Left Unity (UK)

Left Unity
Principal Speakers Felicity Dowling, Pete Green, Micheline Mason, Salman Shaheen[1]
National Secretary Kate Hudson[1]
Founded 30 November 2013
Membership  (May 2014) 2,000
Ideology
Political position Left-wing
European affiliation Party of the European Left[8]
Colours      Red      Green      Black
House of Commons
0 / 650
House of Lords
0 / 724
European Parliament
0 / 73
Local government
1 / 21,871
Website
http://leftunity.org/
Politics of the United Kingdom
Political parties
Elections

Left Unity is a left-wing political party in the United Kingdom, founded in 2013 after the film director Ken Loach appealed for a new party of the left to replace the Labour Party, which he claimed had failed to oppose austerity and had shifted towards neoliberalism.[9][10][11][12] More than 10,000 people signed up to Loach's initial appeal.[13] By 2014, the party had 2,000 members[14] and 70 branches across Britain.[6]

Organisations supporting Left Unity

Although Left Unity is based on individual membership rather than organisational affiliations,[15] a number of left groups have encouraged their members to join as individuals. These include:

Additionally, some individual members of the Labour Party and the Green Party have joined Left Unity. On 8 February 2014, the CPGB (PCC) launched the Communist Platform of Left Unity as a permanent tendency.[16] According to the International Socialist Network's Autumn 2014 Discussion Bulletin, it is a tendency within Left Unity,[17] and has members elected to the National Council.[18]

Party views

Left Unity's primary aim is to:

...unite the diverse strands of radical and socialist politics in the UK including workers' organisations and trade unions; ordinary people, grass root organisations and co-operatives rooted in our neighbourhoods and communities; individuals and communities facing poverty, discrimination and social oppression because of gender, ethnicity, age, disability, sexuality, unemployment or under-employment; environmental and green campaigners; campaigners for freedom and democracy; all those who seek to authentically voice and represent the interests of ordinary working people.
—Left Unity, Party constitution[19]

Left Unity was founded by Ken Loach, who believed there was an "absence of a strong voice on the left" and that "the Greens are alone among the political parties in not standing up for the interests of big business". He wanted a "UKIP of the left", "a successful party to the left of Labour as UKIP appears to be a successful party to the right of the Tories".[20]

Economy

Left Unity is an anti-capitalist political party, which is firmly against "austerity programmes which make the mass of working people, the old, the young and the sick, pay for a systemic crisis of capitalism" and believes that such measures offer protection for the bankers, rather than everyday people.[7] A prominent member of the party, Ken Loach, says that he also considers that "an anti-austerity alliance is good, but the problem with [the Scottish National Party, Plaid Cymru and the Green Party is that] they're mainly social democrat parties". He has been quoted paraphrased as saying: "parties like his are needed to peddle a more radical message".[21]

Left Unity also want to end privatisation of public services in education and health, end the "zero-hours contracts", advocate common ownership and democratic control over "the means of producing wealth", the reversal of what it sees as 30 years of neoliberalism and aims to "build international networks of solidarity to support any government introducing such measures within Europe and elsewhere".[22] Left Unity also wishes for full employment "through measures such as reduced working hours for all; spending on public housing, infrastructure and services; and the public ownership of, and democratic collective control over, basic utilities, transport systems and the financial sector" and is opposed to "the casualization of employment conditions and laws which restrict the right of workers to organise effectively and take industrial action."[7]

However, the party has been criticised from the far-left political organisations, with critics claiming the party has a "commitment to govern within the framework of capitalism" and that the party's economic programme "is a left-Keynesian, reformist programme, which would leave more than half of the FTSE 100 companies still in private hands, despite phrases in it about a "strategic vision of structural change" and the principle "from each according to their ability, to each according to their needs", lifted from the Communist Manifesto."[23]

The 2014 party constitution clearly states that Left Unity aims to build a society in which, at least in the medium term, there is still a private sector element in the economy - though operating within the framework of a radical Left National Plan. Thus in Section 2) Aims, subsection b) the Constitution commits the party to strive for a mixed economic structure - at least in the medium term of a future Left Unity government:

"...a democratically planned economy that is environmentally sustainable, within which all enterprises, whether privately owned, co-operatives, or under public ownership, operate in ways that promote the needs of the people and wider society".[24] The 2015 pre General Election Left Unity Manifesto however appears to pursue a more far-left line, and refers to the needs for an economy "run democratically, not controlled by the few in the interests of 1% of the population. This means the principle of common ownership of all natural resources and means of producing wealth."[25]

The Party also calls for a £10 minimum wage and wishes to emulate "the kind of economy that Syriza in Greece and Podemos in Spain are calling for," according to Ken Loach. [21]

Environmentalism

Left Unity says their party is "red and green", with "red" being a reference to left-wing politics and "green" referring to environmentalism. Left Unity also believes that capitalism disregards the ecosystem, stating that:

Ecological devastation, resulting from the insatiable need to increase profits, is not an accidental feature of capitalism: it is built into the system’s DNA and cannot be reformed away. Capitalism is increasingly demonstrating its total incompatibility with the maintenance of our ecosystem through its ruthless exploitation of ever scarcer natural resources, its pollution of the environment, the growing loss of biological and agricultural diversity and increasing climate change. [...]

When the politicians propose using market mechanisms to limit carbon emissions, it is clear that they cannot see a more democratic or sane way out of the climate crisis. International policies like carbon "cap and trade" that allow companies to buy the "rights" to pollute, or an ecotax that end up punishing the poor, are all measures that will not work in the long term to save the planet – instead giving the rich and powerful nations and individuals the right to continue to pollute legally.

Climate change is now inevitable, the question is how much and for how long and how much damage will it do. For us, socialism is the best way to manage the resources of the planet and ensure their democratic distribution in such a way that we are not destroying the environment to make a profit – as the corporations and energy companies are. No more "business as usual" means ending business as the driving force of the economy and instead looking to human – and environmental – need not corporate greed. If we want to save the planet we need socialism and we need it soon.[4]

Equality

Left Unity is anti-racist, pro-LGBT rights, feminist, opposed to religious discrimination and ableism, and supports the rights of asylum seekers and "all those in need".[7]

LGBT equality and feminism

Left Unity has been defined as a "radical socialist party with strong positions on ecology and feminism", and "has a commitment to women comprising at least 50% of its leadership". Speeches deemed as supporting male privilege have been received negatively, and it's claimed that "Left Unity is set to be a self-consciously feminist organisation."[26]

Ray Goodspeed, a founder of Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners (LGSM), states that: "For me, Left Unity is an heir of LGSM in its attempts to unite the left and campaigners from wider struggles around issues of solidarity and common action."[27] However, according to Cristan Williams of TransAdvocate, the party is being put under pressure by the "GCF/TERF movement", who are "currently attempting to force the UK's Left Unity Party to take a GCF/TERF stance towards the existence of trans people,"[28] despite the fact that the party claims to be opposed to "the great evils of racism, xenophobia, sexism, gender-based violence, disability hate crime, homophobia, transphobia and prejudice, profound and structural discrimination against working class communities are inherent in capitalist society and are increasing with its crisis."[29]

Immigration and xenophobia

As the party claims to be against xenophobia,[29] Luke Cooper (from Anticapitalist Initiative) introduced the argument of socialist policies on immigration and combatting racism, stating that no such thing as non-racist immigration controls:

Left Unity completely rejects all anti-immigration arguments and rhetoric. We believe mass migration has had, and always will have, an overwhelmingly positive impact on society, [...] challenge[s] ideas in the labour movement, and even sections of the socialist movement, that openly support or implicitly endorse the idea of "British Jobs for British Workers". Immigration controls divide and weaken the working class and [are] therefore against the interests of all workers.

Left Unity overwhelmingly voted in favour of this policy.[23]

The European Union

The party has rejected many leftist "Europhobic" policies, such as No2EU (a broad left alter-globalisation coalition which aims to offer an alternative to the perceived xenophobic and pro-capitalist policies of UKIP and Nigel Farage),[23][30] which was criticised by other far-left organisations.[31]

Middle East

Left Unity "stands in solidarity with the Palestinian people in their struggle against oppression and dispossession". It supports the Palestinian BDS call, calls for the return of Palestinian refugees, and "resolutely oppose[s] any expression of antisemitism, whether within the solidarity movement or elsewhere".[32]

In 2014, Left Unity received worldwide negative media attention after a motion describing ISIS as a "stabilising force" with "progressive potential" was proposed to Left Unity's annual conference by two members.[33] The motion received three votes (including the two proposers) and the conference overwhelmingly agreed a motion asserting that "the people of Syria including the Kurds of Syria have the right to defend themselves against the Assad regime and against ISIS [...] ISIS is a reactionary and gruesome organisation which has caused suffering and death to the civilian populations of large parts of Syria and Iraq".[34]

Electoral activity

Local elections, 2014

In local elections on 22 May 2014, Left Unity stood 11 candidates in four districts, Wigan, Barnet, Exeter, and Norwich. They received 1,038 votes out of 74,126 cast, or an average of 3.2%.[note 1] In Wigan West, Left Unity candidate Hazel Duffy garnered 8.8%, surpassing the Conservatives.[35]

In March 2015 Left Unity gained their first councillor in Stoke-on-Trent, Duncan Walker, following a defection from Labour.[36]

General election, 2015

Left Unity are standing ten candidates in the 2015 general election on 7 May 2015, seven of which are joint candidates with the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC).[37] A number of candidates (some joint with TUSC) are also standing in local elections on the same day.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ This total includes votes cast in the multiple-candidate ward of Oakleigh, where Left Unity only stood one candidate; the percentage calculation is not adjusted.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Internal elections results 2015". Left Unity. 27 March 2015. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  2. ↑ Davies, Helen (6 March 2015). "Film-maker Ken Loach to address national housing conference in Liverpool". liverpoolecho.co.uk. Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Left Unity - About Left Unity". leftunity.org. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Left Unity - Environment policy". leftunity.org. Left Unity. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  5. ↑ http://leftunity.org/manifesto-2015-constitution-democracy/
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Left Unity conference – some important steps forward and challenges still ahead". Socialist Resistance. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 "Left Unity - Founding Statements". leftunity.org. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
  8. ↑ "We will be part of the Party of the European Left group, which includes SYRIZA in Greece and Die Linke in Germany, and calls for a radically different type of European integration." Betzien, Jody (28 April 2014). "Britain: Left Unity spokesperson on challenges in building a new party". Green Left Weekly. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  9. ↑ "The Labour party has failed us. We need a new party of the left". The Guardian. 25 March 2013. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  10. ↑ Seymour, Richard. "Left Unity: A Report From The Founding Conference". newleftproject.org. New Left Project. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  11. ↑ "'Left Unity' a New Radical Political Party of the Left". Retrieved 2013-12-04.
  12. ↑ "RT News reports on Left Unity's founding conference". Retrieved 2013-12-04.
  13. ↑ "Ken Loach Discusses His Hopes for Left Unity". The Huffington Post UK. 20 November 2013. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  14. ↑ "New party Left Unity to hold first annual conference". British Broadcasting Corporation. 11 November 2014. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
  15. ↑ Watkins, Stuart. "Left Unity's first national meeting: a report". Left Unity. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  16. ↑ "Platform". communistplatform.org.uk. Communist Platform, a tendency in Left Unity. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  17. ↑ "IS Network - Downloads". internationalsocialistnetwork.org. International Socialist Network. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  18. ↑ Admin (11 March 2014). "IS Network members standing in Left Unity National Council elections". internationalsocialistnetwork.org. International Socialist Network. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  19. ↑ "Constitution" (PDF). leftunity.org. Left Unity. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  20. ↑ Shaheen, Salman (20 November 2013). "Ken Loach Discusses His Hopes for Left Unity". Huffington Post. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Eardley, Nick (31 March 2015). "Election 2015: Ken Loach launches 'radical' Left Unity manifesto". BBC.co.uk. BBC News. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
  22. ↑ "Left Unity - Economics Policy". leftunity.org. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 Yorke, Andy. "Report of Left Unity Policy Conference 29 March". Workers' Power. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  24. ↑ Left Unity 2014 Constitution, section 2) b), Aims.
  25. ↑ 2015 Left Unity Election Manifesto, Economy section.
  26. ↑ "Left Unity Launched". Socialist Resistance. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
  27. ↑ Goodspeed, Ray. "Pride - the true story". Left Unity. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  28. ↑ Williams, Cristan. "Gender Critical Feminism, the roots of Radical Feminism and Trans oppression". TransAdvocate. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 Demarty, Paul. "Left Unity: Playing it safe". Weekly Worker. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  30. ↑ "Exclusive: Tommy Sheridan to stand for Euro elections". Daily Record. 2009-03-10. Retrieved 2014-03-13.
  31. ↑ Hyland, Julie (14 April 2014). "Britain's Left Unity lays out its right-wing policies". World Socialist Website. International Committee of the Fourth International. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  32. ↑ "Minutes of November 2014 Conference". Left Unity. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
  33. ↑ "Islamic State's 'Progessive Potential' As 'Stabilising Force' Debated By New Left Unity Party". The Huffington Post. 17 November 2014. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
  34. ↑ "Motions and amendments: record of outcomes". Left Unity. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
  35. ↑ "Local election results". Left Unity. 23 May 2014. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  36. ↑ Walker, Duncan. "Stoke-on-Trent councillor Duncan Walker: why I left Labour and joined Left Unity". Left Unity. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  37. ↑ http://leftunity.org/candidates-2015/

External links