Silencing the Left
The Covert War on Socialism & the Left Wing within the UK Labour Party
*References & Research links at the bottom*
Before we get into this, I wanted to write a quick note. This article is unlike what I’ve written before in that it is the culmination of hundreds of hours of research, writing, and proofreading. This is a project I’m incredibly passionate about and feel should be shared around the world – not for personal acclaim, but for posterity, and the hope that something can be done.
On the 4th of April 2020, concerns emerged regarding the direction of socialism and left-wing politics within the United Kingdom. These concerns originated from within the Labour Party, marking a significant development that has largely gone unnoticed in mainstream news. While fragments of this story have been reported, such as candidate selection issues and anti-union rhetoric, the full extent of the situation remains largely concealed. In this article, we will delve into what I consider to be the most significant threat to left-wing and socialist politics in the United Kingdom to date.
Following the 2019 election, which was widely seen as a lose-lose situation due to the complex issue of Brexit, Jeremy Corbyn stepped down as the leader of the Labour Party. Keir Starmer, Rebecca Long-Bailey, and Lisa Nandy were among the contenders to replace him. Ultimately, Keir Starmer emerged as the leader and subsequently became the Leader of the Opposition. Many believed that Starmer secured his position by making pledges to renationalize Rail, Mail, Water, and Energy. However, he has since abandoned these pledges, a pattern that has unfortunately become characteristic of Starmer's approach to policy.
Initially, there was a sense of optimism following the leadership election. Starmer's shadow cabinet included members he had defeated during the leadership race and progressive figures from across the party, such as John Ashworth, Angela Rayner, and Ed Miliband. It appeared that Starmer's claim of being a unifying force within the party held some truth. However, it didn't take long for the first cracks to appear. Just two months later, Rebecca Long-Bailey was removed from her post as Shadow Secretary of State for Education for sharing a tweet supporting actress Maxine Peake, who had made a controversial statement linking US police practices to Israeli secret services. Starmer dismissed this as an anti-Semitic conspiracy theory. Three months later, three more cabinet members were dismissed for defying the party whip on a second reading of the Overseas Operations bill. In October of the same year, a significant number of members resigned following their refusal to abstain from voting on the Covert Human Intelligence Sources Act of 2021.
To summarize subsequent events without sounding like a Wikipedia article, Starmer and his team implemented various methods and excuses to bring about sweeping changes to the shadow cabinet. This included reshuffles, dismissals, and resignations, resulting in the side lining or removal of left-wing and socialist members of the party. It became evident that a particular agenda was taking hold within the Labour Party during this period. This is also the point where we must examine Starmer's pledges, speculate on their intentions, and assess whether he intends to fulfil them.
Starmer promised to increase income tax for the top 5% of earners, a policy that was widely supported within the party. However, he has since distanced himself from this commitment, and Rachel Reeves has stated that there are “no plans” to raise the rate. He also pledged to scrap tuition fees, another popular promise that he has abandoned. Starmer vowed to end the outsourcing of NHS roles and duties to the private sector, yet his shadow health chancellor has admitted that this practice will continue. Furthermore, Starmer initially supported the idea of free movement with the EU but has now taken a hardline stance against renegotiations, aligning himself with the Brexiteers. Most notably, his promise to renationalize Rail, Mail, Water, and Energy was quickly abandoned, undermining any credibility he may have had. It is at this point that I would like to introduce another significant figure, Morgan McSweeney, who served as the campaign director for Starmer during his leadership bid.
I must acknowledge McSweeney's effectiveness in his role, although it seems that unfortunately his current role seems to be to root out what he dispassionately refers to as “the Hard Left.” Any hint of socialism or activism from the left within the party is seemingly labelled as such by McSweeney. Many of the deselections and National Executive Committee (NEC) interventions that you will soon read about can be directly attributed to his influence. Let's explore these incidents further. During my research, I have come across more than ten recent cases within the past twelve months when, either local parties have been stripped of their say in selecting candidates for the next election, or specific members have been barred from running due to seemingly irrelevant reasons. For instance, one individual was disqualified for liking a tweet from Nicola Sturgeon that stated she did not have COVID-19. This, in my opinion, represents a clear mockery of the process. Each of these situations has resulted in the side lining or removal of left-wing and socialist candidates, in favour of more centrist options. I will provide the relevant research with linked articles below.
None of this should come as a surprise, as Starmer's leadership team has openly expressed their strategy of becoming more electable by adopting an “under-new-management, eliminate-the-left” approach. This statement clearly reveals their intentions. I also noticed that the organization Momentum has been disproportionately affected, which may suggest a deliberate targeting by design.
Considering all these developments, what are we left with? The Labour Party has forsaken its left-wing ideals and has become a distorted version of what the name “Labour Party” once represented, although this sentiment is subjective. Even the few bright spots that emerged in recent months have been swiftly extinguished by Starmer and his leadership team. For example, the pledge made at the Labour conference to support proportional representation in elections was renounced by Starmer within 24 hours, as he declared it a low priority and refused to include it in the upcoming manifesto. This move is another clear warning to anyone within the Labour Party who dares to deviate from Starmer's new centrist ideals. It may eventually dawn on him that attempting to court right-wing and centre-right voters is insufficient to replace the solid left-wing foundation he is currently eradicating. Unfortunately, by the time this realization occurs, there may be no remaining goodwill from the left for Labour to rely on.
In my opinion, those few remaining left-wing figures within the Labour Party who hold significant positions should consider moving on voluntarily before they are forced out against their will. The Labour Party, as it once was, no longer exists. The left needs a new bastion of hope that is not preoccupied with aligning itself with the right in a desperate bid for power. It requires a party that is interested in furthering genuine left-wing ideals, a party that supports genuine electoral reform to ensure that everyone's voice is heard. There is still considerable talent on the left of the political spectrum, and it is disheartening to witness them being marginalized without a say. Perhaps the time has come for a new party to emerge from the ashes of what was once the backbone of the Labour Party.
Planning/Research Link – (GDrive)
I was inspired when I first heard Jeremy Corbyn, for a bright future of socialist policies. I was one of the many who joined the Labour Party because of that hope. I have been dismayed at the whole system since the attacks on him started. What hope do we the people have now?