Editorial

Summer 2002 might be remembered by New Labour spin-children as their Summer of Discontent. What with the unions wielding their muscle - favourite uncle Sir Ken Jackson booted out by AEEU grassroots members in favour of Blair-agnostic ex-communist Simpson; the irony of the High Court having to rule that civil servants are to be led by Mark Serwotka, a left-winger democratically elected under OMOV, a system imposed by the Tories to keep the Left down. Public sector unions continuing to hold out over PFI, pay and conditions. The FBU dispute smoulders into autumn and may ignite around Bonfire Night.

In the Party, the Left secured our positions in the NEC elections. Although not elected this time, CfS candidate Rozanne Foyer increased her overall vote without compromising her socialist manifesto. The Socialist Campaign Group's Summer conference "After New Labour" widely reported as a wind-changing event for the Party. And this Autumn, as well as going down to the Battle of Blackpool, the Scottish Labour Left are busy whipping up winds of change here with a Scottish After New Labour conference and some serious reflection on why we are in the Labour Party.

No amount of spin over not letting Ken Livingston back in to the Party or good riddance to Arthur Scargill as he retires can disguise discontent amongst the Blair-faithful. Both down south or up here, where panic is setting in over union-support for the Scottish Parliament elections next Spring. Yet still they churn out, with Thatcherite conviction that they "are just not getting the message across". Comrades, we know - it is nothing to do with interference in their text, pager TV and tabloid messaging style - it is simply that the message is wrong.

So how much will Party spinners (or should we Scots cry them "birlers") get away with in forcing a manifesto on us. That comrade is up to you and I. Of course all is played out in front of the war-mongering backdrop of Bush and Blair threaten to bomb babies in Baghdad. Airbrush your tattered 1982 "Gone with the Wind" CND poster. Replace Ronnie and Maggie with Dubya and Tony. Saddam has now agreed to let in weapons inspectors, unconditionally, and frankly my dears, they don't give a damn.

Left activists sign up to "Not in my name" campaigns against our Leader's global warmongering. . But as Labour members we must act within to reclaim our Party from the hostage of the neo-liberal imperialist New Labour hijackers.

And with the rest of the World except Israel stood against Bush and Blair, now is the time to take to the barricades ... or the branch meetings, at least! Cabinet ministers disagree with Blair; 150 backbench Labour MPs have declared their opposition. Polling of CLP Chairs in the top 100 Labour marginals even show little support for Blair's bombing mission... Branches, CLPs, Unions must bombard the Leadership and their Policy Forums with dissent over the War. We must use what democratic tools remain in the Party and the wider Trade Union movement; to mount our internal not in our name campaign and as Labour members take that message to council chambers, the General Assembly building and Mother Westminster.

The Left's political battles continue to be fought on many fronts, but all the allies and recruits are lined up on our side... The Labour Party remains the mass party of the working class. Despite Blair's best efforts we still command the support of these core voters. If we are to win the people to socialism, we must win the Party to socialism.

Socialists in the Labour Party are no new minority, many of us are life-long Party members carrying on a tradition of those who came before us in the interest of those who come after us.