Strategyn and tactics in fighting Nick Griffin appearing on Question Time

TROTSKYISTS SHOULD DEMAND JACK STRAW’S EXPULSION FROM THE BRITISH LABOUR PARTY! AND WHY THE BIGGEST DEMONSTRATIONS SHOULD BE BUILT AGAINST NICK GRIFFIN’S APPEARANCE ON BBC QUESTION TIME!


Trotskyists have an excellent opportunity of showing the true character of Liberal Bourgeois elements to millions of workers and other oppressed elements used as scapegoats for Capitalist caused crises and who are threatened by any rise of Fascism. The Liberal Bourgeoisie in Britain are nervous of how millions of workers; unemployed workers/millions on benefits as single parents and disabled are going to react with massive cutbacks.


In that situation they are keeping their strategic and tactical options open. They may resort to Social Democracy to contain any revolutionary danger. In the medium and long-term if the Tories encounter resistance with layers of un-organised workers being right wing on other questions may attempt to use this to build right wing populist movements to weaken the organised working class. Ultimately if everything fails due to the organised working class resistance to attacks by Capital, especially as a final resort to stop a Socialist revolution Capital may turn to Fascism to salvage their rule by destroying the mass organisations of workers. The battle in Leeds shows how right wing populism is being used by an extremely right wing mayor to break the union among bin workers in alliance with other Bourgeois parties such as a Tory/Liberal Democrats controlled council.


Trotskyists argue for the biggest demonstrations against Griffin appearing on Question Time in order to improve the confidence of workers and oppressed elements that they will defend their democratic rights against Fascist attacks which could increasingly be emboldened by him appearing on that BBC TV programme. It will also make clear to any wavering middle class elements that the organised working class will lead a determined fight against any Fascist inroads.


Trotsky argued in a 1934 article “Bonapartism and Fascism” that all governments are run by Finance Capital except for revolutionary ones. The key point Trotsky made is that Finance Capital modify its’ strategy and tactics by changes between and within classes. Social Democracy is utilised when the working class are in a strong position against Capitalist attacks and Bourgeois elements use them for them to front their reforms to stop revolutionary threats. When Social Democracy is discredited they bring in Conservative Bourgeois parties to attack the working class. In an economic depression if despair dominates middle class elements and unorganised workers Capital can use this through Populism and Fascism to weaken and destroy the organised working class. Fascism in order to consolidate its’ power has to destroy the organised working class quickly because of their unstable middle class base. If there is resistance by organised workers even a Fascist attempt to win power can be smashed.


Within hours of Griffin being announced as possibly appearing on Question Time for October 22nd the Communication Workers Union (representing telecommunication and postal workers) has condemned it in strong terms. Social Democratic cabinet member Peter Hain has equally condemned it. This could possibly mobilise tens of thousands in mass protests outside the BBC. Tony Kearns Assistant General Secretary of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) has called for Labour MPs and cabinet members to join these protests outside the BBC.


Trotskyists are in favour of organising all those in a single issue campaign including liberals with a small l against the BNP appearing on major TV debates. A Trotskyist organisation while building such an limited united front campaign/protests argue for our positions particularly in Trotskyist publications about how the fight against Liberal Bourgeois elements in practice shows that Fascism can only be defeated in a final analysis through Socialist revolution.


Trotskyists also fight for a broader campaign based on the Trade Unions; Labour Party left and other parties to their left; and other oppressed elements building a classical workers united front against Fascism but also posing demands against Capitalism which breeds Fascism. We also argue that it is the semi-Bourgeois New Labour faction and right wing Social Democrats which have played into the BNP’s hands in their attack on workers.


As I have documented there is an open schism between even right wing Social Democrats such as Hain and the semi-Bourgeois elements in the Labour Party. Trotskyists should tactically take advantage of this schism to pose demands on the Social Democrats to expel Straw and Hodge. We should raise this demand in the Trade Unions and Labour Party. Millions of organised workers will be supportive and if the Social Democrats do not act they will go through an experience with them, which will open up opportunities for them to consider revolutionary ideas. In the process semi-Bourgeois elements will be destroyed and a serious fight back will begin to reverse Capitalist attacks which could provide revolutionary opportunities.