By Owen Jones
The cartel of modern politics is only ever disrupted from the right. Now, with the help of like-minded others, I will be touring the country to set up a left-wing movement
Sometimes it seems as though British politics is one grand cartel, or a gentleman’s agreement, if you like. Certain questions will not be asked; opposition often amounts to quibbling over the finer details or nuances of a policy, or the competence of its delivery.
Austerity is a given, though its speed and scale may be queried; all agree on selling chunks of our public services to private sector vultures, though the extent may be challenged; the fact our workers have some of the worst rights in the Western world, that large corporations sitting on a cash pile worth £750bn are expected to pay less and less, that our banks are bailed out with the public’s dosh but are not under our control – none of this is seriously questioned.
If this cartel is ever disrupted, it is from the right. Ukip has surged in part because of a widespread sense that the political establishment are all in it together, to coin a phrase. Hard-right pressure groups like the Taxpayers Alliance out-flank the Conservatives, and in doing so drive the nation’s political conversation ever rightwards.
Anti-austerity movement
With the help of supposed newspaper reporters – in reality, often thinly veiled Government propagandists – the Tories have ruthlessly redirected growing anger at ever-tumbling living standards towards our neighbours: people thrown out of work, people who still have intact pensions, disabled people suspected of inventing their conditions for benefits, and so on. The latest target are immigrants. New arrivals will be barred from joining council housing waiting lists – which most are stuck on for years as it is – for up to five years. We have a scandalous shortage of council housing. Up to five million people languish on waiting lists. But the fault lies squarely with both the Tories and New Labour for selling off stock and failing to replace it. Convenient, then, to conjure up the spectre of the scrounging foreigner instead.
Well, the great British political cartel now faces a new challenge. On Tuesday, I’ll be helping to launch the People’s Assembly with Green MP Caroline Lucas, my fellow Independent columnist Mark Steel, disability rights campaigner Francesca Martinez, Labour MP Katy Clark, and leading trade unionists. The aim of the Assembly is to unite all opponents of the horror show being inflicted on this country. On 22 June, there will be a 3,500-strong meeting at Westminster Central Hall, but in the meantime, I and others will be touring the country, encouraging local groups to be set up in every town and city.
Here’s the rationale for the Assembly. It is unacceptable that – five years on from the near-collapse of the global financial system – there is no broad anti-austerity movement. In a week’s time, the British poor will face the biggest organised mugging in generations, with the bedroom tax, cuts to working people’s tax credits, council tax benefit, housing benefit, and so on. Each year, the average Briton is poorer than the last. “Now is the period when the cost is being paid,” said Mervyn King, and that was two years ago. “I’m surprised the real anger hasn’t been greater than it has.”
There’s actually plenty of anger out there, but there’s something else missing. It was the US politician Harvey Milk who said: “I know that you cannot live on hope alone but, without it, life is not worth living.” Anger without hope tends to amount to despair, frustration and resignation – and that is what has to change.
Hope for change
Inevitably, such an initiative will have to plough through a fair amount of cynicism from both left and right. Put “left” into a sentence including “piss-up” and “brewery”, and few would disagree. But this isn’t going to fall into the trap of being a recruitment exercise for some obscure sect with newspapers to flog. It’s being driven by a formidable coalition of unions such as Unite, Unison and PCS, representing millions of workers in both the private and public sector; Labour activists and the Green Party; campaigners for disabled people, and for tax justice; BME people; and people frankly who are just stranded and without a political home. It’s not the 867th attempt to set up yet another doomed left-wing party, but a movement that will nonetheless fill a chasm in British politics.
This has implications for the Labour leadership, of course. It’s not as if there haven’t been any other determined attempts to challenge austerity: like huge strikes by teachers, health workers, bin collectors and other public-sector workers; two huge TUC-organised demonstrations against austerity; and the efforts of campaigners, such as tax avoidance crusaders UK Uncut. But there has been no sustained, permanent movement to take on the whole austerity consensus. Most pressure on Labour’s leaders comes from the right. But the appetite for a far more confident, courageous voice of opposition to the Tories’ ideological hijacking of the financial crisis exists. It will now be satisfied.
The Tories have counted on opposition being too fragmented to withstand their shock-and-awe offensive. But in doing so they have inadvertently created a potentially formidable coalition. There may be no end in sight for Britain’s depressing icy winter, but it’s springtime for opposition to the nightmare of austerity. The People’s Assembly offers the one thing missing from British politics: hope.
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Great stuff – well done for making this happen. Make nationalising the rail system top of the agenda and you may just get election-winning South East commuters on your side too!
we havent got any opposition, the so called labour party who i have voted for, for 52 years have let the condems get away with everything. and all this money thay have put a side to help people buy there houses, would have done more good if thay put it in to house building, i back you all the way, just wish i could come to meetings or help in any way, but due to bad health its impossible.
This is excellent news, where do I sign up!!!!
The left need to draw a line on the Thatcherite-Blairite years and bring about the end of neo-liberal economics and neo-conservative state in Britain. This means communists, socialists and social-democrats fighting our common enemy, the Tory-Liberal coalition and the diktats of global finance capital.
http://leftunity.org/isn-backs-ken-loachs-call-for-a-new-party-of-the-left/
I am overwhelmed that you owen jones are rallying for the most vulnerable in this society,I have listened to you many times and you are an inspiring and engaging speaker – youre putting the real truth out there against a seemingly formidable and vile government-I thank you from the bottom of my heart
The time is ripe for this. In my own circle I have seen fear and apathy turn to anger.
Let’s hope this can be a mass movement,open tyo all who are excluded,marginalised or oppressed by the horrible right-wing neo-liberal consensus that has covered global politics like a foul,foetid miasma for three decades. Owen is right to insist that it be non-sectarian, but it needs a programme,at least in broad terms so that people can see what a con this has been. Just as we should be careful not to let it degenerate into the sectarianism that has been both cause and effect of demoralisation on the Left, we should not allow it to be shanghaied by the Labour leadership,either.On no account should it become a home for opportunists and careerists who can see New Labour fast headinmg for the ustbin of history,and who want to avoid going down with it.
We have…The People’s Charter! http://thepeoplescharter.org/
I Completely Oppose the Wrecking of Public Services and the Dismal Public Spending Cuts by the Regime in Westminster .
Council’s should of had and Should have some Backbone in them and
Oppose Cuts to Local Government Funding Explaining to the Westminster Ivory Tower that Services Require Funding.
It is Beyond Disgusting that From the 1st of April 2013 the Poor and Vulnerable will be Charged Council Tax whilst the Rich Live their Lives of Riley and have Tax Breaks leaving them in too Many Cases at least £40,000 a Year Better Off.
Council’s Need to Press the Case For Taxing the Rich and Hands Off the Poor.
A Return to Dickensian Era Squalor Poverty and Misery is Not ” Progress ”
It is a Scandal the Money MPS have Claimed in Expenses and what they have
Claimed on Expenses Money which could of Gone on Real Public Services .
The Case For Revolution is Clear as Crystal it will Make Things Better
whilst the Consensus of No Choice will only Make Things Worse
we have a vacuum in our political life at the moment,and have had it all my life at least.this is dangerous for all of us-remember the weimar republic and what grew out of it.the peoples assembly says the things i agree with,and makes noises i like to hear-but i worry about the rise of a new fuhrer/
Good old Mr. Jones!! Keep up that spirit.
I have been constantly whingeing over the past 6 months that I now have nowhere to go as I am so disgusted with Milliband et al and their total lack of proper opposition.
Keep us posted and please let’s all put in our best efforts to slow down and prevent the shameful mistreatment of ordinary people in this country.
The Con Dems are clever at divide and rule with red top readers being told that it’s all the fault of the poor (scroungers) or immigrants.
I too oppose the dismantling of public services. People need to see a way to change things to an equitable system. It feels like a return to the middle ages. I know at least 2 families who are being hit by the bedroom tax and there are no smaller homes available or they would gladly move. How many bedrooms do the cabinet members have? Aren’t we paying their wages?
Where do we sign for this long awaited Coalition of Resistance? I will certainly go to London on 22/6 (it’s my birthday and I will demonstrate if I want to…)
We Need a Good Leader Not another Capitalist Roadster Tyrant
The Tyrant Hitler Got the Support of Big Business to come to Power
Leadership in itself is Not Bad it is the Quality and Morality of
Leadership which Matters
In a Revolutionary State all the Present Cloud Cuckooland of Poverty
and Oppression must be Swept Aside and The Country Run in the Interests
of Common Sense and Decency and Not by Rich Cuckooland Politicians
BROKEN BRITAIN UNDER TORIES – GOVERNMENT BLATANT USERS AND ABUSERS
The UKIP results have shown a large Public disagreement with both main parties by the Electorate but can it be sustainable ,hopefully so .The Conservative mindset will not alter they feel they are above the majority of the Public and Privilege is a Right .The Gurkha’s more than proved their worth for this Country and so have Interpreters in Iraq with dire consequences but once you have served your purpose you are of no more use therefore responsibility is denied as with our own troops and all other Public Service Personal .Loyalty seems a one way ticket .Cameron states he wants to win back those voters that have ‘defected’ but his Lies and Spin have caused this shift in Politics and may it continue .Blair and Cameron thought they had things sewn up it’s about time we let them know they haven’t . http://www.brokenbritainundertories.com
BROKEN BRITAIN UNDER TORIES – BIG BROTHER –POLICE STATE
GOVERNMENT SHUT DOWN WEBSITE .After applying for an Epetition after one had expired for David Nicholson to resign and be stripped of his knighthood and naming the Cabinet office as the Department responsible Yola shut my Website down with a curt email stating my content was not in keeping with their content policy .It took them 7 months to decide that .Also there was no reply email from Epetitions either- if one was cynical enough one could conclude that the Cabinet Office probably had a hand in the decision .Nicholson must have some pretty damaging knowledge about the powers that be to still hold onto his job after NHS scandal after scandal .Corruption holds no Bounds . http://www.brokenbritainundertories.com
We need to organise for C of R candidates to stand in as many constituencies as possible in 2015. The mainstream parties like Labour will not ay attention to the people’s needs until sufficiently threatened politically