“Say it loud say it clear Labour are not welcome here!”
Today 11 October Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! supporters in Glasgow held a lively picket of the Marxism in Scotland 2014 event organised by the Socialist Workers Party. This in response to the Labour Party’s Bob Thomson, former Scottish Labour Party Chairman and leading supporter of Labour for Independence, being invited to speak.
With home-made placards, leaflets, chants and banners Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! supporters called for all socialists and progressives to work towards building a movement that challenges poverty and inequality, imperialist war and occupation and for the democratic and socialist independence of Scotland. The Labour Party was recognised as the chief obstacle in the way of this and so our call was to break from Labour – a UK Unionist, imperialist war, cuts party.
Supporters spoke to passers-by and those attending the Marxism event about the actions of the Labour Party to save the UK union in the weeks and days leading up to the independence referendum and recognised the working class vote for Independence as a vote against the Labour party. Labour – a UK Unionist party!
One woman we met who was attending the event was outraged that Labour had been invited to speak. She said she would be asking the Labour speaker about Glasgow Labour Council’s closure of vital day care centres across Glasgow having previously been involved in the Charlie Reid centre for Mental Health which was also closed.
Others passing and attending the event praised our actions the previous weekend in Glasgow city centre for challenging the Labour party speaker during the Stop The War demonstration against the bombing of Iraq and Syria. As we pointed out of the 215 Labour Party Westminster MPs 191 voted for the bombing and those that voted against must leave this party immediately or leave the anti-war speaking platforms! Labour – an imperialist war party.
Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! is for a movement to challenge poverty and inequality, a movement to oppose imperialist war and a movement to complete the democratic struggle for an independent Scotland. In this aim we will continue to organise and support opposition to the Labour Party in whatever form it takes.
Join us!
BOOK LAUNCH AND DISCUSSION
Since the working class voted for independence, tens of thousands have been talking and planning as to how to finally break with the Labour party. About time! This is a discussion to plan action on the way forward. As Clough illustrates the Labour Party is and has always been an imperialist war party, an anti-working class party and a UK unionist party.
Labour: A Party Fit For Imperialism, 2nd edition
Joined by the author Robert Clough
Sunday 9 November, 2-4pm
CCA
350 Sauchiehall Street
Glasgow, G2 3JD
