At a public meeting in Leeds on 1 June, ostensibly to get people to vote for No2EU, hardly any of the 40 people present, including the platform speakers, could muster much enthusiasm for the project.
None of the three platform speakers - ex Labour MP Alice Mahon, Mike Davies from the Alliance for Green Socialism, and Jackie Grunsell, a Socialist Party councillor - talked positively about the actual national platform No2EU is standing on. Instead they all talked about seizing the chance to build a left political platform with the RMT even if the undemocratic way it had come about and its manifesto was lamentable. Grunsell and Davies even went so far to condemn he name and the leadership.
During the discussion most speakers stood up to echo our comrade Pat Murphy's position that serious internationalist socialist unity cannot be built out of a left nationalist bureaucratic lash up. One very refreshing thing throughout the debate was both that everyone was allowed to speak, and particularly the AGS comrades spoke frankly about there misgivings.
The fact that the Yorkshire slate includes genuine socialists like Davies, Grunsell and Keith Gibson whom we would back if they stood on a working class socialist ticket makes this election a tragic wasted opportunity. The Yorkshire candidates put out an election address that talks about the main enemy being capitalism and opposes border controls, going far beyond the populism of the Morning Star that makes up the national programme of the campaign.
One positive can be taken from this meeting, almost all of the speakers who rightly condemned No2EU and almost all of those who unfortunately supported it called urgently and seriously for a united socialist alliance based in the workers' movement for the next general election. We in Workers' Liberty will seek to hold to their promises in the coming weeks and months.
Comments
brief dialogue with the AGS
below is the brief email dialogue I had with Garth Franklin of AGS , it strikes a different tone from that at the meeting:
------------
From: Garth Frankland [mailto:garthfrankland@xxx]
Sent: 04 June 2009 11:13
To: garth.frankland@xxx
Subject: Euro elections
Dear friends
Remember to vote for the No to the EU, Yes to Democracy TODAY.
The Alliance for Green Socialism narrowly endorsed the RMT union's election campaign but since then we have made major progress with the politics involved.
With our allies from the Socialist Green Unity Coalition mainly the Socialist Party we have shift them over the environment and over taking up seats.
We didn't get everything but we have helped to develop a more rounded approach. We are not for for leaving the EU, not even Bob Crow is in favour of that but we are for getting rid of the present undemocratic set up.
The AGS has 5 members on the various slates including Celia Foote, Mike Davies and Juliette Boddington on the Yorkshire and Humber list.
Go out and vote now and encourage or email anyone else who may be persuaded.
Love
Garth
------------
2009/6/4
Garth,
There are no circumstances that I can imagine where I would consider voting for a party called No to EU. There’s even less chance of me voting for this undemocratic rotten lash-up given the meeting on Monday where the candidates conceded that the name, platform, politics and internal democracy are all rubbish.
There’s no hope for the left if we continue down the route compromising with the bankrupt Stalinism of the cpb and personality politics of chasing bob crow/Galloway/Serwotka etc, rather than letting our organisations flow from the logic of our politics, arguing inside unions for an orientation to working class action, and making principled unity wherever it is possible
I’m very disappointed that the AGS has sunk to these depths seemingly in order to get some flyers out on the cheap, I thought you were all made of more serious stuff.
Martin Ohr
------------
From: Garth Frankland [mailto:garthfrankland@xxx]
Sent: 04 June 2009 12:04
To: Ohr,M,Martin,DGEC R
Cc: Celia Foote; Malcolm Christie; Mike Davies (AGS); Keith Nathan; Trevor Bavage
Subject: Re: Euro elections
My Dear Martin,
The awl position is essence an unwillingness to compromise and is a classical attack on Leninism. It displays a deep lack of confidence in your own politics. Remain pure locked away in your monastery and god will save you.
The EU is a capitalist stitch up. There is no separate EU other than that except in peoples imagination. Your position is a defence of that system and is a direct attack on working class internationalism as explemified our lead candidate's intervention into the oil refinery struggles.
The Leeds AWL issued leaflet attacking the Yes to Democracy Campaign as left nationalist and then called for vote for the right nationalists of New Labour who have opened the door to the BNP.
Remember a vote for the RMT will on the experience of the AGS in Leeds cut the BNP vote by 20% and help deny them a seat.
It is by detailed examination of votes and making essential compromises that Lenin built the Bolsheviks.
And as for calling for rebuilding the SA on the front page of your newspaper it shows that again that no accurate analysis was made of reality and certainly not of any attempt to change it.
Think again Martin. Go back over Lenin's struggle to gain influence In the national insurance elections and who he worked with. Re-read the discussion he had with Father Gapon.
Then perhaps you'll think your position against revolutionary compromise.
Love
Garth
____________
From: Ohr,M,Martin,DGEC R
Sent: 04 June 2009 12:34
To: 'Garth Frankland'
Cc: Celia Foote; Malcolm Christie; Mike Davies (AGS); Keith Nathan; Trevor Bavage
Subject: RE: Euro elections
Garth,
If you consider conceding to nationalist slogans, blaming foreign workers and the politics of the CPB an ‘essential compromise’ then we are all clearly up shit creak already.
The explanation I got from [Mike]Fenwick [of Leeds AWL] for AGS involvement is far more plausible and honourable- that it’s just an opportunist move to get some publicity for AGS out on the cheap on the back of the No2EU election campaign. That explanation doesn’t allow you to quote Lenin or the Bolsheviks back at me, but at least it’s sustainable in the long term.
NO2EU is nothing more than the Socialist Party’s version of Respect. All the rotten, miserable elements are there, even the rhetoric from the supporters is the same- ‘it’s not perfect’, ‘you have to make compromises’, ‘if you wait for something perfect then you’ll be waiting a long time’, ‘it will be better in future’. Based on the experience of Respect you can confidently conclude that the politics and internal democracy of NO2EU –or whatever the project becomes- will never be better than it is now.
Good luck in the polls today- hopefully you’ll come to your senses again soon.
Martin Ohr
Oddly enough...
...the No2EU list for the North West includes someone from the Liberal Party, the rump that refused to join the Lib Dems when the old Liberals fused with the SDP. I really would like to know what justification supporters of No2EU give for this.