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1/ Very sad to see many I respect on the left in England succumb to the idea that Starmer is going to challenge the status quo if only the left “keep a hold of the policy agenda.” Not how politics or power works. The establishment are in full control of party politics.
2/ There is also no need for Starmer to “purge the left” - as the left have been disorientated since Brexit, and still are. Leading Labourite figures and publications also wrong to say “the fight remains in labour” - it doesn’t.
3/ The fight now is to rebuild and develop new *struggles* outside of parliamentary politics. The parliament is “locked down” with the Tories. Openings don’t exist in the parliament at this time. But are in abundance in building broader movements of opposition to the system.
4/ @OwenJones84 says it would be a gift to the “Blairites” if left-wingers leave the party. But the emphasis should not be on “stay in Labour”, it should be on “build the movement outside the Labour Party”. Both can be done, but right now one is more important: the latter.
5/ @AyoCaesar says the “Lexit-Remain” culture war should be forgotten. First it’s not a culture war, it’s a major strategic question for the left. Second, the contours of that debate are not a flash in the pan. They are fundamental about how the left relate to crises.
6/ @ronanburtenshaw says if you are disheartened “join a union and take energies to the workplace.” But feels too detached from a national political project, I.e from a major United Front intervention that might combine extra-parliamentary struggles into a national fight.
7/ His article in Tribune begins: “Now is not the time for the socialist movement to fracture and fragment. After today& #39;s defeat, we need to organise and rebuild – and the best place to do that is in the Labour Party.” And makes very good points about Covid and class.
8/ But again the best place to rebuild is not really “in the Labour Party” but outside of it. Where workers, communities, students, unemployed actually are. And the must be engaged with vehicles other than Starmers Labour. To build actual struggle.
9/ The same issues exist in Scotland. In each case the premium is on building movements of resistance (involving millions), to elevate people power above Osborne backed Labour leaders, or a neoliberal SNP. Shouldn’t we focus our talents and energies in this direction?
10/10 There has been a noticeable drift on the left since 2016. Syriza failed for similar reasons. Now that drift is to fold behind Starmer (even if as “critical friends”). Now a time to drive hard into building movements outside of Labour. We will need them.
