By a Northern councillor
Fear not, this isn’t going to be a Marxist analysis of dealing with cracks in the pavement, dog fouling and noisy neighbours. Rather, it is a narrative of the experience of someone who identifies as a Marxist and who is a Labour district councillor for in an urban area in the North of England. This is a reflection on a small selection of the challenges I have encountered, how they were dealt with, and I offer some thoughts on what we can do as a movement to create change within the party, our CLPs and our local government.
The title of this article relates to a phrase I have heard more times than I care to county since becoming a councillor: ‘let’s not make this political’. This is commonly heard from all councillors of all parties – in discussions, meetings and in the chamber itself. Strange, you may think, given these are not gatherings of the local sports club or the WI – these are local POLITICIANS uttering these words. Yet, it seems to be used to convey some idea we should cast aside political differences for the common good.
Minimal differences between the parties
Clearly the phrase is problematic in many ways: everything is political. It is the distinct absence of politics which any difference minimal between the two main parties at local level. The Labour budget was passed at the last council unanimously by the Conservatives, which would make anyone question the kind of budget which was put forward. This phrase was also given an airing by the Labour group leader at a recent Green committee meeting. Maybe he was assuming we all know that climate change has nothing to do with unfettered capitalism and the harvesting of resources for profit.
It is only a phrase, five words. Some might argue it is harmless enough. Yet to me it throws into harsh relief the attitudes and lack of ideology shared by many councillors, and therein lies a problem.
Looking back, I should have realised the writing was on the wall, given the fact my during my selection and election, the fact I was overtly political, and plainly left wing, seemed to unsettle some Labour members and some sitting councilors. Their unease grew from snide comments (never to my face, but often reaching me via other people) to what ended up being a campaign which ran the risk of damaging Labour’s electoral chances in my ward, and our reputation across the city.
Left-wing activist for more than a decade
Like many people, I joined the Labour Party in 2015 when Jeremy Corbyn was on the leadership ballot paper. I had been a left-wing activist for over a decade and had flirted with other political parties, notably the Socialist Party, but I felt there was often a disconnection between idealism and the chance to create real and substantial change within society. What I did not want to be part of, and what I felt had started to happen, was a fairly constant denigration of the Labour Party, highlighting numerous flaws and faults, without having any means to create change in a practical way. Ultimately, like many others I saw the policies of Jeremy Corbyn-led Labour Party as a vehicle for hope, and I wanted to be part of it.
I voted for Jeremy Corbyn and Tom Watson as leader and deputy leader. One of those options is something I deeply regret now. However, the deputy leader position didn’t have a big pool from which to fish. I attended my first Constituency Labour Party (CLP) meeting shortly after and began campaigning in local elections; I was enthused by the national picture and I wanted to see change right here in the city I call home.
I observed a mix group of activists including a sizeable group of Blairite members, and then a disorganised but substantial group of people, like myself, who were largely new and there for real and substantial left-wing change. What I didn’t see were many local councillors. ‘They must have another meeting,’ I thought. It was a couple of CLP meetings later when I realized that only a small handful of councillors ever attend these crucial monthly meetings.
What struck me was the reticence of longstanding members to embrace or even engage new members. After four years in the CLP I believe the attitude at that time was that we, the new members, would turn out to be a flash in the pan, much like they assumed of Corbyn himself. If they thought we wouldn’t last, there was no need to do anything to encourage us. Furthermore, there was clearly a feeling that left wing extremists had infiltrated the party, calling for radical policy change. Shocking things like doing away with PFI, protecting the NHS, creating a fair and just taxation system.
Real commitment to change
Four years down the line a lot of us have lasted, and it is the Blairites who have fallen significantly in numbers. However, divisions within the party remain, cause problems and threaten the process of change.
During this period, and still today, the comradeship of others on the left – new members myself, and long-standing left activists locally – was of significant importance. This is a group of people whose commitment to change is real and which is inspiring. I decided to stand for council after encouragement and some well-meant pressure from people within this group. The idea was that I, and others would stand to develop a left group within the council to give a voice to a national policy and to members within our own and neighbouring constituencies. The long-term aim is to build and grow and group which can lead the council and put forward anti austerity, Socialist policies locally and nationally.
I really didn’t need to stand, I don’t have any career ambitions within politics, I don’t need the extra £300 a month, I’ve got a nice house and full-time job. To be frank I didn’t need the grief. My life is significantly busier more difficult that it was before I was elected. However, many decide to stand for election because it’s the right thing to do. We have to make personal sacrifices which impact on our time and our quality of life because there is an obligation on us to do so. I have encouraged others to make the same commitment, as I was encouraged by those I respect. It is a commitment of time and energy, and not an insignificant one.
What developed was a nasty fight
You might think local activists would embrace people coming forward with this commitment – support them, signpost the way forward. Many did, and I continue to be grateful to them. However, there are others who felt differently, and this had more of an impact than I initially anticipated.
What developed was a nasty fight. There were lies, anger and slurs from some sitting councillors who felt they had a divine right to the seat they currently held.
I stood for selection and managed to mobilise a significant amount of people, independently and support from the wider left. It was when I got selected to stand in what was seen as a safe seat for Labour. The slurs began to intensify at this point. I had been used to them however the ante was upped. I had spoken about the conduct of councillors within CLP meetings and made clear my concerns with regards to the way in which they conducted themselves. I had deliberately put my head above the parapet within the CLP. I had seen e-mails between sitting councillors calling me ‘a Momentum plant’ (despite not being a member of Momentum), suggesting that I am in the wrong party. We just can’t be having socialists in the Labour party.
Sitting councillors complained to the Labour leader of the council about a ‘momentum coup’ and ‘deselection list’, rather than call nonsense the council leader asked them to provide proof, so he could act. I took it all with a shrug of the shoulders, as a trade unionist I was used to be disliked by people and can handle an argument with anyone, not that anyone had the courage to speak to my face the words they said outside my earshot. That being said, it can be disconcerting knowing that large sections of elected labour officials are maneuvering in such a way as to be dishonest to wear you down by any means they can. This shares comparisons with the national picture and the manipulation of the truth to marginalise the left.
De-selected councillor stood as ‘independent’…and lost
During the campaign, the Labour councillor I was selected ahead of stood as an independent candidate in the ward in which I was standing. He released a leaflet condemning ‘hard left extremists, who are determined to imposed their ideology on the people of city’ He also ended up on the front page of the local paper, the claims used within his leaflet printed for everyone to read. Suffice to say the residents didn’t give him the support he had hoped for and he sadly crashed and burned on polling day.
I reflected on this process greatly, it made me realise how strong Jeremy Corbyn was and is, it is challenging knowing that you are being discussed, targeted and that people are willing to lie to silence and marginalise you. However, one thing which also echoed the national picture was the competence of the right wingers, in the words of John McDonnell ‘they are fucking useless’.
After the struggle to be elected ended the most frustrating part began, we had a small core group of four councillors who identify as ‘left’, we would be the voice of resistance until the time came when we changed minds and got more lefts elected and then we can change how things are done, how the city works for the people. Sadly, this hasn’t proven to be the case, the ‘lefts’ are angling for portfolios, are scared to speak up and have bought into the pomp and nonsense of the council bureaucracy.
People are scared of conflict, of upsetting sensitivities, there seems to be a school of thought that we can compromise ourselves to change. What arises out of conflict is change, it takes courage to put your face to adversity, a courage which I have found sadly lacking by many on the left.
‘lefts’ who are not really lefts
The biggest threat to our success, both locally and nationally is the compromising and knowing concessions of people on the left. The way in which people, often with good intentions, toe the line. Perhaps I was to be more cynical I would argue they used the left for their own personal agenda. Whichever it is we have seen locally and nationally people who talk left, fall when they are unable to act left. That is why those of us who can, must. We must hold the right to account, put forward socialist policies and importantly put pressure on those who claim to be left, to do the right thing.
Whilst the phrase may be clichéd and overused, ‘revolution is a process and not an event’. What we are doing on the council is not in itself victory for left wing ideas but rather building blocks. Despite my concerns we have disrupted the natural order of things and broken up the longstanding ‘old boys (and girls) club’.
The struggles we have now are nothing new but the society we live in is extremely new, never before have we had the opportunity for change we have now. Capitalism is in crisis as we await the next recession, the planet is warming to such an extent that towns and cities will be underwater in the following decades and we have a Labour leadership, which whilst not perfect, does have a socialist idea and vision and sits outside the established order. This is why we must fight, put politics and policy back on the agenda, disrupt the established order, endure, struggle and win.
September 2, 2019
