Labour must watch its left flank in months to come – new party Left Unity is on the move

[Ken Burch]

http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2014/03/labour-must-watch-its-left-flank-months-come-new-party-left-unity-move

Left Unity is the hottest thing on the left right now. In a few short months, it has attracted more than 1,800 members. With a new member joining every 10 minutes over the weekend, the party is going from strength to strength.

On Saturday, Left Unity held its first national conference in Manchester. After a day of open, democratic debate around a series of motions sent in by branches and members around the country, the party agreed that it would launch its challenge to the Tory-led government and weak Labour opposition by campaigning against austerity, poverty pay, zero-hour contracts and privatisation.

Left Unity is committed to introducing a mandatory living wage and a 35-hour working week with no loss of pay to support people struggling with their work-life balance.

It will campaign to bring the railways and the energy companies back into public ownership, policies that big business-backed Labour will not even consider even though they are supported by the vast majority of British people. The best Miliband is willing to offer, despite rightly pointing to a cost of living crisis, is a temporary price freeze on energy bills. But neither the energy companies nor the railways – which could only ever be run as monopolies in private hands – have delivered the promised and overly vaunted choice and competition that the deified ultra free market philosophy would have us believe gives the best deal for consumers. Bringing them back into public ownership would not only allow such companies to be run in the interests of their workers, but also their consumers, the poorest of which are being crippled by soaring costs.

[Prophet 451]

1. First I've heard of them

If they're fielding candidates in my area, they'll be getting my vote.

[Ken Burch]

2. Well, they were just founded in November, so it's natural this article would be an introduction

It would be good strategy for them to target some council seats in the May local elections. You don't have to flip a huge number of votes to make a showing at that level...and an effort in the European Parliament elections might also be worth their while.

Those are contests where this group could have an impact without being accused of "vote-splitting" to the same extent that focusing on seats at Westminster(they'll have to stand in some seats in the GE as well, just to be taken seriously)would cause.
And, frankly, Labour deserves at least some pressure from the left...it's been allowed to treat that part of the spectrum as a bloc of votes it could count on without having to offer anything in return. If nothing else, this might cause Labour to finally admit that, after twenty seven years(since Kinnock's first defeat in 1987)that it's time to stop punishing, demonizing and humiliating its OWN left wing.

[msongs]

3. 1800 people. You can fit more than that in a movie theater nt

[Ken Burch]

4. You have to start somewhere.

And it's good to see somebody making the effort.

Anyone who's fighting to revive the Left, anywhere, should be encouraged.

After all, what else is there?

Just voting Labour doesn't really achieve anything...and the LibDems have now merged with the Tories, for all practical purposes(which is why they'll lose at least thirty seats at the next general election).

[T_i_B]

5. 1st I've heard of them as well

I have one or two question here. Firstly, is this linked to Far Left groups such as the Socialist Workers party? If so then then quite frankly there would be a severe risk of the whole thing breaking down into infighting and making a mockery of the name "Left Unity".

Secondly, will they be standing in this years European Parliament elections? These elections are not far off now. And there will be other left wing groups such as the National Health Action Party on the ballot paper for that.

[Ken Burch]

7. Two answers

1)In the comments section at the link, the article's author states that the SWP(and its successor, Respect)played no role in the launch.

2)Not the Euro elections, but I'd expect they'll make an effort in the local elections taking place on the same day.

[T_i_B]

8. It may not have the SWP on board.....

...but the rest of them do seem to be other far left groups who have fallen out with the SWP.

Looks to me like more of a rival to TUSC then Labour http://www.tusc.org.uk/

And I still have no idea who or what will be representing the far left at this years European elections.

[oldironside]

10. I can't be the only person...

... who thought of the People's Front Of Judea.

[muriel_volestrangler]

6. websites:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left_Unity_%28UK%29
http://leftunity.org/about/

They're not putting up candidates for the EU elections.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-26786821

[LeftishBrit]

9. Much as I think that Labour needs a push to the left...

and I agree with quite a lot of the ideas expressed here; I fear that, without a change in the electoral system (which would be a good idea IMO; but the voters rejected such a change when we had a referendum) alternative Left parties may only help to keep Tories in power.

I think that perhaps the future lies not in new Parties, but in an increased role of grassroots pressure groups campaigning on the important issues.

Ironically, if Labour win next year's election, they may well have UKIP to thank for splitting the right-wing vote!

[T_i_B]

11. I don't think it's the electoral system itself that is the problem

I think the problem lies with the political parties themselves. Even if I agreed with a political party about the right way forward for this country (which I don't, voting at the moment really is a matter of choosing the least shite of a very poor bunch) I can't see any real benefit to joining a political party.

I agree that grassroots pressure groups, and organisations such as 38 Degrees are far better for those of us who don't have a spare million pounds to chuck at politics.