At the moment the incumbent Labour administration appear not to be riding too high in the polls. The Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, is at an all-time low in the popularity stakes and all in all things are not looking too good for the administration despite winning the 2024 general election by a landslide.
One of the problems perhaps being this Labour Party is not the organisation I and most of my generation we were brought up with. Their policies have little if anything in common with the party of James Keir Hardie, Clement Attlee, Aneurin Bevan, and Harold Wilson. On the contrary the modern variant is trying to govern the affairs of British capitalism while maintaining the façade of being of the old Clause IV school.
That said, the party riding high in the polls are the far-right Reform UK led by Nigel Farage. This party are a neo-fascist far-right organisation and should not in any way be trusted. Their leader Farage was in the Conservative and Unionist Party under Margaret Thatcher, herself holding many far-right views, and he supported her anti-trade union political position. Reform UK are in a position it would appear to be calling the shots whether in government or not. Already the Labour government have been forced into proposing some of the fascists' policies themselves in order to appease the electorate into not voting in 2029 for Farage and his gang. The main opposition party, the Conservative and Unionist Party, led by Kemi Badenoch, are also bending over themselves to wear the clothing of the fascist Reform UK. Reform UK advocate, if they get into power, the use of MOD property to use as camps to lock up all immigrants, legal or otherwise, using troops as guards. The government of Starmer have been quick to ape such policies. These camps will be akin to the Nazi concentration camps in the early years of the Third Reich. The frightening thing is; Farage could get his way whether he is in Number Ten or not simply by dragging the parliamentary political axis to the right thus forcing some of his policies through by the ‘back door’! The British Labour Party supports, against many of its left-wing MPs views, the deportation of illegal immigrants but this does not include the vast majority of migrants in Britain lawfully.
On Sunday 28th September I watched the BBC Programme, Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, which was in Liverpool for the Labour Party Annual Conference. The chief guest on the programme was Keir Starmer who for once gave a credible account of his vision. Again, not in the old Labour Party way but, nevertheless, by comparisons with some of his interviews he was credible. He concentrated on the achievements his government had succeeded during their fourteen months of office. That is, at present, one month for every year of the Tory misrule which lasted fourteen years. He emphasised the achievements in the National Health Service (NHS) creating “five million new places for patients” and his success in securing “fifteen years shipbuilding on Clydeside” along with their nationalisation of the remaining British Steel Industry. That in such a period is not too bad and compared with the alternatives, Reform UK and/or the Conservative and Unionist Party, for these days is progressive. He described Reform UK's policies of expelling all immigrants, legal or otherwise, as “racist and immoral” and that such policies would “tear Britain apart”.
On Sunday 28th September I watched the BBC Programme, Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, which was in Liverpool for the Labour Party Annual Conference. The chief guest on the programme was Keir Starmer who for once gave a credible account of his vision. Again, not in the old Labour Party way but, nevertheless, by comparisons with some of his interviews he was credible. He concentrated on the achievements his government had succeeded during their fourteen months of office. That is, at present, one month for every year of the Tory misrule which lasted fourteen years. He emphasised the achievements in the National Health Service (NHS) creating “five million new places for patients” and his success in securing “fifteen years shipbuilding on Clydeside” along with their nationalisation of the remaining British Steel Industry. That in such a period is not too bad and compared with the alternatives, Reform UK and/or the Conservative and Unionist Party, for these days is progressive. He described Reform UK's policies of expelling all immigrants, legal or otherwise, as “racist and immoral” and that such policies would “tear Britain apart”.
The Prime Minister pointed out that many immigrants have lived and worked in Britain for generations and to start deporting these people would “destroy” the NHS. That would not bother Nigel Farage and Reform UK as they are not supporters of the NHS and never have been. In fact they would in all probability privatise the service and they may see mass deportations of migrant Doctors and Nurses as killing two birds with one stone. Could that be their aim? Despite these gains made by the Labour administration they are still way behind Reform UK in the polls. If an election was called tomorrow, they are estimated to achieve upwards of 350 seats which is more than enough to form a government. Thereby hangs the question; could that be the last election Britain sees for some time?
Nigel Farage by his own tongue has stated; “we lack experience in government which is our only setback”. But that would not bother Farage because him and his party intend running Britain like a business, certainly on business lines, and not a political entity in its liberal democratic sense at all. This form of governance often called ‘corporatism’ and is a major component factor of fascism. It was the way Mussolini governed Italy, Franco Spain, and Hitler Germany. Trade unions and workers right to strike along with the right to negotiate will possibly be things of the past and with most people dancing in the streets like demented chimps over the mass deportations all these factors will go unnoticed, for a period! By the time people have caught themselves on it could be far too late to do anything about the new ‘corporate’ fascist state. Many of Reform UK's supporters have been interviewed on television and all showed a desire to leave the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). Do these people not realise, are they too fucking stupid, that by leaving the ECHR it may well pave the way to deport people easier but it also could lead to denying every citizen the rights they presently enjoy! Is this really what people want? I agree with Keir Starmer; the policies of reform are “racist and immoral”. The Prime Minister did stop short of calling Reform UK ‘fascist’ which in my view is what they are.
The leader of the British opposition Ms Kemi Badenoch is what could be described as a black Margaret Thatcher. She has jumped on the right-wing populist bandwagon aften aping some of Nigel Farage’s policies. Perhaps what Kemi Badenoch should consider if Reform UK win the 2029 election, and I hope they do not, where could that leave her? Her family would be of immigrant stock and assuming Farage would not need her to prop up his administration could she herself be deported or worse? The election of 2029 could well be a date with destiny as since Colin Jordan and his fringe party of Nazis tried to make an impact an openly fascist party are possibly on the verge of taking power. Jordan’s National Socialist Movement (NSM) of the early nineteen-sixties were a fringe organisation with little support, and not until the early nineteen-eighties did the British National Party (BNP) make some minor gains in local authority elections. Farage is now mainstream, not fringe, and should - unlike his predecessors - be taken seriously! If he should win the 2029 election such victory will have repercussions for Ireland as renegotiating (or ripping up) the Good Friday Agreement is high on Reform UKs agenda! And that may just be the beginning!
Nigel Farage by his own tongue has stated; “we lack experience in government which is our only setback”. But that would not bother Farage because him and his party intend running Britain like a business, certainly on business lines, and not a political entity in its liberal democratic sense at all. This form of governance often called ‘corporatism’ and is a major component factor of fascism. It was the way Mussolini governed Italy, Franco Spain, and Hitler Germany. Trade unions and workers right to strike along with the right to negotiate will possibly be things of the past and with most people dancing in the streets like demented chimps over the mass deportations all these factors will go unnoticed, for a period! By the time people have caught themselves on it could be far too late to do anything about the new ‘corporate’ fascist state. Many of Reform UK's supporters have been interviewed on television and all showed a desire to leave the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). Do these people not realise, are they too fucking stupid, that by leaving the ECHR it may well pave the way to deport people easier but it also could lead to denying every citizen the rights they presently enjoy! Is this really what people want? I agree with Keir Starmer; the policies of reform are “racist and immoral”. The Prime Minister did stop short of calling Reform UK ‘fascist’ which in my view is what they are.
The leader of the British opposition Ms Kemi Badenoch is what could be described as a black Margaret Thatcher. She has jumped on the right-wing populist bandwagon aften aping some of Nigel Farage’s policies. Perhaps what Kemi Badenoch should consider if Reform UK win the 2029 election, and I hope they do not, where could that leave her? Her family would be of immigrant stock and assuming Farage would not need her to prop up his administration could she herself be deported or worse? The election of 2029 could well be a date with destiny as since Colin Jordan and his fringe party of Nazis tried to make an impact an openly fascist party are possibly on the verge of taking power. Jordan’s National Socialist Movement (NSM) of the early nineteen-sixties were a fringe organisation with little support, and not until the early nineteen-eighties did the British National Party (BNP) make some minor gains in local authority elections. Farage is now mainstream, not fringe, and should - unlike his predecessors - be taken seriously! If he should win the 2029 election such victory will have repercussions for Ireland as renegotiating (or ripping up) the Good Friday Agreement is high on Reform UKs agenda! And that may just be the beginning!
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| Caoimhin O’Muraile is Independent Socialist Republican and Marxist. |
Has there ever been a more authoritarian Labour government than the Der Starmer's?
ReplyDeleteHe is an anti-human rights lawyer that has openly endorsed war crimes, armed the genocide while refusing to call it by its name. And he is vigorously suppressing dissent and free inquiry.
Deeply unpopular, I think the one hope lies in him being tossed from the leadership spot and replaced with somebody to the Left.
I agree Anthony, a point I made this is not a Labour administration in any shape or shade, and he is certainly no Second Internationalist. That has to be weighed against Reform UK and should they win in 2029 the repercussions could be devastating. Although I said his performance on Sunday 28th September may have been 'credible' it is meant in the context of the opposition.
ReplyDeleteAt Coference he undid much of his interview by over labouring the Reform threat. That point, once made, should be parked and the emphasis should then be on Labours achievements. Unlike the Atlee government of 1945 this variant of Labour only have the three points I highlighted to boast. They are not bad in the fourteen months of governance but by 2029 much, much more will be needed. The Greens are far to the left of Labour and if Jeremy Corbyn and Zala Sultana get their show on the road credible parliamentary (not ideal) alternatives will be available. Who knows, Farage like the BNP of the early eighties may turn out to be a damp squid. Somehow I doubt this.
Caoimhin O'Muraile
Caoimhin - I think you have tried to outline the strategic reality facing the Left. They may hold their nose but might still have to touch.
DeleteWith a heavy heart, Anthony, I think you are right. Ideally, in an internationalist socialist world built on workers unity and harmony, such words as 'immigration' would be in the dustbin of history. Alas, as of yet, that world based on Marxist economics and politics does not exist, just as during feudalism neither did 'capitalism'. My problem with any concessions to odious politics is where do these concessions stop? You are right, the socialist international do face a huge dillema!
ReplyDeleteCaoimhin O'Muraile