Block the ruling class offensive

Despite this, Labour’s new left leadership has defied neoliberalism, taking a coherent anti-austerity line on economic questions and raising such issues as public ownership, the redistribution of wealth, the low level of corporation tax and the need to close tax loopholes.

It is, however, proving much more difficult for the leadership to successfully challenge Labour’s pro-imperialist orientation. The PLP was significantly divided over war with Syria and is so on Trident renewal.

In order to move forward, it is essential to rebuild a strong, mutually reinforcing trade union-Labour link. To this end, the Blair-Brown regime’s reforms to curb inner-party democracy and weaken the organic link with the trade unions will need to be reversed.

Fully restoring the link will be a key step in reclaiming the Labour Party as the mass party of the working class.

Overall, the significance of the advances made by Corbyn’s politics should not be underestimated. He and his shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, have sought to bridge the gulf between parliamentary and extra-parliamentary politics, attending labour and progressive movement rallies, demonstrations and picket lines. Their position will be strengthened by the influx of members into the party.

Nonetheless, the situation remains extremely fragile, not only because of the procapitalist line of the majority of the PLP, but also because many of the new recruits do not have a clear understanding of the forces at work in their party and in society and how to combat them. They need to be won to play an active role in trade unions, particularly those affiliated to the Labour Party; and both the trade unions and Labour Party branches need to be won to engage in political education of their members.

As a contribution to this work and as a basis for local educational groups, the Communist Party’s executive committee will – with the input of Party districts and nations – develop a suitably diverse programme of Marxist political education aimed at the broad left and labour movement.

Thus the political class struggle in Britain has entered a new phase, manifested in the dramatic change of Labour leadership and the fierce opposition to it. The battle of ideas in the Labour Party and the wider labour movement is on, reflecting the real class struggle in society at large. All left and progressive forces should be engaged in the fight to overcome anti-left resistance inside the Labour Party and ensuring that the mass movement provides the wider context for winning this struggle.

Nonetheless, ideas and beliefs by themselves are not enough to bring about political change; they have to reflect and take forward practical campaigning. Moreover, not only will it be essential to bring many more people into action on the issues which concern them. They must also be won to engage in the political and electoral arena – exercising their right to vote. The trend towards non-registration and abstention must be reversed through public information and canvassing in working class communities, particularly among the most disenfranchised sections of the population.

54th Congress, 19-20 November 2016 9