UPDATES
E-mail to hear about site changes, placing 'update' in body of message

Our challenge for 2004

Demonstrating the social and political alternatives to New Labour and the market capitalist economy that the Blair regime presides over, is the key challenge we face in 2004. Without this perspective, the increasing millions who oppose both New Labour, its love-in with the global corporations and its partnership with the brutal Bush regime are restricted in what they can hope to achieve.

There are no concessions on the Bush and Blair agendas. They are pushing on with their programmes in every sphere, domestically and internationally, despite growing opposition within and without. The occupation of Iraq, racist policies towards asylum seekers, the erosion of higher education through top-up fees and the continued break-up of public services is New Labour’s perspective for 2004.

Increasingly, Blair's presidential-like figure rests on the army and the secret intelligence services on the one hand and right-wing middle-class forces for support as this capitalist government becomes increasingly isolated from the electorate.

At the same time, the parliamentary system is reduced to a farce. It is virtually ignored by the Blair-Brown axis and their team of unelected advisors and special units. The limited parliamentary, democratic process which developed in earlier periods of capitalism is seen as a hindrance in the era of globalised capital and finance. Now the priority is the free movement of jobs and money across borders.

Meanwhile, Britain is more unequal than ever, with child poverty affecting 20% of all children in London, for example. Tens of thousands are homeless while others are forced to pay exorbitant rents or mortgages they cannot afford in the absence of social housing.

The banality of much of mass culture is reinforced by a rampant consumerism, leading to a massive indebtedness. British consumers have the dubious honour of running up one-third of all the debt in Europe. Many are borrowing against the rising market value of their properties to spend, putting their homes at risk.

This is encouraged because capitalism cannot sell the goods it produces unless people are driven into greater and greater debt. The same is true for governments. The American government has become the greatest debtor in the entire world. Meanwhile, this uncontrolled plundering of resources is taking a terrible toll on the environment. This cannot go on indefinitely and a financial and environmental reckoning is looming.

For all these and many more reasons - including the constant threat of terror attacks in a crude and unacceptable response to the crimes of imperialism - we have to reinforce the simple message: the status quo is unsustainable, out of control and a menace to future life on the planet.

There are those like the leaders of the trade unions, or protest movements like Stop the War, or the proposed “Respect” organisation, who want to channel’s people’s anger into more one-off marches and/or electoral protest. This is simply another version of the politics of the status quo.

In essence, it is saying that applying pressure through the parliamentary process will produce some concessions and reforms. There is absolutely no evidence for this whatsoever and comes at a time when parliament itself is increasingly irrelevant in British power structures. Instead of seizing the opportunity to raise political horizons, this activity is limited to seeking some votes as a gesture of defiance. We can be confident that the capitalist state is not exactly quaking in its boots at this prospect.

New Labour’s media friends like the Daily Mirror and The Guardian are warning that the only alternative to the Blair government are the Tories under Michael Howard. In doing so they uphold the illusion that New Labour's policies are in any way less capitalist market-oriented than those of the Tories. This is yet another attempt to breathe life into a political system that is increasingly discredited and props up Blair along the way.

More than 40% abstained at the 2001 general election and all the signs are that this figure will increase the next time. Millions marched in 2003 against the illegal and premeditated attack on Iraq. These are expressions of a desire for alternatives to the existing political, social and economic arrangements.

This voice needs leadership if it is to succeed in its ambitions and aspirations. Our challenge in 2004 is to build this leadership on the basis of the need to overthrow the status quo and the creation of a new, democratic, not-for-profit society. Nothing less will do.

Movement for a  Socialist Future
5 January 2004