6 responses to “Len McCluskey to speak at Coalition of Resistance Conference today”

1. Tweets that mention Len McCluskey to speak at Coalition of Resistance Conference today « Mac Uaid — Topsy.com

   November 27, 2010 at 8:32 am

   […] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Alex Snowdon and safefromwolves, Liam Mac Uaid. Liam Mac Uaid said: Len McCluskey to speak at Coalition of Resistance Conference today: http://wp.me/p5JDA-1nU […]

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2. 

   David Ellis

   November 27, 2010 at 9:52 am

   This is already looking like a potential dead hand on the anti-cuts movement consisting of left bureaucrats and centrists. Nobody should forget the role of the organisers behind this initiative in turning StWC into a pointless walking shop or their role in collapsing so many left unity electoral initiatives culminating in their wrecking operation against Respect. CoR looks increasingly like an anti-political adjunct to the labour and trade union bureaucracy and their non-aggression pact to carve up any emerging anti cuts movement with the other pointless SWP front RTW demonstrates the anti-political, bureaucratic instincts of the main protagonists of this project, their inability to subordinate themselves to a movement or work in an exemplary manner with in it.

   Its only chance as a genuine focus of opposition to the coalition would be to give political voice to the growing youth and anti-cuts movement, a political voice distinct from that of the New Labour and Trade Union careerists and bureaucrats who have long ago made their peace with the capitalist system. Unfortunately the conference is set up precisely to avoid such a prospect from emerging.

   As far as is possible the radical left must intervene to politicise this event. We are not talking about some lengthy list of prescriptive political demands but a succinct and concise alternative perspective and political program to that offered by the invisible New Labour leaders and the apolitical centrists who have organised this jamboree. A practical program that expresses urgent necessity.

   Down with the Coalition! Mobilise workers in unions, communities, workplaces. Facilitate, encourage and aid sit-ins, strikes, factory and workplace committees to express the political will of all workers and young people; defend schools, colleges, hospitals from the privateers, defend welfare and jobs and properly funded public services.

   For a workers and young people’s government that will:

   Dump the toxic debts, consolidate and nationalise the banks – with a monopoly on credit the state can direct investment towards the creation of jobs and sustainability and can make cheap loans available to small business, farmers, the self-employed and first time home buyers;

   Full employment in productive work – monopoly property in infrastructure and the means of production must be socialised to achieve full employment. Share the wealth and share the work.

   For a renegotiated European Union based on socialist principles and a new non imperialist, non parasitical relationship with the colonial and semi-colonial world.

   Only politics can make this event a true success. Its avoidance will doom it to irrelevance or worse to become an obstacle to the struggle it claims to want to realise. I fear however that the only thing to come out of this will be a call for PR and to support a yes vote in the forthcoming referendum on AV.

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3. 

   SOP

   November 27, 2010 at 1:30 pm

   I wonder how true that is. Amongst the Left organisations I see who have speakers today are SWP, Counterfire, Workers Power and USFI and doubtless others I don’t recognise. I also understand the body was a supporter of Thursday’s student demo – events that are the best things to happen n Britain for a long time.

   The reason I did not attend is because, maybe being ultraleft, the presence of people like TU leaders, Greens, Billy Bragg etc is always a downer, but mainly because the conf looked to be ‘experts’ giving their view on what’s what and giving set piece speeches, much of which you can guess at before hearing. There appeared to be little time dedicated to discussing strategy. And, yes, I agree with a fair bit of David’s comment.

   But that doesn’t mean I don’t support the CoR? Not at all. A broad anti-cuts body is necessary and yes, as the far Left are very small, these things are always likely to have a domnance by TU bureaucrats etc.

   But we should not presume before we start that this is how it will always be. We should argue for positions, and encourage the CoR to take action (and in which I look forward to taking part in) and have conferences that have a decison making process that this event appears to be lacking.

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4. 

   David Ellis

   November 27, 2010 at 1:51 pm

   That there are bureaucrats `left’ or otherwise at the conference is neither here nor there in fact it is good to try to force them into a fighting alliance. It is the quickest way to expose them. Unfortunately they are not being committed to anything except apolitical vagueries. Once again, the centrists are prepared to drop their own perspective and policies (or they would if they had any) for those of the left reformists who get theirs from the right reformists. It is wrong to think you will encourage the CoR to `take action’ . It will not. It is a lef-reformist, left TU bureaucrat, centrist lash up. The point is to encourage the class to take action and move this obstacle out of the way. It is necessary to argue amongst supporters of the CoR for a political program, radical and distinct from that of New Labour, around which to mobilise. That is the only way to turn CoR into a fighting united front. We do not need more apolitical bureaucracies setting themselves up in business.

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5. 

   Neil Williams

   November 27, 2010 at 5:19 pm

   Keen to read your reports as I could not attend due to recovery from flu.

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6. 

   Matthew

   November 27, 2010 at 8:32 pm

   It was a brilliant day. 1300 registrations. Real sense of a social and political movement taking shape. And Chris Bambery almost apologizing for sectarian shenanigans.

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