Statement of The Revolutionary Tendency on Britain's Snap Elections

by Steven Argue Thursday, Jun. 08, 2017 at 1:38 AM

No support for capitalist candidates.

Statement of The Rev...
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Statement of The Revolutionary Tendency on Britain's Snap Elections

By Steven Argue

Snap elections are being held in Britain on June 8th. In the past, the Revolutionary Tendency has given critical support to the Communist Party of Great Britain (CPGB) in opposition to all capitalist candidates, including the Labour Party. Since that time, the Labour Party has moved significantly to the left with Jeremy Corbyn taking the leadership of the Labour Party. The CPGB has responded by endorsing Corbyn and running no candidate.

A lot of people have been calling Corbyn the Bernie Sanders of Britain. Fact is, Corbyn is actually significantly to the left of Sanders on international issues as well as in calling for reversing privatisation of energy, rail, health, and social care services.

Unfortunately, Corbyn has also called for putting 10,000 new cops on the street. He also campaigned for staying within the undemocratic imperialist framework of the EU that is sucking the poorer countries of Europe like Greece dry with austerity and privatization, carrying out economic sanctions against the people of Russia and Belarus, and played a leading role in overthrowing the democratically elected government of Ukraine in 2014 when it did not submit to EU dictates of austerity and privatization. Overall, his re-rationalizations, while a step forward, would not be the sweeping nationalizations of industry Britain will need to solve the problems of the British working class for full employment and other needs, solve environmental problems, and end British imperialism once and for all.

Political parties that do not have a program for the revolutionary overthrow of the capitalist system become mere administrators of the problems inherent in the capitalist system and always drift right. It is for these reasons, he will not be endorsed by the Revolutionary Tendency.

Unfortunately, the Communist Party of Great Britain (CPGB) decided not to run a candidate in the current election to back Corbyn. This points to the need to build a legitimate revolutionary communist party in Britain to the left of the CPGB. The Revolutionary Tendency stands committed to that cause. In addition, we withhold any endorsement in Britain's current snap election.

-Steven Argue for The Revolutionary Tendency

The Revolutionary Tendency

https://www.facebook.com/RevolutionaryTendency/

Original: Statement of The Revolutionary Tendency on Britain's Snap Elections