The magnificent 500,000-strong
demonstration on 26 March – the biggest trade union demonstration in the
history of the British labour movement – was a marvellous response to
the Coalition’s austerity measures. It sends out a clear message: the
workers of this country are not prepared to take the government’s
austerity measures lying down.
The magnificent 500,000-strong
demonstration on 26 March – the biggest trade union demonstration in the
history of the British labour movement – was a marvellous response to
the Coalition’s austerity measures. It sends out a clear message: the
workers of this country are not prepared to take the government’s
austerity measures lying down.
government will not change its economic strategy as a result of a
demonstration. His words are those of the ruling class that is
determined to push through the biggest cuts in living standards since
the 1920s. This arises not from the wickedness of the Coalition, but
from the crisis of British capitalism which as a result of the deep
slump and banking bail-out has seen government borrowing rocket such
that Britain now has a higher budget deficit than sickly Portugal.
However, the real test will be the implementation of this draconian
programme. There is already widespread opposition to the Coalition
throughout the country. In a recent ITV/ComRes poll two-thirds thought
that the Coalition was out of touch with the plight of ordinary working
families. Electoral support for the government has slumped, with the
Lib-Dems coming out very badly.
are seeing through the government rhetoric even before the impact of
the cuts has been felt. Once the axe really falls, we will see a sharp
increase in trade union militancy. Remember it was last December’s
increase in tuition fees that led to the most serious unrest in London
for decades. It is a small taste of what is to come.
The TUC leaders called the March 26th demonstration six
months ago, probably hoping that by now things would have calmed down.
On the contrary, six months of Tory/Liberal policies have revealed to
the mass of working people what is really facing them. And although
Vince Cable says the government will not change course, Saturday’s
demonstration will have had one very important effect: it has shown to
ordinary working people that the conditions to step up the fight-back
exist. No trade union leader can now get away with the idea that there
aren’t’ the conditions for militant struggle.
Many workers and rank and file trade unionists will be asking
themselves “What now? What is the next step?” After this enormous show
of strength, the next step can only be in the direction of more
widespread strike action, eventually leading to a general strike. The
ruling class is well aware of this and is warning the government not to
be overconfident. “The most sustained squeeze on living standards since
the 1920s is about to hit the UK,” explains the Financial Times.
“There is no telling how the general public will react, or indeed what
will be the impact on the Coalition’s cohesion. Mr Osborne would be wise
not to count his chickens just yet.” (FT, 27/3/11)
Greek government’s austerity measures have provoked massive strikes and
riots. In Ireland, the slump and the subsequent militant reaction of
the workers has resulted in the worst ever election defeat for Fianna
Fail. However, the new government is committed virtually to the same
austerity, meaning that its honeymoon period will very soon be over.
Similar events are being prepared in Britain. The Financial Times,
adds, “It is rash to assume that the British character contains
something so uniquely stoical that it will take the pain and advance
with a stiff upper lip to the glorious uplands of social peace, and a
budget close to balance, by the next election in 2015.”
They know that the TUC demonstration indicates that we are returning
to a similar situation to that of the class battles of the 1970s, which
brought down the Heath government in 1974. It is entirely possible that
this Coalition government could meet a similar fate.
in this period of storm and stress, the “alternative” policies being
offered by the TUC and the trade union leaders are far from adequate.
They imagine that the problems of British capitalism are temporary and
that the budget deficit can be eradicated within the confines of the
system by changes to taxation levels and other such measures. But the
crisis is far deeper than they like to admit.
This Coalition government, the creature of Big Business, is a class
government that acts in the interests of capitalism. What the working
class needs is a class government that will act in the interests of the
workers of this country.
The Labour Party was originally set up by the trade unions to fight
for the workers and a new socialist society. While it still commands
support from millions of workers, its leaders have abandoned socialism
and accepted capitalism. They seek, however, a sweeter, kinder,
friendlier capitalism; in other words capitalism with a “human face”,
i.e. a capitalism that does not exist.
today is crisis-ridden and senile. All the old contradictions, delayed
for so long during the boom years, are returning with a vengeance. The
capitalist system can no longer afford the reforms of the past.
Therefore to ask capitalism for more reforms is like trying to get blood
from a stone. Now is the age of capitalist counter-reforms, attacks,
and austerity.
The struggle is crying out for a real alternative – a socialist
alternative. Rather than tinker with capitalism, Labour should campaign
to get rid of the system altogether. The only way out of austerity is
the rational planning of the economy. This can only be done by taking
over its commanding heights – the 150 or so key firms together with the
banks and insurance companies – and running them under workers’ control
and management. This would put an end to the madness of unemployment and
burdens of low pay. The extra wealth created by the implementation of
such a socialist programme would provide a real future for young people,
with free education and a living grant and dramatically reduce the
working week, cut the retirement age, increase holidays and increase pay
and living conditions.
