying to artificially erase it from the history books is not quality journalism.

Tony Saunois, Labour Party national executive committee 1979-81

This letter was also sent to the Guardian

Donate to the Socialist Party

Finance appeal

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.