unity!@unite
Tuesday 12 July 2016 communist-party.org.uk
Tom Watson outed that Jeremy Corbyn’s resignation as the Deputy party leader Tom Watson – Leader was not on the agenda. Mr Watson another New Labour figure, albeit of a knew that, and it is entirely wrong to slightly more proletarian cast than is HE RiGHT WinG coup to suggest that any public statement by conventional for that tribe, who was replace Jeremy Corbyn as around at the time and voted for the war – Jeremy represented any change in the leader of the Labour party situation. This is a deeply disingenuous remains dangerous but now runs up has also cast himself as conciliator and last week brokered talks between a group manoeuvre. against the undeniable truth that I will continue to work with trade union of union leaders, Corbyn’s team and the the dissident members of the colleagues and others to chart a way PLP. parliamentary Labour party are The idea was to get the union leaders to forward, including meeting the legitimate totally out of touch with both party concerns of Labour MPs. Should there pressure Corbyn into resigning. and people. have to be a leadership election, I must The legs came of this effort with You have to marvel at the tactical warn that any attempts to keep Jeremy spectacular results over the weekend ineptitude of coup plotters who – in the when the leaders of the GMB and Unison Corbyn, elected just ten months ago with week in which Chilcot reports – present an enormous mandate, off the ballot paper took to the Durham stage to proclaim as their candidate an MP who backed by legal means risks a lasting division in support for Corbyn just as the twin Blair and Bush and voted for both the Iraq war, and, a decade later, the bombing messages came, from Watson announcing the Party. It is time for everyone to commit to a the talks were off and Eagle confirming of Syria. democratic and dignified procedure as the her leadership bid. The contrast with Corbyn, whose only way to avert such a disaster for With Labour’s National Executive public statement demonstrated his working people. Council finely balanced and due to commitment to the unity of the party and consider the leadership issue there is the PLP by taking collective The key test will be whether or not the responsibility for the decision to go to war more to this than meets the eye. Eagle candidature gets the full support of Watson, who presents himself as close could not be greater all those in the PLP who signed up for the to union members, especially the Meanwhile, Eagle appears on Sunday no confidence vote in Jeremy Corbyn. engineers that are now part of Unite, has morning political TV to tearfully worry Already some MPs appear to be abandoned his role as broker and appears about the pressure Blair is under! backtracking. If not there may be some to be acting in concert with the coup Angela Eagle’s bid for leadership has chance of patching things up. plotters. been delayed more often than a Virgin Watson, by his manoeuvres has raised Unite’s general secretary Len train but was finally choreographed for yesterday, just as the people who will vote McCluskey has issued a statement which, the stakes dramatically and narrowed the opportunities for a compromise that would in the leadership election were reading of in essence, speaks of a betrayal of trust. have met such legitimate concerns of MPs This is what he says: Corbyn’s ecstatic welcome at the Durham that may exist. But the dissident tendency I am dismayed at the statement issued Miners’ Gala and days before he will be in the parliamentary party have created by Tom Watson announcing his feted at the Tolpuddle Festival. conditions in which the contending forces withdrawal from talks aimed at resolving The electorate is currently swelling by are compelled to confront each other in a the crisis in the Labour Party. approximately 50,000 new Labour Party battle which will result in the victory of Extraordinarily I received no notice of members each week and it doesn’t appear one or the other. this statement before it was issued. I had that very many are joining to displace The struggle for the leadership of the made arrangements for a meeting of trade Corbyn and support the dissidents. Labour Party will now encompass the union leaders, Tom Watson and To add to Eagle’s woes her local party struggle to reconstitute the parliamentary representatives of the PLP and the Party in East Wallasey are backing Corbyn. party. Leader for tomorrow (Sunday 10 July), Party vice chair Paul Davies – a former arrangements requested by Tom Watson Unite road transport national secretary – NICk WRIGHT BLOGS AT and his colleagues, specifically for Mr said local members would feel it was a Watson’s convenience. “slap in the face” if Corbyn was kept off 21CENTuRYMANIFESTO In that context, when the possibility of a the ballot paper. “I think there would be uproar and any workable plan had never seemed closer, Tom calls for Angela to be deselected would “You're a Watson’s actions increase.” well-paid MP, I know. today can only look Someone called Smith, apparently a But, if I give you £1,000, will like an act of former radio announcer and currently a you answer two questions for me?” sabotage fraught Welsh Labour MP, was reported to be a “Absolutely! with peril for the candidate, presumably on the basis that What's the second future of the Labour he was not an MP when the Iraq war was question?” Party. launched. He now appears to be I must clarify one point in Tom rebranding himself as a conciliator in Watson’s statement – I made it absolutely Labour’s internal divisions. We will not clear from the outset of these discussions hear much more of him, I suspect. BY
NICk WRIGHT
T
Gerardo Hernández, one of the Miami Five addressed the Durham Miners Gala over the weekend, together with his comrade René González Gerardo, together with Fernando González, René González, Antonio Guerrero, and Ramon Labañino were unjustly imprisoned in 1998 for trying to prevent terrorist attacks against Cuba. They received harsh sentences after infiltrating Florida based groups responsible for violent actions and bombing campaigns against the island. British trade unions and Cuba Solidarity Campaign activists were at the forefront of the international campaign for their release. For the first 18 months of their freedom the men travelled across the island to meet with the Cuban people. They were honoured with state visits to Venezuela, Bolivia and South Africa where they met with the presidents of those countries, and travelled extensively through Europe to France, Spain, Portugal, Sweden and Moscow. Frustratingly for British campaigners wanting to celebrate the Five’s release with them in Britain, it has taken more than two years and 11 judges in immigration tribunals and the Court of Appeal for them to receive visas to enter Britain. René González was twice denied a visa by the British government on the grounds that he had spent more than four years in a foreign prison. The second refusal followed an invitation from 28 MPs to attend a meeting in parliament. However, in November 2015, following a legal battle, the Court of Appeal ruled that the refusals breached the MPs’ freedom to receive and impart information under Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). The judges also refused to let the Home Office appeal against their decision at the Supreme Court. Eventually the threat of a judicial review and urgent actions by CSC supporters and MPs appealing to the Home Office resulted in visas being issue just two days before the men and their families were due to fly.
Solidarity with Cuba and Venezuela Today! Tuesday 12 July, 5.30pm/End of session Syndicate Room 1, Brighton Centre With very special guest speakers from the Miami Five: Gerardo Hernández and René González Jacobo Torres, international officer, Venezuelan TUC (CSBT) H.E Rocio Maniero, Venezuelan Ambassador Chair: Diana Holland, assistant general secretary, Unite
Solidarity and peace still the priority BY LIz
PAYNE
T
HE RESponSE of imperialist powers to the ongoing economic crisis of capitalist profitability has been the intensification of their aggressive strategies. In their struggle to maintain hegemony, control resources and markets, stifle emerging competition and eradicate the potential challenge of left-wing and progressive movements across the world they pose a great danger to peace. The conflicts in the Middle East, Eastern Europe and North Africa – which have already brought death and misery to millions – are in danger of escalating into devastating regional wars, bringing the potential of a generalised global conflagration ever closer. US-led imperialism may be prepared to risk the destruction of humanity rather than see an equal, just and democratic world, but we acknowledge that violence and war are not inevitable and that the progressive and peace-loving peoples of the world can counter this threat. In Britain, left and progressive people
must challenge the warmongering foreign policies of the Tory government, consistently oppose aggression and advocate a peaceful alternative. Neither NATO nor any other aggressive pact or alliance with the US, EU and their allies can deliver peace. In our quest for peace we need to work together to build a broad, strong and united peace movement working with CND, the Stop the War Coalition and campaigns against the arms trade and chemical and biological weapons. It is also important to make links with the international peace movement and we welcome the re-establishment recently of the British Peace Assembly – the British affiliate of the World Peace Council. Peace is the pre-requisite for equality and justice. The National Assembly of Women (Britain’s affiliate to the Women’s International Democratic Federation representing millions of women worldwide) campaigns for peace and we welcome the growing involvement of major trades unions in its work. LIz PAYNE IS CHAIR OF THE COMMuNIST PARTY