How Should We View the Labour Party?

The major point to be made is that while the Labour Party does to some extent represent the working class inside the state, the state itself is a ruling class institution. In other words, the principle contradiction on the political level is not between National and Labour within the state, but between the state and the dominated classes.

The history of the Labour Party that was outlined before thus must be seen as much more than accidental developments caused by a few individuals. It is also more than a party starting off with socialist ideals and getting these whittled down whilst in office. Both of these pictures are superficially correct. But the practice that stems from them is incorrect - thinking that all we need to do is change the individuals or reassert 'socialist' policies.

What the Labour Party is up against is the very structure and nature of capitalist society. Its functioning within the state's ambit itself precludes the possibility of radical long-term measures. And its very functioning there means that the Party's 'content' must become firstly compromised and finally overwhelmed by the state's form'.

How then should we view the Labour Party? Kirk's quote from the beginning - stopping the capitalist system from collapsing fairly states how the Party sees its role. It is obvious that if real steps are to be taken towards socialism they must be taken outside the Labour Party. But, especially when the major question is not "whether socialism?" but more "whether fascism?", there are clearly situations where Labour's stand is progressive and worth supporting.

The situation is just that though "supporting" does not mean trying to reform from inside or tilting at the unalterable windmills of history. Making concrete steps towards a decent society for all requries three things: mass organisation; concrete and correct analyses and effective leadership towards real goals. The Labour Party, both because of its specific policies and its objective position, can provide none of these. David Exel's pleas for people to join must be rejected.

The 1973 Labour Cabinet. Front row, left to right: Rowling:Watt; Tirakatene-Sullivan: Kirk; King, and McGuigan. Only two of these six are still M.P.s.