A group of members of the Labour Party’s Northern Ireland Executive have suddenly resigned their positions, allegedly in response to left-wing groups organising within the party, with some of the former officers and some media outlets specifically referring to the Socialist Party in this context.
The Socialist Party supports Jeremy Corbyn’s anti-austerity policies and the building of a broad, cross-community left in Northern Ireland. A number of individual members have joined Labour under Corbyn’s leadership. Some did so solely to help defend Corbyn against the Blairite coup and have never attended a meeting. Others have gotten active locally in an open and honest way, aimed at helping Labour to develop as a vehicle for workers and young people to challenge austerity and sectarianism. However, Socialist Party members have not sought any senior positions within Labour. Some of those who have resigned from the Executive were not only aware of this but, for positive reasons, actively encouraged Socialist Party members to become involved in Labour at various points.
Spat a distraction from the real issues
The Socialist Party has not engaged in any actions which explain or justify these resignations. We believe the explanation given is a smokescreen aimed at deflecting from real issues within the Labour Party over lack of progress in the campaign for the right to stand candidates in Northern Ireland, as well as lack of direction and initiative in general. Allegations of bullying have also been made against some of those who have resigned from the Executive by one of the remaining officers. This stunt by the former officers has damaged Labour and distracted from the task of building an anti-sectarian, political voice for the 99% in Northern Ireland at a time when the need for such an alternative is becoming ever clearer and more urgent.
Labour should be open to socialists
Some of those who have resigned from the Executive are also members of two parties – the Co-operative Party and Labour. This is perfectly permissible, as the Co-operative Party has affiliated status. We believe that socialist groups and anti-austerity campaigns should be afforded the same right to affiliate and work with others to rebuild Labour as a campaigning, left force. For those who are supporters of Corbyn’s policies, the focus should be on challenging the pro-capitalist right, including the Blairite-Tory entryists who continue to dominate the Parliamentary Labour Party and the apparatus and remain determined to undermine Corbyn’s leadership, no matter what the cost to the party.
Focus on building a cross-community, left alternative
The Socialist Party worked fraternally with Labour members – including some of those who have resigned from the Executive – in the successful Hands Off Our Libraries campaign last year, as well as in developing the five-point Re-Think agenda which was endorsed by the Labour Party locally and adopted by six labour movement candidates in this year’s Assembly election. We believe that the impact of Corbyn’s policies on political debate has created an important opportunity for the anti-sectarian left in Northern Ireland. We will continue with our constructive and positive approach in working with others in the struggle to build a working class alternative to the Green and Orange Tories on the hill.
Andrew Allen from the Waterside in Derry was shot dead on 9 February in Buncrana by the paramilitary group Republican Action Against Drugs (RAAD). The shooting of Allen has brought the issue of paramilitary activity and anti-social behaviour into sharp relief in Derry.