Counterfire, which went live today, has significantly raised the bar for the British left’s web presence. To take one trivial example it allows you to immediately share by e mail, export the pdf or, and this is the clever bit, hear any article on the site. The trick there though is to be patient and click only once unless you want to hear the same article being read two or three times with a split second delay. How well used this will be is anyone’s guess but it does allow people with visual impairments access to online sources of information that may have previously not been available to them.
Established by ex members of the SWP including Lindsey German, John Rees, Clare Solomon and Elaine Graham-Leigh Counterfire describes itself as “a news and theory website from the movements, for the movements.” With an eye to symbolism it was launched on the 100th International Women’s Day and says it is edited by Ady Cousins and an elected editorial board. There is no obvious reference to anyone’s recent or long term political history. Neither is there any identification with any political current nor a hint that the site is representing the views of an organisation.
The first day’s content reflects the recent activity of its contributors, with a lot of coverage of war related issues such as Joe Glenton and an advert for a meeting on Islamophobia. Plugging a big gap it has more material on feminism than you find on most left sites with major features of Nina Power’s and Lindsey German’s recent meeting, an article on Inessa Armand and a report of an entertaining action against Tesco’s jimjam ban. You can find out about the rest of it by visiting the site rather than relying on me to describe it.
It has pulled together a talented team of writers but has understood that it also needs the technical knowledge to sustain a professional looking site with a lot of stimulating content. In a break with the tradition from which the contributors come it seems to be inviting comments. The moderation policy will be a test for the wisdom and patience of those tasked with administering it I suspect. The hardest part of that is likely to be allowing the free and easy attitude to comment and dissent that are features of living movements free rein while stopping idiots behaving true to form.
Analogies are always invidious but that’s not always a reason not to make them. Now that Socialist Unity is explicitly locating itself somewhere in the middle of a triangle formed by Gordon Brown, George Galloway and Ken Livingstone Counterfire has the potential to become the premier source of information and meeting place for those of an activist bent who don’t feel comfortable inside that triangle. Its commitment to theory from day one is also a pleasing rejection of the empiricism which has been the charm and the bane of the British left.
Here’s wishing the site well.
Liam redux 
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