should tactics towards it the scope for the left to work usefully in the party Firmin concluded by or to influence its polices stressing that the task was and decisions. still to defeat social democ- I argued that there are racy and Labourism, and now two defining political therefore the most effective issues which the left in place to be was inside the Britain has to address - and Labour Party. will pay a beavy price if it I spoke next making it fails to do so. condemn those who were T he first is the tance inside the Labour Party (quite the reverse), sovement but i was there to argue Passing phase involving a Char tais coura not possioly few thousand demonstra. be the principal arena for tors on the streets, but a mounting an efective new factor in world poliopposition to Blairism.
tics. It reflects a protound reaction by people all over ight now, and against the for the foresecK effects of the neo-liberal offensive, particularly in has to be prethe third world. It is dominately ourattracting thousands of young people - and the left that you have to be inside must be a part of it. the LP to fight Blairism makes no sense: how and The second is the reshapwhere you fight depends ing of the left in Britain, on prevailing conditions. which is expressed in the emergence of the Socialist You can wage a battle Alliance in England and the SSP in Scotland. unions, and in the various campaigns, and by buildchantment in the Labour ing a political alternative.
Blair has not just reposiLabour voters and the fact tioned the Labour Party in British politics, and built a the Labour Party in completely new relationship with the employers increasing numbers. The task of the Alliance and of and the super-rich, he has carried through fundamen- the left is to offer such people an alternative. tal changes in the rules of the party which make all Many will return to vote Labour in the general electais extremcky almcult to tion, but a significant numreverse Present the most important