Yesterday, Labours’ National Executive Committee ‘NEC’ voted to keep Jeremy Corbyn out of the Parliamentary Labour Party. They voted 23 against the motion to let Jeremy back into the party, 14 for and 1 abstention. The fact the party let a Conservative MP defect to the party even though his voting record is a solid Conservative voting against the £20 uplift for Universal Credit Claimants shows Labour’s search to the far right.
Keir Starmers effort to eradicate the last five years of the leadership of Jeremy including losing 200,000 members at an average of £7million a year in contributions shows not only a lack of judgement but how far the right of the party is determined to destroy the very thing they wish to control. They think they can get funds from elsewhere not to rely on union contributions or a large membership that was engaged in working to elect these very individuals now recking the party shows how pathological Labour to Win or Labour First are in self destruction.
Where does this leave Jeremy now? I believe the party is never going to let him return. My opinion for what it’s worth was to fight within Labour. I believe that is no longer tenable, at least under Starmer. I think even if they lose badly in the local elections in May they will keep Starmer because he is just a placeholder for the right wing’s chosen one. Whoever, he or she may be. Having resigned from the party a couple of weeks ago my inclination is that Jeremy should use the Peace & Justice Project as vehicle for change, one that can become a party to challenge the incumbent Tory Parties of Johnson & Starmer. But what of the Socialist Campaign Group, what should they do? Stop sitting on the fence and become a pressure group for change. You’re not going to change the minds of those who run the Labour Party so be honest, open and radical in your thinking. Vote against Labour Party motions if they do not follow socialist principles and if need be, think about real change. If Jeremy starts his own party, join him. You would be the third biggest opposition party in the Commons. You’d attract more younger people, you might pick up some funding from trade unions that no longer give Labour any money and become a stable well funded organisation.
Let’s not forget Unison, Usdaw & GMB union representatives all voted agains the motion to keep Jeremy out of the PLP. So think about joining a different union if you are in any of these disgraceful excuses for a unions and hit them where it hurts. Things in Unison might change as Paul Holmes is now the President of Unison after some very unsavoury shenanigans by the right wing of Unison of late. But the fact remains if you are really interested in change for the better Starmer’s Labour Party isn’t interested in change only to keep his establishment colleagues happy. Time to leave the party and find give your time to those who want real change.
