Why we are launching the Labour Representation Committee
Socialist Appeal’s deputy editor, Rob Sewell, interviewed Mick
Rix, the former general secretary of ASLEF and instigator of the new Labour
Representation Committee, about his views and prospects of reclaiming the Labour
Party.
The one weakness of the outstanding Scottish Marxist John Maclean
John Maclean was undoubtedly a class fighter and Marxist, but he made one
important mistake, and that was to succumb to the idea that a socialist
revolution would be possible in Scotland, separate from the rest of Britain.
Ted Grant briefly comments on why this was.
The Challenge to Blairism
Strikes, demonstrations, political crises, Britain looks a lot different now
than it did when Blair and co came to power. For us the task of the hour is to give
active support to workers struggling to defend jobs and services and carry that
fight over into the Labour Party, into a fight for socialist policies.
John Maclean – agitator, organiser, educator
This month marks the 80th anniversary of the death of John Maclean.
Maclean was an outstanding figure. He was Britain’s most famous Marxist
propagandist and revolutionary organiser. At great personal cost, he
hailed the Bolshevik Revolution and fought hard to promote the world
socialist revolution. The following article gives a glimpse of his
life, commitment and contribution to the workers’ movement.
Swiss railways manager defends centralised planning – Blair could learn something from him
A recent interview in the British newspaper, The Times, with a Swiss
rail manager underlines the disastrous effects of privatisation on the
British rail system. He points out that “You have to have a central
command and control”. Blair should listen.
Overturn the expulsion of Galloway now!
George Galloway, the Labour MP for Glasgow Kelvin, was yesterday
expelled from the Labour Party by the three-member National Constitutional
Committee, which is in reality a kangaroo court designed to simply rubber
stamp whatever Blair wants. George Galloway took a clear stand against the
war in Iraq. This is the reason why he was expelled. They had tried to
remove him on the basis of falsified documents “found in Iraq”. As they
were not able to remove him with these, they decided another road.
The revolutionary dialectic of Republicanism – An Open Letter to Irish Republicans
The Irish Republican movement has been struggling for a united Ireland for
decades. Today it is no nearer this objective than when it was founded. Marxists
understand that a united Ireland can only be achieved on a socialist basis. So
long as capitalism dominates Ireland there will be division and strife.
Therefore it is time to take stock of the past of the Republican movement and to
draw a balance sheet. Only by such means can we build the revolutionary movement
urgently needed to prevent a further descent into sectarian chaos and achieve
instead the historic task of overthrowing capitalism and constructing the 32
county Socialist Republic.
Britain – Labour Party Conference: NHS, Hutton Inquiry, Brent East… – Blairism on the rocks
The 2003 Labour Party Conference meets at a critical moment. After six
years of Labour government nothing has been solved for the majority of working
people who look to Labour to tackle the problems they face. Phil
Mitchinson analyses the situation. This article was also published in the
latest issue of the British Socialist Appeal.
2003 Congress: TUC must support workers in struggle
The British TUC (Trades Union Congress) Congress opens up today. NUJ
General Secretary and TUC General Council member Jeremy Dear spoke to
Socialist Appeal about the tasks and perspectives for the trade union movement
Britain: Crucial Election Gears up in AMICUS!
The forthcoming elections in
AMICUS to elect the 48 lay member executive for the newly formed union of
730,000 members will be the beginning of a new era for workers in a whole range
of industries. For many on the left over the years, the prospect of electing a
leftwing executive committee to the former AEEU could only be a wild dream from
which they would have expected to wake up at any minute. Yet the prospect is now
very real.
Britain in 2003 – Part Two
In Part one of his article Phil Mitchinson looked at the world situation
and how this affects Britain. In this second part he looks at the devastation of British
manufacturing over a period of decades as shown by the investment and output figures
he provides. He goes on to chart the degeneration of the British
ruling class, from its far-sighted predecessors to the current degenerates
who can't see past their bank balances. This reflects itself in the present mess
the Tory party finds itself in.