Wherever Stalinists and their fellow travellers get hold of governmental power, and begin to take over parts of the state, the result is always the same. It spells disaster for workers, either at the hands of the Stalinists themselves, as happened across Eastern Europe, China, Vietnam, and Cuba, and as has been seen more recently in Venezuela, or from the reaction to it from the old ruling class, as happened in Chile. Yesterday, at Labour conference we saw again the way the Stalinists operate within the labour movement via bullying and intimidation, by bureaucratic manoeuvre, and outright breaches of democratic procedure and ballot-rigging. It fully justified the picture painted by Corbyn's long-time advisor Andrew Fisher that he could no longer stay in his job, because of the incompetence, blizzard of lies, and lack of even human decency from the Stalinists within Corbyn's entourage, that also convinced him that Labour has no chance now of winning an election. This latter goal, as I have previously written, is, in fact, what the Stalinists actually desire, because in that way they guarantee a win for Boris Johnson and his hard right, Brexit party, so that he can implement a No Deal Brexit, which is the goal of the Stalinists, and their backers in Moscow and Washington.
Some time ago, there was discussion about the Stalinist nature of Corbyn's economic nationalist agenda that flows from the Stalinist theory of Socialism in One Country. It was pointed out that wherever this disastrous, reactionary strategy was employed, the consequence was not just economic dislocation and crises, but an increased use of force and bureaucratic methods to quell opposition to it, from workers, and to keep the Stalinists in position. The current events in Venezuela, a country with the world's largest oil reserves, at a time when oil prices are still at historically high levels, are a case in point. Labour's economic policy is not even socialist, merely a version of he kind of reformist, statist policy that Labour government's in the 1940's, 60's and 70's attempted, but its foundation is the same kind of economic nationalism that underpins the Stalimist theory of Socialism in One Country. For Corbyn and his Stalinist backers, therefore, labour's economic policy founded on this reactionary economic nationalism, is fully consistent with their goal of Brexit.
Corbyn's backers responded to the comments that such economic nationalism always lead to crises and increasing authoritarianism and repression by claiming that Britain is not Venezuela, and Corbyn's economic agenda is not that of Chavez or Maduro, and so there was no necessary correlation. That argument is clearly false. Its only necessary to look at the actions of Boris Johnson in recent weeks to see how governments with a particular proclivity to shut down debate, and to ride roughshod over democratic institutions can do so, if they seek to protect themselves from criticism or accountability.
But, the actions of the Stalinists behind Corbyn over recent months has shown precisely that trend, and yesterday at labour conference, it was there in broad daylight for all to see. At the moment, it is only Stalinists in control of a large union apparatus like UNITE, and control over the party machinery that is used to bludgeon party members, with bureaucratic attempts to remove the position of Deputy Leader, to demand that Shadow Cabinet members parrot the words of the Glorious Leader Corbyn, or else resign their positions, that tries to drown out oppositional voices, and so on, and which uses its bureaucratic control over the apparatus, in full Boris Johnson/Putin/Trump/Maduro fashion first to close down the NEC as the party's democratic body for discussing the composites to be voted upon, and then openly rigs the vote on the conference floor and prevents a card vote from taking place.
Imagine if these people rather than controlling these bits of machinery inside the labour movement instead had control over parts of the state itself. In Chile, Allende began by closing down parts of the press that criticised him. Imagine if the Stalinists here had control of parts of the secret state, or established their own version of the Stasi, as well as establishing or controlling their own bodies of armed men. They wouldn't necessarily start of fin that way, but the same kind of brutal, bureaucratic tactics seen yesterday at conference would certainly be extended first to close down all opposition to hem within the party. It is no coincidence that Corbyn never pursued, and indeed held back the process of democratic reforms in the party, once he had control of the leadership position, and his Stalinist backers began to take control of the apparatus without a single one of them being elected into those positions. This is precisely the way Stalinism has always seen politics and economics/socialism, as something which it does to workers via top-down, bureaucratic control and manipulation, and he use of force to get its way if required.
Democracy, and political dissent has never been part of the Stalinist lexicon. Yesterday, having failed to mobilise any credible argument in favour of Composite 14, and against Composite 13, the Stalinists, as with McCluskey's demand that the Shadow cabinet shut up, was to demand that delegates blindly support Corbyn and his reactionary Brexit position, as though he was some omniscient cult figure, the demands being accompanied by repeated chanting in the spirit of the Moonies of "Oh Jeremy Corbyn", as though this was a replacement for reasoned argument. The only thing missing was the waving of little red books, and demands that the dissenters be sent off for reeducation.
The working-class cannot let these people anywhere near governmental power, and fortunately the actions of the Stalinists yesterday have in any case ruled out any chance that that might happen. But, if they have any sense, or even any ounce of socialist principle, then McDonnell, Thornberry, Starmer, and every other progressive socialist in the Shadow Cabinet will indeed resign so as to distance themselves from this corrupt and reactionary party regime, and the course it has set itself upon.
They should so so in order not to be tarnished with the consequences of these decisions and actions, and in order to align themselves with the vast majority of party members who must have been disgusted at what they witnessed in the last few days. McDonnell, Thornberry, Starmer and others in the last few days, including from the rostrum, made clear their opposition to the line the Stalinists were pushing. They nailed their colours correctly to the mast of Remain, and Corbyn and the Stalinists acted accordingly by kicking them in the nuts. If they stay in position following that they will be without any credibility, without any dignity, and continually kicked over and over again by their abusers.
In the weeks ahead, many thousands of party members will want to go off to join the Greens or Liberals. That is understandable, but it would be wrong. Leaving now, would simply enable the Stalinists to more easily consolidate their control over the party apparatus. It is necessary not to be demoralised, but to organise and fight back. We have the advantage that "We are many, they are few". There are half a million of us, in the local parties, whereas the Stalinists are few in number, but appear more powerful, because they have manipulated to get hold of positions. Its what they always do, but it makes them paper tigers. To vote tactically for Liberals or Greens or Plaid or SNP to prevent a Tory victory is one thing, but actually joining any of these parties is another. They can offer no solution for workers. We have to fight the Stalinist Corbynite cabal and defeat it. We have to undertake a struggle to reclaim and democratise the Labour movement, not just the Labour Party, but also the trades unions, and cooperatives. This week should show why the position of the Trades Union barons like McCluskey can no longer be tolerated.
The half million party members must reject the Stalinist manipulation, and create a Socialist Campaign for Europe and a Labour Victory. We should begin producing election literature on that basis now selecting candidates committed to staying in the EU, and of revoking Article 50. We should ensure that whatever victory Corbyn and his Stalinist coterie think they have achieved, the reality is that the party will fight to oppose Brexit, and fight any election on a platform of Remain. If McDonnell, Thornberry, Starmer and the rest have any dignity and any principle, they will resign, and throw themselves behind such a campaign.
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