Now -read the book!

Here is a link to my memoirs which, if you are a glutton for punishment, you can purchase online at https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/an-obscure-footnote-in-trade-union-history.
Men fight and lose the battle, and the thing that they fought for comes about in spite of their defeat, and when it comes turns out not to be what they meant, and other men have to fight for what they meant under another name. (William Morris - A Dream of John Ball)

Friday, June 05, 2009

Labour's crisis - the unions must speak

James Purnell deserved our contempt well before yesterday - not just for his personal conduct but for his reactionary politics.

I hope he never serves in another Cabinet.

If however this Blairite coup is leading inexorably to the defenestration of Gordon Brown by the same sycophants and fools in the PLP who refused to nominate an opposing candidate two years ago then it is vital that the Left begins to prepare now.

The Labour Party must change direction very quickly and dramatically to avoid catastrophe. The trade unions have a responsibility to act (as we failed to two years ago). If a vacancy arises for Labour Leader then the Left must have a candidate to articulate the policies which could command massive support - abandoning privatisation, cancelling Trident and ID cards, and resisting cuts in jobs, pensions and public services.

The Peoples Charter sets out such a positive popular programme, which also reflects the policies adopted by UNISON.

The trade unions must back those in the Labour Party who back these progressive trade union policies.

That does not include Alan Johnson.

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