KEN LIVINGSTONE's decision to stand with Bernie Grant in the leadership contest was absolutely right. For the left to lie down and play dead in the post-election situation would be disastrous.
As Ken Livingstone points out, the 'shadow' election campaign now gives the opportunity to rally left wing and socialist forces against the right and new realism.
The comments that Livingstone makes in the interview about the turbulence of the world situation are well-judged. Stalinism may be at death's door, but to interpret that as some tinal victory or stability for world capitalism would be wrong. The uprising in the United States and the mass strikoe in Germany are the first signs of the stormy period wo are moving into.
Socialist Outook supporters will do everyüting possible to promote the campaign of meetings and ralles which Ken Livingatone and Berie Grant will now hold. But we have strong resorvations about the tactical course which Livingsione outlines for the left.
in the lirst place, there are no conditions in which the left should vote lor Bryan Gould in the leadership election. Gould is utlerly compromised with years of support for Kinnockism and the wilch hunt. Of course, Ken Livingstone lays down strong conditions for supporting Gould; but to imagine that Gould wil come out and oppose the witch hunt is unrealistic.
But this is an indication of a more substantial disagreement. Livingstone Implies that a third of the PLP can be won to the loft, and that the Campaign Group must have a strong orientation to building alliances with the parlamentary "soft leff" - what we would prefer to call, at best, the centre.
But in the end Labour MPs reflect the pressure of their base, and the strength of the Labour lelt nationally. Most of the 70-odd new MPs are a Kinnockite levy. and the Labour left is very weak. The Labour left could oniy be rebuilt as a result of substantial developments in the class struggle. That is why any new alliance of the left needs to base itsell on the forces in the unions and mass campaigns, as well as the Labour left, which are key in luming the situation around.
The Socialist Forum being launched by Ken Livingsione must be judged from this angle. It it remains at the same level as groupings like Labour Left Liaison and the Womens Action Commitlee, esentaly concerned wilh inner-Labour tacbon fighing, it will be still-born. If it becomes a much broader alliance involving lorces based on class struggle, then it could be a substantial step forward. No.21 May 16, 1992
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