Labour leadership contests: Left candidates must oppose all cuts and stand for socialism

Matt Dobson, Socialist Party Scotland executive committee 

Leadership contests are taking place for the UK Labour leadership and deputy leadership in Scotland with the results known by April 4th.

After Corbyn’s unexpected leadership victory in 2015, and Richard Leonard winning the Scottish Labour leadership in 2017, Socialist Party Scotland explained that unless the pro-capitalist right wing of the party was defeated the potential to build a mass anti-austerity, workers’ party with a socialist programme would not be realised.

We also called for a socialist, class-based approach to Scottish independence and self-determination. Unfortunately, the Labour left have failed repeatedly to take this approach.

The indications are that none of the leadership candidates are about to change course. Momentum backed Rebecca Long-Bailey has rightly said she would defend “a socialist programme and take on the establishment”.

However it is not enough to just defend Corbynism but to learn the lessons from its mistakes. Long-Bailey has not been as forthright as Corbyn in promoting nationalisation.

She has also retreated in the face of the witch hunt from the right wing Board of Jewish deputies.

Long-Bailey calls for the democratisation of the party through open selection but then has been at pains to reassure the Blairites that she will tolerate their sabotage of the left and wants a broad coalition.

If Long-Bailey cannot stand up to these pressures how can she stand up to the bosses and fight for workers?

Nor did Long-Bailey use the first leadership hustings in Liverpool to point to Labour’s fighting history in the city.

For example highlighting as a model for today the 1980s socialist council who refused to implement Thatcher’s cuts.

As well as Brexit, many working class areas did not trust Labour because of their record in implementing council cuts and tax rises. That can only be undone by fighting the Tories in deeds not just words.

This is critical as the right wing candidates Keir Starmer and Lisa Nandy are trying to tack left saying they will defend Corbyn’s anti-austerity policies to gain support from Labour members.

The issue of deeds not just words also applies to the left candidate for deputy leader in Scotland, Glasgow councillor Matt Kerr.

Kerr, in contrast to other Scottish Labour candidates, stood on the principle that an MP should take a worker’s wage in the general election and promoted Corbyn’s policies.

However, in action as a councillor he has voted consistently for cuts budgets and anti-worker attacks as a leading member of the previous Labour-led Glasgow City council.

Self-determination

In Scotland, Labour’s incorrect position on the right to self-determination was the major factor in their worst election result in their history. 

But even the left candidates are pledging to oppose independence in a future referendum and to “defend the union”.

They do not grasp the mood of the most combative and radical sections of workers and youth in Scotland.

This means, despite their condemnation of the 2014 Better Together campaign and promising that they would “not block” indyref2, they are unlikely to regain lost support.

Both Richard Leonard and Matt Kerr also do not seem to be willing to stand up to the right wing of Scottish Labour over the right of members to even discuss the question of independence in a democratic conference. 

The limited base of Corbynism in Scotland means the question of political representation of tens of thousands of workers and youth who support socialist ideas and independence must be discussed urgently.

A conference of trade unionists, socialists, the Labour left, anti cuts and environmental campaigners should be called to discuss how to build a new mass party of the working class in Scotland.

make demands

Before making a recommendation on who to vote for, the Labour-affiliated trade unions should question candidates on crucial issues and members should be consulted.

The right-wing leadership of Unison has undemocratically imposed support for Starmer. Members should insist on discussion, call special meetings, put questions and demands on the candidates, and debate the way forward to build a mass working-class-based party.

A party that, as a minimum, opposes all cuts, supports workers in struggle, removes the pro-capitalist Blairites and any councillor, MP or MSP that votes for austerity, backs democratic public ownership, defends indyref2 and fights for an independent socialist Scotland.

Trade union members and Corbyn supporters should not be passive observers in this process but should fight create such a party.