Jeremy Corbyn to be elected Labour Leader?
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Vin wrote:We can take something possible from this. Rejection of cardboard cutout, career politicians. His phrase 'One World' And his favourite song is after all Imagine.
Apparently he didn't mention the word 'socialism' during his victory speech, but I guess he was just seeking to be conciliatory towards all wings of the Labour Party.
Yes, just woolly stuff about justice, fairness, equality, democracy, peace, etc. (I think the only one he didn't mention was freedom). Not bad ideas in themselves but nothing on how to achieve them.
A suggestion:
Quote:the next Standard cover should be pictures of Watson and Corbyn with the strapline: Landslide! New Syriza leaders electedDon't all shoot at once.
How about something on our poverty and the Tory bastards that are attacking us. Might even get a worker to buy it and open the pages. In fact the SS probably only sells to the converted, so it achieves very little. It is not only the Labour Party that needs a rethink.When will it sink in why people are listening to Corbyn and Brand. It is not their 'solutions', it is their criticism of existing society. Something we have becare becoming incapable of doing.
I think we now have two schools of thought within the Party.One is that th election of Corbyn and an apparent move to the left changes nothing and so we need not change our campaign style.The other view is that Corbyn has tapped into a real shift towards the left by many workers and this began before Corbyn's leadership bid and that we too have to meet the challenge of increased scepticism and cynicism with the political status quo and adjust and adapt our propaganda and publicity.I wonder is there really a dichotomy and that one approach excludes the other. As been said, we hold by our principles that have been built from the collective memory of the Party who encountered in previous reincarnations the Corbyn factor. Our D of P is quite clear "That as all political parties are but the expression of class interests"Who amongst us can say that the Labour Party has acted in the class interests of the workers. It has a shoddy and shabby history.But we will perhaps witness a change if the Labour Party mobilises with the unions to fight the anti-working class legislation contained in the up-coming Tory union rule bills. It will be the worm turning. As been said by others on the thread, surely it would be suicidal to attack allies ( dubious ones they might well be) marching alongside when the enemy is in front of us, clear for all to see.I know it is merely hearsay and very doubtful, but James Connolly is said to have said before the Easter Rising…"In the event of victory, hold on to your rifles, as those with whom we are fighting may stop before our goal is reached. We are out for economic as well as political liberty." We can choose our time and pick our field of battle in the class war against Labour. For the moment our important concern is the victory of our class in the present class struggle, not scoring debating points. We can settle our scores with the Labour Party when they have no place to hide.
ALB wrote:A suggestion:Quote:the next Standard cover should be pictures of Watson and Corbyn with the strapline: Landslide! New Syriza leaders electedDon't all shoot at once.
If a Corbyn – Syriza comparison front cover is unavoidable next month. May I suggest something along the lines of "Can Corbyn defeat austerity, where Syriza failed?" The images could be of cues at food banks, images of homeless people and other emotive issues, (from the UK and Greece) with a similar sized, ie not overblown, photo of Corbyn.For starters it suggests his motives are honourable and so it's not aggressive. And it asks a pertinent question. Once inside the non personal critical analysis can commence.Surely the hard liners can understand the need for an intelligent approach?
Actually, I think the front cover should be on the refugee crisis, but could go along with "Can Corbyn defeat austerity, where Syriza failed", especially as it looks like Syriza, having failed, is going to be voted out of office on 20 September.
SocialistPunk wrote:ALB wrote:A suggestion:Quote:the next Standard cover should be pictures of Watson and Corbyn with the strapline: Landslide! New Syriza leaders electedDon't all shoot at once.
If a Corbyn – Syriza comparison front cover is unavoidable next month. May I suggest something along the lines of "Can Corbyn defeat austerity, where Syriza failed?" The images could be of cues at food banks, images of homeless people and other emotive issues, (from the UK and Greece) with a similar sized, ie not overblown, photo of Corbyn.For starters it suggests his motives are honourable and so it's not aggressive. And it asks a pertinent question. Once inside the non personal critical analysis can commence.Surely the hard liners can understand the need for an intelligent approach?
And also lets not lose sight of the reason why Corbyn gained so much support. For he represents, in their eyes, an 'official opposition' to the present consensus politics of Westminister. Obviously in the years ahead they are going to disappointed, so we want to make it quite clear that the real debate in any reference to 'official opposition' is not between left and right but between capitalism and socialism
ALB wrote:Actually, I think the front cover should be on the refugee crisis, but could go along with "Can Corbyn defeat austerity, where Syriza failed", especially as it looks like Syriza, having failed, is going to be voted out of office on 20 September.ALBIf I were a member of the SPGB I would second your idea of the front cover of next months Socialist Standard being about the refugee crisis. A much more important issue.
No-one has really addressed the poll showing voters in favour of socialismhttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/most-voters-would-welcome-a-more-radical-socialist-labour-party-new-poll-finds-10494366.htmlFor me it shows that yes we apply the hostility clause including to Labour, but in a serious way that does not alienate or mock potential readers or supporters.
Here is a circular email from Jeremy Corbyn received at Head Office yesterday:
Quote:Hello, It is a deep honour to be elected as the Labour Party's new Leader. The honour is not about holding office — it is about the opportunity to serve you in the fight to get a better government for our country. I want to pay tribute to Andy, Yvette and Liz. As the last few weeks have shown, each of them cares passionately about the Labour party and its values and has made a fantastic contribution to it. The Labour Party is the joint endeavour of each and every one of us that believe in fairness, equality and social justice. If you share these values then I want to use your talents to make us stronger, and I want to represent you. So, help me be your representative. When I stand at the despatch box for Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, I want to be your voice.What do you want to ask David Cameron? Tell me now and I will put your questions to him in parliament. My questions will be your questions.Here's my question for David CameronLet's hold this government to account together with straight-talking, honest politics. Thank you for your commitment to building a better future. I look forward to working with you. Best wishes, Jeremy CorbynIf you have a question for him to put click on "Here's my question for David Cameron" but, be warned, you'll end up on a Labour Party mailing list.Also in our inbox was this message meant for SPEW:
Quote:I want to cancel my membership to the party as I want to support
Jeremy Corbyn by joining the labour partyI imagine SPEW and TUSC and Left Unity will be receiving many more such messages. Which could turn out to be the most significant fall-out from Corbyn's election: the return to the Labour Party of the prodigal leftwingers. In fact both Corbyn and the new Deputy Leader, Tom Watson, in their acceptance speeches explicitly welcomed them back.
I thought I'd check on what SPEW, SWP, TUSC and LU are saying about Corbyn's election.Here's SPEW:http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/21392/12-09-2015/corbyn-victoryThey want to be invited back:
Quote:At the same time the party should be opened up. All those who have been forced out or expelled in the past for fighting against cuts and for socialist ideas should be invited back.The SWP are not so keen:http://socialistworker.co.uk/art/41297/SWP+statement+on+election+of+Jeremy+Corbyn+as+Labour+Party+leaderHere's TUSC:http://www.tusc.org.uk/17115/12-09-2015/victory-for-jeremy-corbyn-now-lets-build-a-movement-to-stop-the-tory-cutsBe interesting to see if they really do stand against Labour in next year's local elections.Here's what LU said before he was elected.http://leftunity.org/jeremy-corbyn-a-new-moment-a-new-movement/Of note these passages:
Quote:Left Unity understands that some of its members will view joining the Labour Party as the avenue for supporting this new movement. Some have already left in order to campaign and vote for Jeremy. We wish them well and recognise that in ending their membership they are not renouncing the shared politics which drew them towards our party in the first place.(…) We will introduce a ‘friends of Left Unity’ category whereby those who have chosen not to remain members can continue to receive our newsletter and participate in joint discussion and common action on issues that unite us.They seem to accept that many of their members will drift back to Labour.
Oh, just to stir it a bit
Quote:We will introduce a ‘friends of Left Unity’ category whereby those who have chosen not to remain members can continue to receive our newsletter and participate in joint discussion and common action on issues that unite us.Would a SPGBer becoming a member of such a category disciplinary face charges?I'm sure on a personal level there are members who are friends with Left Unity members And is there any circumstance that we ourselves would create such a category…for instance, for those who do not cast off their religious convictions and supernatural beliefs.
Corbyn said:The Labour Party is the joint endeavour of each and every one of us that believe in fairness, equality and social justice. If you share these values then I want to use your talents to make us stronger, and I want to represent you. So, help me be your representative. When I stand at the despatch box for Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, I want to be your voice.What if 'Labour leaders' become delegates?
Vin wrote:What if 'Labour leaders' become delegates?Actually, Corbyn does seem to be a genuine democrat who wants Labour policy to be decided by the membership instead of being handed down from on high. Whether he will be able to deliver on this is another matter, especially as his deputy, Tom Watson, is a machine politician and has already stabbed him in the back this morning over NATO and Trident. He was the man who tried to overthrow Blair to make way for Brown and could be the man to organise a coup against Corbyn when the time comes. It looks as if it's going to be another episode of Tom and Jerry (another idea for the front cover? )
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