Metal Reviews

Someone should do also something about the skinhead bouncers in bomber jackets that stand around taking photos of anti-BNP protestors to put on sites like Redwatch (google it, I think posting a link will violate some forum rules).

He's in no position to be complaining about free speech and democracy...

Forcibly disrupting conferences is probably counter-productive, but I'd support eggings all the way. In fact, wouldn't it be hilarious if he could get covered by eggs in every public appearance during his time as an MEP

Agreed, people need to bring socialism up to date and get their heads out of the past. There will be no revolution, guys, so pining for one is just wasting everyone's time whilst the right successfully blames centre-left expenditure for the economic woes.

Depressingly, people I talk to regarding this aren't supporting the Tories seemingly just because of their lack of apparent policies. If Cameron gets his arse in gear and reveals a new plan for a new Britain or some similar bullshit then the left might as well just go to sleep for the next decade.

Haven't the BNP officially repudiated Redwatch? I think you're underestimating just how successful their image change has been. They even have a jewish councillor, ffs; people like UAF are just making themselves look silly with their hysteria - if Griffin can make himself sound tolerant he'll look calm and professional in comparison (if he dropped that whites-only membership rule, the current critics would have the carpet yanked right from under them, that would be the smart thing for him to do).

OK but you're underestimating who they actually are, and how superficial their image change is. They MIGHT drop the no non-whites rule, but that would destroy them because it is what so many of its membership, including Griffin himself, are deeply committed to. So long as I'm not misinformed, the constitutional change banning non-whites is not some relic from the Tyndall days, it was specifically introduced recently under pressure from the parties membership, worried about the moderation going too far.

Maybe UAF's tactics are hysterical, but if anything the image change makes it worse. Actually revealing Nick Griffin and Andrew Brons's backgrounds is the right tactic.

The good news is, if you think the far left suffers from internal squabbling, have a look at far right history This process of being integrated in the European Parliament is really going to fuck them up.

The BNP will join up with Haider, sure. But for an organisation of extremist woodlice, they are crawling dangerously far from out under their damp rock.

Funny thing about the Tories... guess who else has just pulled out of the mainstream conservative EU grouping, to join the one populated by the BNP, Haider's party, not to mention various parties with names like "Bulgarian National Attack" and so forth?

EDIT: oh yes, and Alessandra Mussolini's party, as well

Mark Serwotka, the general secretary of the PCS civil service workers’ union, has asked how, come the general election, can we ask working people to cast a ballot for ministers like Pat McFadden.

McFadden is pushing through the privatisation of the post office.

Serwotka proposes that trade unions should stand candidates.

Those who campaigned against the BNP in the elections know that when they said to people, “Don’t vote Nazi” they were often then asked who people should vote for.

The fact that there is no single, united left alternative to Labour means there was no clear answer available.

The European election results demonstrate that the left of Labour vote was small, fragmented and dispersed.

The Greens did not make significant gains either. The mass of Labour voters simply did not vote. We cannot afford a repeat of that.

The SWP is all too aware of the differences and difficulties involved in constructing such an alternative.

We do not believe we have all the answers or a perfect prescription for a left wing alternative.

But we do believe we have to urgently start a debate and begin planning to come together to offer such an alternative at the next election, with the awareness that Gordon Brown might not survive his full term.

One simple step would be to convene a conference of all those committed to presenting candidates representing working class interests at the next election.

The SWP is prepared to help initiate such a gathering and to commit its forces to such a project.