The Israeli government’s attacks on Gaza have drawn condemnation from many ordinary workers and youth in the UK, as shown by the large demonstrations seen in London. The criminal actions of the Israeli state, however, have now also resulted in condemnation from a political representative of the ruling class, Baroness Warsi, the former Chair of the Conservative Party, indicating the weakness of the Coalition.
The Israeli government’s attacks on Gaza have drawn condemnation from many ordinary workers and youth in the UK, as shown by the large demonstrations seen in London. The criminal actions of the Israeli state, however, have now also resulted in condemnation from a political representative of the ruling class – Baroness Warsi, the former Chair of the Conservative Party.
Warsi resigned from her position as Foreign Office Minister due to the stance of the Tory-led coalition government towards the attacks on Gaza by the Israeli state, referring to the Coalition’s the policies as “morally indefensible” and “not in Britain’s national interest”. Although this is only one resignation of a fairly low-placed Cabinet minister, Warsi departure is yet another sign of the weakness of the Coalition and of the splits in the ruling class. These, in turn, reflect the decline of British imperialism and the crisis in capitalism as a whole.
Cameron’s defeat over Syria
The policies of British imperialism have faced great opposition within the last 14 years from workers and youth. One must only look at the humiliating defeat for David Cameron last year in a House of Commons vote regarding taking military action in Syria against President Assad. Cameron’s own party rebelled against him, resulting in the Prime Minister losing the vote by 285 to 272.
It seemed that many Tory backbenchers, in the case of the Syria vote, had seen how little public support there was for military intervention following the military disasters for the UK in Afghanistan and Iraq – particularly now, at a time when the Tories are preaching about the virtues of austerity and emphasising the need to cut back on public spending. No doubt many realised how damaging further military intervention would be the Tory Party – and, most importantly, for their own political careers!
Blair, New Labour, and Iraq
If one looks further back to the imperialist war in Iraq, led by US and UK troops, splits in the government of the time can again be seen. The protests against invasions were absolutely huge, with estimates of up to two million people for the biggest demonstrations in London, which were unofficially the largest protests in history for Britain. The question of Iraq divided the government, with four ministers in the New Labour government resigning as they felt that they couldn’t support the war.
Today, the rotten legacy of the 2003 Iraq invasion, of the New Labour government, and of Blair still leaves a stench. How many thousands still refuse to vote for Labour because of Blair’s support for the Iraq war? Current senior Labour figures now try to distance themselves from their previous decisions and atone for their sins by saying they supported the war in public but not in private. Such shallow regrets do nothing to help those killed in Iraq.
World wars and radicalistion
The anger amongst workers and youth at the slaughter of their fellow brothers and sisters internationally is rightly growing. Historically, one can see that class anger grew during and after both World Wars, despite the endless nationalist and chauvinist propaganda put forward by the imperialists that the wars were “justified” in order to maintain peace, defeat fascism, etc. etc.. Ordinary people saw through the lies of the imperialists, and came to realise that it was always the working class that was made to pay for the costs of war – both in terms of the financial costs and the human costs.
After the First World War, the whole of Europe was on the verge of socialist revolution, following the inspiring example of the Bolshevik Revolution in October 1917. Meanwhile, following the Second World War there was mass radicalisation in Britain; Churchill – the “great leader” was voted out and the Labour Party was overwhelming voted in on the basis of a programme of genuine reforms, such as the introduction of the NHS and the welfare state.
Capitalism: horror without end
Today, the situation is the same regarding the public’s opinion towards British imperialism policies in the Middle East. With ordinary people already being made to pay for the crisis of capitalism, the hypocrisy and self-interest of the Coalition government with regards to foreign policy is the final straw.
Workers and youth will not fooled by the imperialists; instead we see mass, widespread protests. Current events show demonstrate clearly how the working class have absolutely nothing to gain from the policies of British imperialism and from the capitalist system as a whole. Capitalism requires exploitation, and the policy of the imperialists and the capitalists is simply to divide the working class along national, racial, or religious lines across the world in order to increase the exploitation of workers everywhere. Imperialism creates the growth of markets and ultimately greater profits for the capitalist class. The losers under capitalism are the working class in all countries, as their wages and conditions are squeezed to maintain and increase the profits of the capitalists.
The future under capitalism is, as Lenin stated, one of “horror without end”; a future of small wars, civil war, and proxy wars. The only way to end imperialist invasions and military aggression is for a socialist transformation of society. The vast amounts of money spent on wars and military spending could be put to far better uses, spent to create jobs, housing, and decent public services for all. This would signal an end to poverty and exploitation by the capitalists, enabling the wealth created by workers around the world to be used for the benefit of society as a whole, rather than simply for the benefit of the few.
