This Sunday, 26th January at 2pm at An Realta, King Street, Belfast The Socialist Left Coordinating Committee will be facilitating a public discussion on Left Unity. TPQ carries a statement from the organisers.
The potential of a new political formation in N. Ireland has been simmering for several months. Lately discussions have taken place with major Unions here on the possibility of a People’s Assembly, similar to the formation launched in Britain last summer. These discussions are ongoing.
There has also been the launch of Left Unity in Britain, a major initiative of left parties and individuals, which could materialise into a force in British politics and has links with the left in N.I.
In the South of Ireland since the split in the ULA a realignment is taking place. United left TD's have organised a new group with around a hundred members based in Dublin. A potential non-aligned group based mainly in Dublin has also began discussions to begin forming a new group; likewise links also exist with people in the North in these developments.
Developments have also taken place within the Republican left on building a new group, which also needs discussion.
The time is right for this activity to take place here, our class depends on it!
The organisers of this event are non-party activists previously involved in People before Profit.
ReplyDeleteThe purpose is to build an organisation which is democratic and includes as many left/ socialist groups and individuals as possible, where each retains its own identity, activity and policy.
You have to wish these people well and hope slowly but surely something turns.
ReplyDeleteA new taxi depot has opened beside us. Fair rates of pay and sick pay to all drivers
The depot will be avproper functioning working facility including toilets and a kitchen.
Minimum fare all year round and special rates for disabled and elderly.
The first wee breath of anything that isn't tainted with profit to blow into Clonard in over twenty years and people had serious issues with it?
The same people who sold us Bobby's dream of people's co-operatives suddenly find the functioning reality problematic ??
Michael
ReplyDeleteI wish any real attempt to work for left unity well, but if it is to be a success it must have as its main aim a new left party, which in the long run must mean one party, one party membership card.
There have been countless attempts in the UK and Ireland in recent years to cobble together a loose federated type group, especially when elections beckon.
Sadly it has always ended with one or other of the sects, using it as a propaganda and recruiting tool and then, because they have the patience of a gnat, walking off to start there next great wheeze which is to bring about the dawn of the Trotskyist revolution.
Of course when they split it is always over some high minded principled issue, when in reality you could not get a cigarette paper between the political differences of the Trotskyist groups.
The advantage the English Left Unity Party has over all the other attempts to build a new party which is to the left of the British Labour Party, is none of the Trotskyist groups are part of it.
There are many fine comrades in these groups but in my view they always put what they believe is the best interest of their own group, before the best interest of the working class and I feel that is a great shame, because they have much to contribute but when push comes to shove, they are never willing to bet their house.
Still perhaps I'm wrong and this latest attempt will prove me wrong. We can but live in hope.
Thank you Fionnuala and O.R. for your comments.
ReplyDeleteLeft Unity has blocks of various hues and this would probably be the make up of this effort too, and as you say, L.U. has none of the Trot groups, but it does have former members of those tendencies who have seen the error of their ways.
Nothing wrong with the idea of revolution and so long as people put this first and party second there may be hope.
Michael,
ReplyDeleteI have the greatest admiration for anyone trying to promote a better way.
Those people who set out their stalls in the cold and the wind and rain just to try and wake up the rest of us to brutality of capitalism.
A 'people's assembly' has a nice ring fair play to those who keep chipping away.
I can agree with the points Organized Rage makes especially the reference to getting a cigarette paper through the differences.
ReplyDeleteThough upon saying that there is always hope for something to come along and restore strength and pride to the working class.
If the left continue to shrink away from issue because of political and at times personal differences then in the long run the only place the left will find itself is left behind.
The economic war on social programs is being won by the right slowly implementing cuts not all at once but slowly enough as to sneak them in.
I imagine if that old pompous bag Thatcher was in power today she would have a field day as the left are in such disarray.
Mick as you say a cara many many attempts have been made over the years to form some form of an alliance of the left, and as you rightly say either ego or some high strict adherence to a dogma has seen these attempts end in failure, but and here,s the but a cara in the cause of the rights of the working class,failure is not an option, we must endeavour to work through all our problems until we establish a proper and effective representation for those who need it the most.as you say there is many fine people out there ,I believe it is doable it fucking better be a cara or Thatchers maggots like Cameron and crew will have us back down the mines and our kids up the chimneys.
ReplyDeleteTain Bo,
ReplyDeleteI just wonder where Republicanism fits in with socialism?
Young people like Ciaran Mulholland and Dee Fennell have such potential,however, does the bread butter issues and Republicanism actually contradict each other?
I remember going to Conway Mill a few years ago to a meeting about water charges. The meeting had been arranged by the Socialist Party and a very small number turned up.
Next door there was a meeting called by TC about the new policing bill being pushed through and it was bunged to the doors.
Mackers may have spoken at the policing meeting, I know Marian did.
What baffled me was, the policing agenda was a done deal, set in stone, agreed!! And Sinn Fein were only playing the community card in a pretentious way by stating their case.
The people to me who posed the biggest threat to Sinn Fein on that night were the Socialist Party.
Because unlike Republicans they had the evidence and potential to overturn or at tge very least put the brakes on the water charge agenda which Sinn Fein had also signed up to.
I think we need a new brand of Republican/ Socialist to emerge or Socialist/ Republican.
From Davy Carlin
ReplyDeleteHaving taken a few years out to write and do other things, this was to be the year for me to look around for some wider grouping to give time to - so, like other
meetings pencilled in, I will go along and see what is on offer.
Indeed it might have been a decade or so since I had sat in the same room of some who may be there - but lessons learnt, and time and experience, I’m sure heals old wounds.
And - I know - many aul hands {whatever differences there are} are indeed savvy, gut
instincted and heartfelt enough to see solidarity with our class ascend above the history of the left against the left.
And some know, what is possible within cutting through the bull of the ‘sectarian left’ - of mobilisations {small and large} and change within such terms, when
we work and stand together.
The onslaught from the champagne drinkers on the hill and their attacks on the working class are but one issue that needs an increased stand against - and
there are many other issues of local concern.
For me, I am not one for parties nor for hidden clan group think - with many such simply reciting from the same pre agreed bible, but I am for solid grassroots
organisation and Decisive and Democratic Decision making, and more such - and that is known.
So I have pencilled myself in for this - and who knows - in time, it could be a beginning anew of something important
Fionnuala,
ReplyDeleteYou have hit the nail on the head with the examples you have given.
I have been very supportive of Tommy McKearney's project - The Peadar O'Donnell socialist republican Forum, which was launched in autumn of last year. A booklet of essays based on O'Donnell's papers accompanied the launch, entitled Undoing the Conquest, renewing the Struggle.
This began a process of education and debate among the 1916 societies and I took part in most of these. In my view this is the best attempt to move republicanism into the 21st Century. There is an emphasis on the need for internationalism and on Connolly's view that 'Labour's cause is Ireland's cause' and vice versa, and that labour must NOT wait.
My idea of what a socialist society would look like and that of the Republican Socialists would be slightly different, but I believe that we should unite to get there first and then work out those differences later.
Nuala,
ReplyDeleteWe have republicanism and anti-treaty republicanism we are left with no clear definition both made up of left right and center.
In a sense SF lean more towards the right this being part of their expansion policy looking for the vote outside of traditional or former republican strong holds.
The move to join the policing board was simply to help modify their image their pretext sounded and reads almost feasible though highly unrealistic.
The most obvious being they would oppose any involvement between MI5 and the PSNI in civic policing. I am unsure what that means and even if there was no militants the PSNI and MI5 will still cooperate with each other.
I am unsure what the point of SF is regarding sitting on a policing board as the reality is the police continue to harass republicans even non violent ones which SF don’t seem to have a problem with.
SF is not powerful enough to hold the PSNI accountable so in my opinion it’s just pulling the wool over people’s eyes.
The problem with socialism is it literally conjures images of communism and dictatorships people enjoy the free market consumerist society and think socialism would end that.
Socialists need to do more to educate people on both sides of the community on the value socialism has to offer society.
With anti-treaty republicanism so divided and politically directionless there is certainly room for socialism to offer some political stability though given its present climate I am unsure socialism would be able to coexist alongside republicanism.
Part of the problem being the militant factions tend to view things their way and that tends to isolate political support.
One thing we all know is we need to wake up as the government keeps stripping away from the poor and working class slowly but surely cutting more and more away from the people.
I am sure it won’t be to long before they do away with the NHS and force people to buy private medical insurance.
A few weeks ago you mentioned you once lived in a community where people looked out for one and other that is where socialism begins it is the people looking after the people’s rights.
I don’t necessarily think republicanism and socialism contradict each other at present anti treaty republicanism is to focused on the unattainable whereas socialism is more realistic and can work for all the people just the same as independents can.
With no serious political challenge to the status quo we will end up going nowhere with nothing in our pockets and that will be the trend for the next generation.
Let’s face it the present lot of politicians sit like obedient dogs when their British masters tell them to do so the people cannot expect them to stand up to the British government.
You don’t have to be a hard-line Marxist or Trotskyite to be a socialist all you have to do is give a toss about the welfare of the people.
Tain Bo said;
ReplyDelete"You don’t have to be a hard-line Marxist or Trotskyite to be a socialist all you have to do is give a toss about the welfare of the people."
This is the key to the success of any united front against capitalism!
Michael,
ReplyDeleteIt does offer a realistic alternative and a far better position to kick off from considering what is out there tends to pay lip service to the working class and over indulges in catering to the upper class.
I think the road ahead lays in educating the people I should say the working class majority of the benefits of socialism are for the greater good of society.
It also holds the potential to bridge the religious divide.
I agree with Tommy’s project as we live in the past and that is where the government prefers we stay.
Anthony,
Speaking of Tommy’s project will TPQ be running an article or feature the videos of his talks?
Tain Bo,
ReplyDeletewe will be featuring the videos of Tommy's recent talk in Dublin. A bit swamped at the minute.
Anthony,
ReplyDeleteMy apology if I sounded rushed I understand the swamped feeling and appreciate the work that goes into TPQ.
It was just curiosity as I found his talk extremely interesting.
Tain Bo,
ReplyDeleteyou didn't sound rushed. With so much to go out we don't get it all out as quickly as we would like to. We will get there eventually.
What's required is a complete over haul of consciousness. Its all very well unifying, in fact its necessary. The sad fact is unless we get a change of attitude from the global middle class, financial institutions will always rule the day. My point is if we just unify the left we will still have divisions, ordinary people have grave concerns with socialism we must recognise this. If we could just find common ground this whole corrupt, evil global regime would be fucked. If we just look at society from our own perspective the powers that be will use the right-left paradigm to divide the people
ReplyDeleteMichael,
ReplyDeleteI went to that launch in Conway Mill and it was very impressive.
I think you are right unity first then the sorting of differences later.
Tain Bo
It would be great if we could return to those good old days when people actually did look out for each other.
In the meantime, I think there are people who are intent on embracing another way and hopefully they get the support they deserve.
We have a group!
ReplyDelete16 people turned up, some of them representing parties and campaign groups.
This is obviously only the beginning of a process that two of us have been working towards for the past almost two years, but at least it's a start.
Thanks to Anthony for posting this event on TPQ and opening up the discussion!