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In Battle for Soul of Britain’s Labour Party, a Leftist Group Is Winning In Battle for Soul of Britain’s Labour Party, a Leftist Group Is Winning
(about 9 hours later)
LIVERPOOL, England — Jackie Walker, a prominent left-wing activist, was in full flow. “We’re part of the biggest political moment in the last 50 years!” she cried. “The seeds we are sowing, who knows what fruit they will bring?”LIVERPOOL, England — Jackie Walker, a prominent left-wing activist, was in full flow. “We’re part of the biggest political moment in the last 50 years!” she cried. “The seeds we are sowing, who knows what fruit they will bring?”
The packed audience in a former Congregational chapel turned arts center here cheered with the fervor of a religious gathering, reflecting a kind of reverence for the man they had shown up to support: Jeremy Corbyn, the hard-left leader of Britain’s Labour Party. At the party conference in Liverpool just minutes away, he had just defeated what his supporters called a “coup attempt” by more centrist Labour members of Parliament. The packed audience in a former Congregational chapel turned arts center here cheered with the fervor of a religious gathering, reflecting a kind of reverence for the man they had shown up to support: Jeremy Corbyn, the hard-left leader of Britain’s Labour Party. At the party conference in Liverpool just minutes away, he had defeated what his supporters called a “coup attempt” by more centrist Labour members of Parliament.
Many Labour legislators fear that Mr. Corbyn, 67, is dragging the party so far from the political and ideological mainstream that he will lead it to another devastating political defeat at the hands of the Conservative Party in the next general election, which is not due until 2020 but is possible earlier.Many Labour legislators fear that Mr. Corbyn, 67, is dragging the party so far from the political and ideological mainstream that he will lead it to another devastating political defeat at the hands of the Conservative Party in the next general election, which is not due until 2020 but is possible earlier.
Despite Labour’s significant growth in grass-roots members, some fear successive defeats. Janan Ganesh, a Financial Times columnist, wrote that “there is a reasonable chance, and it becomes stronger by the day, that Gordon Brown will turn out to have been the last Labour prime minister.” (Mr. Brown left office in 2010.)Despite Labour’s significant growth in grass-roots members, some fear successive defeats. Janan Ganesh, a Financial Times columnist, wrote that “there is a reasonable chance, and it becomes stronger by the day, that Gordon Brown will turn out to have been the last Labour prime minister.” (Mr. Brown left office in 2010.)
But if the mood of the Labour conference itself the last few days was resigned in the face of Mr. Corbyn’s re-election on Saturday as party leader, the atmosphere at this parallel conference, held by the hard-left group Ms. Walker helps run, Momentum, verged on ecstasy.But if the mood of the Labour conference itself the last few days was resigned in the face of Mr. Corbyn’s re-election on Saturday as party leader, the atmosphere at this parallel conference, held by the hard-left group Ms. Walker helps run, Momentum, verged on ecstasy.
In the battle for Labour’s direction, Momentum is winning. Seen by critics as a softer successor to the Trotskyist Militant movement, which Labour banned from the party as too extreme in the 1980s, Momentum has flowered into a powerful organizing vehicle for Mr. Corbyn. It has helped him register and mobilize passionate supporters intent on substituting unapologetic socialism for politics as usual.In the battle for Labour’s direction, Momentum is winning. Seen by critics as a softer successor to the Trotskyist Militant movement, which Labour banned from the party as too extreme in the 1980s, Momentum has flowered into a powerful organizing vehicle for Mr. Corbyn. It has helped him register and mobilize passionate supporters intent on substituting unapologetic socialism for politics as usual.
“People are fed up with a so-called free market system that has produced grotesque inequality, stagnating living standards for the many, calamitous foreign wars without end and a political stitch-up,” Mr. Corbyn said on Wednesday in remarks to the party conference.“People are fed up with a so-called free market system that has produced grotesque inequality, stagnating living standards for the many, calamitous foreign wars without end and a political stitch-up,” Mr. Corbyn said on Wednesday in remarks to the party conference.
In many ways, Momentum’s success is the culmination of the backlash on the left to the centrism of Labour under Tony Blair in the 1990s and the first years of this century. Its detractors view Momentum as naïve at best and dangerous at worst. Its supporters feel they are building a movement less concerned about the next election cycle than with bringing true socialism to Britain. Either way, the group has solidified Mr. Corbyn’s hold on the party’s leadership.In many ways, Momentum’s success is the culmination of the backlash on the left to the centrism of Labour under Tony Blair in the 1990s and the first years of this century. Its detractors view Momentum as naïve at best and dangerous at worst. Its supporters feel they are building a movement less concerned about the next election cycle than with bringing true socialism to Britain. Either way, the group has solidified Mr. Corbyn’s hold on the party’s leadership.
“We’re heading in the right direction, which is the left direction,” said Emine Ibrahim, a member of the Haringey Council in London. Grass-roots membership in the local Labour Party has gone up to 5,500 now from 1,300 before Mr. Corbyn’s election last year, she said, mirroring a tripling of national membership.“We’re heading in the right direction, which is the left direction,” said Emine Ibrahim, a member of the Haringey Council in London. Grass-roots membership in the local Labour Party has gone up to 5,500 now from 1,300 before Mr. Corbyn’s election last year, she said, mirroring a tripling of national membership.
Daniel Cooper, 26, joined the Labour Party in 2009. Then, he said, “I realized that it wasn’t for me, left and joined the Communist Party, then under Jeremy Corbyn came back to support Labour.”Daniel Cooper, 26, joined the Labour Party in 2009. Then, he said, “I realized that it wasn’t for me, left and joined the Communist Party, then under Jeremy Corbyn came back to support Labour.”
“I feel this is the natural time and moment,” he said, when asked about his support for Momentum. “The financial crisis is deeper than it was in the 1930s, and we need radical revolutionary ideas to overcome the problems of capitalism.”“I feel this is the natural time and moment,” he said, when asked about his support for Momentum. “The financial crisis is deeper than it was in the 1930s, and we need radical revolutionary ideas to overcome the problems of capitalism.”
Momentum has helped Mr. Corbyn take over the party from inside, intimidating and isolating center-left members. Mr. Corbyn and the movement appeal to an electorate that is angry about inequality, globalization and unemployment, and is seeking clearer, simpler choices. While Mr. Corbyn is trying to address them from the left, those same issues are motivating supporters of populist candidates on the right, including Donald J. Trump in the United States and Marine Le Pen of the National Front in France.Momentum has helped Mr. Corbyn take over the party from inside, intimidating and isolating center-left members. Mr. Corbyn and the movement appeal to an electorate that is angry about inequality, globalization and unemployment, and is seeking clearer, simpler choices. While Mr. Corbyn is trying to address them from the left, those same issues are motivating supporters of populist candidates on the right, including Donald J. Trump in the United States and Marine Le Pen of the National Front in France.
“Momentum has remarkable energy,” said Mark Wickham-Jones, a professor of political science at the University of Bristol. “But it is clearly energy that is coming from many directions, and it is going to be hard to channel it.”“Momentum has remarkable energy,” said Mark Wickham-Jones, a professor of political science at the University of Bristol. “But it is clearly energy that is coming from many directions, and it is going to be hard to channel it.”
As the Labour Party moves to the left and grows, to become one of the largest in Western Europe, it also seems to slip further from power in a country that has historically disliked extremes.As the Labour Party moves to the left and grows, to become one of the largest in Western Europe, it also seems to slip further from power in a country that has historically disliked extremes.
Mr. Wickham-Jones said Labour faced an “existential crisis,” having lost its traditional Scottish heartland to the left-leaning Scottish National Party and under challenge from the right in working-class districts by the populist U.K. Independence Party.Mr. Wickham-Jones said Labour faced an “existential crisis,” having lost its traditional Scottish heartland to the left-leaning Scottish National Party and under challenge from the right in working-class districts by the populist U.K. Independence Party.
There is now a clear split between grass-roots party members, he said, and its more pragmatic lawmakers. Of the current 230 Labour members of the House of Commons, 172 voted against Mr. Corbyn in a no-confidence vote in June.There is now a clear split between grass-roots party members, he said, and its more pragmatic lawmakers. Of the current 230 Labour members of the House of Commons, 172 voted against Mr. Corbyn in a no-confidence vote in June.
In his remarks on Wednesday, Mr. Corbyn seemed to underscore his apparent lack of interest in vote chasing. At time when limiting immigration is Britain’s most prominent political issue — it was widely seen as the driving force in the nation’s vote to leave the European Union — Mr. Corbyn pointedly did not promise to impose limits. Instead, he vowed to give extra resources to regions where population increases put pressure on public services and said he would crack down on exploitation of migrant labor to help protect the pay of workers. In his remarks on Wednesday, Mr. Corbyn seemed to underscore his apparent lack of interest in vote chasing. At a time when limiting immigration is Britain’s most prominent political issue — it was widely seen as the driving force in the nation’s vote to leave the European Union — Mr. Corbyn pointedly did not promise to impose limits. Instead, he vowed to give extra resources to regions where population increases put pressure on public services and said he would crack down on exploitation of migrant labor to help protect the pay of workers.
The British news media largely interpreted these views as naïve, while senior Labour legislators were already weighing methods of curbing immigration to appeal to disenchanted Labour voters who favored leaving the European Union.The British news media largely interpreted these views as naïve, while senior Labour legislators were already weighing methods of curbing immigration to appeal to disenchanted Labour voters who favored leaving the European Union.
This kind of conventional political analysis holds little water among the members of Momentum, who believe that with enough rallies, speeches and street campaigning they can win Britain over to their version of socialism.This kind of conventional political analysis holds little water among the members of Momentum, who believe that with enough rallies, speeches and street campaigning they can win Britain over to their version of socialism.
“People see in Jeremy Corbyn the chance to change things, the belief that things can be different,” said Ian Hodson, the head of the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union.“People see in Jeremy Corbyn the chance to change things, the belief that things can be different,” said Ian Hodson, the head of the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union.
Many of their own party’s elected members of Parliament are regarded by newly empowered leftists as closet Conservatives, traitors and worse. “The M.P.s should be the servants of the party members, not the masters,” said Matt Wrack, the general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union.Many of their own party’s elected members of Parliament are regarded by newly empowered leftists as closet Conservatives, traitors and worse. “The M.P.s should be the servants of the party members, not the masters,” said Matt Wrack, the general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union.
The Momentum supporters have a hero in John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor of the Exchequer and a close Corbyn ally, who persuaded him to fight on against the leadership challenge. Mr. McDonnell grew up poor here in Liverpool and is considered an enforcer, channeling the enthusiasm and passion of the new Labour members and of Momentum.The Momentum supporters have a hero in John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor of the Exchequer and a close Corbyn ally, who persuaded him to fight on against the leadership challenge. Mr. McDonnell grew up poor here in Liverpool and is considered an enforcer, channeling the enthusiasm and passion of the new Labour members and of Momentum.
Mr. McDonnell won huge cheers for telling the conference: “In this party you no longer have to whisper it. It’s called socialism.” He began his remarks to Momentum by lifting his fist and saying, “Thanks a lot, comrades,” praising their passion and support for Mr. Corbyn.Mr. McDonnell won huge cheers for telling the conference: “In this party you no longer have to whisper it. It’s called socialism.” He began his remarks to Momentum by lifting his fist and saying, “Thanks a lot, comrades,” praising their passion and support for Mr. Corbyn.
But for Steven Fielding, a political scientist at Nottingham University, “it’s difficult to overstate how utterly irrelevant are the speeches and policy debates at this Labour conference.”But for Steven Fielding, a political scientist at Nottingham University, “it’s difficult to overstate how utterly irrelevant are the speeches and policy debates at this Labour conference.”
“It’s political science fiction,” he said.“It’s political science fiction,” he said.
The novelist Will Self summed up the dilemma of a party caught between old socialist dreams and the revolutionary dreams of the youth of 1968. In the modern digital world “with its free flows of capital and most critically labor,” he said, “there’s really no place for a political party with an 1887 heart and a 1968 head.”The novelist Will Self summed up the dilemma of a party caught between old socialist dreams and the revolutionary dreams of the youth of 1968. In the modern digital world “with its free flows of capital and most critically labor,” he said, “there’s really no place for a political party with an 1887 heart and a 1968 head.”