Labour

Corbyn’s initiative for a review of Labour’s democratic structures is a welcome break from Blairite bureaucracy. But it has one notable absence: the democratic accountability of MPs and councillors.

The Left’s clear victory in the Labour NEC elections must be used as a platform for sweeping changes across the Party, Adam Booth writes.  We need mandatory reselection and socialist policies.

Roy Hattersley’s recent article in the Guardian offered a telling insight into the mind of the Blairites. With his semi-coherent ramblings, the former deputy Labour leader provides a perfect example of just how out of touch Labour’s so-called ‘moderates’ are from grasping the real mood in society, and how powerless their position has become.

Over the past few weeks, a series of local Labour council candidate selections have prompted various outcries of a Momentum-led ‘Labour purge’ in the mainstream media. Reza Mohammadi of the Hornsey and Wood Green CLP discusses what really happened: this was no purge, just democracy and accountability in action.

Investment banking giant Morgan Stanley recently published a report that warned its clients about the possibility of a Corbyn-led Labour government. Such an outcome, the bankers described, would be a “worse threat to business than Brexit”. The Labour leader responded by saying to the financial firm: “we are a threat”. But what kind of movement and programme do we need to really threaten the capitalists? 

Daniel Morley reviews the recent BBC Two documentary highlighting the dramatic transformation that has taken place inside the Labour Party in the past six months. As a result of the shock general election result and the rise of the mass movement around Corbyn, the Blairites are now completely demoralised and sidelined.

Gordon Brown has released his autobiography, entitled My Life, Our Times. In this, and in other recent interviews, the former prime minister has acknowledged the failings of his government and that of New Labour more generally. Unlike the out-of-touch Tony Blair, Adam Booth writes, Brown has sensed which way the wind is blowing politically in Britain.

From the beginning, the regional Labour leadership in Wales has been firmly against Jeremy Corbyn and the programme that he stands for. As a result of their Blairite approach, the Welsh Labour leaders have risked losing the party’s support amongst workers and youth in Wales. Maciej Krzymieniecki from Swansea West CLP looks at the changes needed in Welsh Labour if it is to offer a way forward for ordinary people.

Like the Labour Party manifesto at the most recent general election, Corbyn’s closing speech to the Labour conference last week has electrified the party, his supporters, and the Left in general by pushing the tone and policies significantly further to the left. The vital question is: how can we ensure that this programme is implemented?

Following a confident closing speech at this year’s Labour Party conference, it is clear to all that Jeremy Corbyn is set to be the next Prime Minister. The capitalist class, in turn, is now looking at how they can control him and soften the programme of a Left Labour government. Corbyn’s Labour must fight back against any sabotage by carrying out a bold socialist programme.