Take to the streets, Unite the strikes, Vote Labour
David Cameron and George Osborne are facing a perfect storm. And much of it comes from their colleagues in the Tory Party and the right wing press.
Firstly, the Britain Stronger in Europe campaign is in deep trouble, with the anti-European right, both Tory and UKIP, advancing in the opinion polls.
Secondly, there is the Panama tax dodging scandal that has dragged in Cameron himself. Channel 4 News has asked 21 Cabinet members to state whether they have investments in offshore tax havens. Eighteen refused to reply.
Panama cruelly exposes the private life of the super-rich, and just when Osborne is trying to impose an extra harsh austerity programme on the poor. It raises once again the fact that they pay proportionately far less tax and use tax havens to hide their wealth.
Indeed Osborne’s budget blew up in his face with Iain Duncan Smith’s resignation. IDS delivered a withering attack on the Chancellor for slashing Capital Gains Tax for the few, while announcing a cut in disability support for 300,000 people. Osborne had to make a clumsy U-turn, claiming the benefit cut was meant for “consultation”.
Thirdly there is Tata’s exit, taking the future of the county’s steel industry with them. When Osborne and Sajid Javid expressed their total surprise it made them look like mugs. And their refusal to do anything to save steelworkers’ jobs made them look nasty.
Fourthly while Cameron won the general election a year ago, claiming austerity had worked, Britain’s economic recovery is now in doubt, as sector after sector of the world economy goes into recession.
Last but not least is the fact that the Tory and the liberal media’s attempts to discredit Jeremy Corbyn have failed. On the contrary, Corbyn has boldly led the assault on Cameron over Panama and Tata.
In sum the Tories are as weak as any recently elected government in history.
Labour and the unions
So what should be the response of the Labour Party and the unions? The answer is obvious: attack them with everything we’ve got. All Together – Tous ensemble! – as the French say.
Starting with the magnificent demonstrations outside Downing Street calling for Cameron to go and the People’s Assembly march in London on 16 April, we should build up a head of steam for massive May Day celebrations. We need to get out on the picket lines: with the junior doctors, with the steel workers, with the teachers.
As the Referendum campaign hots up we need to fight against the anti-immigrant propaganda of the Vote Leave right. It is a scandal that the Tories have blocked all but a handful of Syrian refugees seeking asylum here and sent British warships to help deport refugees in the Mediterranean.
But this year we can vote for a party whose leader has pledged to fight austerity, to renationalise services and to expand the National Health Service. Although many Labour candidates at council, mayoral, Scottish or Welsh level are far from being Corbyn supporters, we need to get as many of them elected as possible.
Even though many Labour Councils are still implementing Tory cuts, we should be out on the streets canvassing for Labour wins in every poll. A strong Labour showing will strengthen Corbyn’s hand. A Labour victory will keep out the Tories.
The big battle today is against the Tories, to weaken and bring them down on every front. Next to this, the key task is to strengthen the hold of the left in the Labour Party, so that we can complete its transformation into a militant and democratic party fighting austerity.
On the streets, in the workplaces, at the ballot box, we say: Kick out the Tories!
