PETER HAIN joined the Labour Party under two years ago. He came from the Liberal Party and from campaigning acuvity in the Anti-Apartheid Movement. He was one of the founding members Anti-Nazi League and is a currently a leading member the Co-ordinating Committee.
The LCC has become the new umbrella under which many in the left of the Labour Party have gathered. Hain talked to Socialist Challenge about the kind of Labour Party he would like to see.
He began by discussing the role of the LCC:
PH: I would like to see the LCC co-ordinating left party. In the past the non-militant left has been: given direction on an activist level.
That criticism is less true in terms of getting policies national executive, socialist politics ought not to be about feeding poncies through stitched into manifestos.
Rather, developing a proper activist movement which can begin to rally the working class on a serious basis.
SC: What sort of issues do you see this campaigning activity around?
This obviously because the turnout conference (200] was less than many expected. Accordingly there been an influx into the Labour Party, or into the LCC, which is necessary to make this mass active Labour Party a reality.
PH: I think that is true. stirrings locally but the LCC and its general perspective infancy in terms of attracting people.
As to issues, specific struggles at the moment, such that against the anti-abortion Bill, to more general campaigns such as against the cuts, supporting industrial action, fighting against redundancies and resistance to Tory attacks on trade union rights.
All of these the LCC and the Labour left ought to be intervening in on an basis and not just sending aLLIVISL around MPs to decorate struggles: SC: But the LCC has yet to prove that it is capable of doing this.
Let's take an example. At the LCC rally both Arthur Scargill and Tony Benn attacked the Leyland ballot. But neither Benn or the LCC held factory gate meetings while the taking place.
PH: Idon't know about the specific example you mention; Labour leaders descending on depositing themselves outside factory gates in the Midlands where they have no base.
But yes, I do think that in the future this should be the sort of role of the LCC and its supporting leadership like Tony Benn. If it is not then I don't see any possibility of creating the kind of backdrop against which the next Labour Government could perform anything useful at all.
In a nutshell what I want to see is a concentration on politics which aren't exclusively geared to electoralism, but well extra-parliamentary arena.
which recognises rather than the formulation of neat and tidy politics and important though these are.
I would also say that I think the Socialist Challenge 15 November 1979 the Labour the through but get question of campaigning, to decorate struggles.' developing important are just an example.
the LCC There should hasn't there have been serious retreats. major failures buccane word on Ireland. these range from La lot of issues. the LCC should have a withdrawal position.
Campaigning dimension.
high and movement politically.
A politics issues as theory;
There would like to see. has been a general crisis of the left of which the Labour Party's dilemmas have been explosive growth of the left in the last few years. It hasn't happened. In tact an SC: But why should the LCC offer a way out? For instance, one of the of Labour left in the last few years has silence and inaction on Ireland. But the LCC hasn't said a PH: The LCC hasn't said anything on But I agree with you, policy Ireland and I think in time it will have. The Labour left has io grapple with the issue of Ireland which it has shamefully neglected. I think, in the end, we will have to rally around the activity Another is the industrial issues and more directly economic struggles. Instead of leaving the politics of trade rights. unionism to the trade union. leaders the Labour left should see as one of its primary roles to help and co-ordinte ihe rank and file of the trade union unity This means linking up much more closely with those at the shop steward level and the combine committees.
SC: The obvious problem the Labour Party has when campaigning on such the cuts is the record of the last Labour Government. So is the present Labour Party leadership not an obstacle to the type of party you have been so discredited SC: But situation. You want to attract those left socialists who rejuvenate the Labour Party but those peopleareliableto hold back until they see the signs of this rejuvenation.
zi emerges, I in left , meeting. it's a chicken and egg could help to disillusioned working PH: Yes, I think it is a chicken and egg situation. But it is our responsibility to show there is a point in joining the Labour Party. If you come in without illusions then you don't. get because you weren't expecting a mass vibrant, dynamic class party; only epportunity to try and build one
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6 In a nutshell what I want to see is a concentration on politics which aren't exclusively geared to electoralism, but which intervenes as well extra-parliamentary arena.
6 But I also think there is a tendency on the part of Labour left activists to indulge in symbolic politics. In the sense that most of what you do is confined to berating and denouncing a right wing leadership?