The Labour party failed again to win the general election. The scale of the defeat was a shock for most people and importantly, it was a rebuttal of pro-austerity and anti-working class policies of the Labour Party.
Labour right-wingers and most media continue to argue that fighting against austerity means becoming unelectable. The fact that Labour have been defeated twice is an answer to all those who are attacking Jeremy Corbyn. The election did not show mass support for austerity, only 24.4 percent of the total electorate voted Tory.
The Labour Party provoked massive discontent in Scotland because along with the Tories they supported the NO campaign for independence. The Scottish Nationalist Party, that won a landslide in the election, was able to portray itself as fighting for people’s rights against austerity.
The prime reason for Labour’s loss was its shameful electoral campaign they made against the working class and in particular against the immigrants and the poor.
In some areas, there was an increase in voting for the Green Party. As with the Scottish Nationalist Party, the Greens pose as an alternative to austerity, however, in reality both support some cuts and have a capitalist programme.
The real alternative lies not in these smaller parties, but in building a workers’ movement on the streets and building a party that is an integral part of the struggles from below, this is the only road to defeat austerity.
The defeat of Labour has deepened the crisis of all the unions who support the Labour Party and who continually tie the class struggle to the remnants of Labour.
The biggest trade unions have been paralysing mobilisations against austerity since 2010, by diverting anger and discontent away from strike action. This happened with the strikes against pension reform in November 2011. Furthermore, demands to organise a general strike in 2012 or 2013 were just ignored.
In April 2014, Unite’s union leader, Len McCluskey, warned that his union could break its links with Labour if the party lost the 2015 election. However, now the Corbyn campaign provides a breathing space to rally all support they can, once again, for the Labour Party. In July 2015, McCluskey was under pressure by Unite branches in Scotland that submitted motions to a special conference in July calling for a formal break with the Labour Party. But support for Corbyn carried the day.
Jeremy Corbyn campaign
Due to the growing anti-austerity feeling, unions and Constituent Labour Parties came under great pressure to support Corbyn because he is seen as someone who is opposed to the right-wing and austerity.
The youth play an extremely important role for Corbyn. His support comes from agreement with his policies – re-nationalisation of the railways and utilities; publicly funded NHS; public sector wage increase; the abolition of tuition fees; opposition to the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
But his policies do not include a full programme of nationalisation and do not go as far as calling for nationalisation under workers control.
However, the support for Corbyn reflects the mass desire to find an alternative and the deep anger against austerity, which is strongly felt by the youth and working class in Europe.
However, what you want and what you get is not always the same thing.
Corbyn declined to rule out campaigning for a no vote in an EU referendum on the grounds that David Cameron was intent on “trading away workers’ rights”.
However, just a week later, and under pressure from the pro-EU Labour, group he said, “Labour should set out its own clear position to influence negotiations, working with our European allies to set out a reform agenda to benefit ordinary Europeans across the continent. We cannot be content with the state of the EU as it stands. But that does not mean walking away, but staying to fight together for a better Europe.”
Corbyn has also promised to include all Labour tendencies in his shadow cabinet if he becomes the leader, including supporters of privatisation and war. He does not call to drive the right-wing out of the party, he appeases them.
Sowing illusions in Labour
The Socialist Party and Socialist Workers Party are calling for a vote for Corbyn, even though they are outside of the Labour party. But austerity will not be defeated by a Labour left-led party if it wins the next general election.
The failures of the Labour Party and the trade union leadership betrayals have been forgotten by many sections of the left. But as can be seen with the retreats and betrayals by Syriza by their promises in relation to fighting austerity, the EU and imperialism, the path to a socialist working class struggle cannot be carried through by reformist politics.
A Labour Party government will not make any meaningful anti-austerity contributions should they win, no matter who the leader is. Because such a leader will face even greater pressures than Syriza. The USA, IMF and all the world’s bankers and self-seekers in the City of London would use the power base in London to attack any changes to their privileges.
As Syriza has shown no variant of reformism can defeat the combined weight of the national rulers, the EU and the IMF, only the working class with a Marxist revolutionary workers party and International has the possibility of victory.
Feeling for Corbyn is important but has to turn into action in support of strikes such as at the national gallery and rail and the fight against fascism and anti-cuts campaigns. Only a movement opposed to all cuts and austerity can mobilise the millions of youth and people who are now experiencing these harsh realities.
Everyone on the streets accepts that austerity kills poor people and that Labour councils are imposing these cuts. That means mobilising against the Labour party on the streets now and not just the Tories.
Due to the capitalist nature of the Labour Party it is an illusion to think a left Labour leader could change any fundamental issue.
Anti-austerity parties such as Left Unity or local groups such as Old Swan Against the Cuts in Liverpool (who came 3rd in Old Swan in the local elections in May with over six per cent) have to build themselves against the Labour Party and that cannot be done by campaigning for Corbyn.
The fight against austerity can only be successful if it is based on removing the stranglehold of the TUC and the Labour Party. Union members will have to base their struggle in the decisions and organisations of the rank file and mass meetings, and unite with communities in struggle.
One of the most important questions today is that Labour is far too deeply linked to the City of London, is subordinated to the establishment, and has capitalist members, Lords and right-wing MPs. Corbyn will not be able to change that.
The rise of anti-austerity movements across Europe, along with the tense political situation in Latin America and the Middle East, and the movement of the Black working class in the USA today, shows that the feeling against austerity, injustice and capitalism is rising across the world. The British ruling class will not escape these international storms.
The central question is the building of a revolutionary party in the working class – to build the International Socialist League (ISL) builds that fight. We call on the youth and working class activists to join us.
