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Lose the Labour levy: Political fund exemption notice
Many on the Left,
Including those who constantly advised us all to “vote Labour
without Illusions”, are now convinced that there is no difference
between the Tories and the Labour Party, in this, they are wrong.
One difference is that the unions still fund New Labour to the tune
of millions of pounds.
There
are, however, growing signs that trade unionists are growing increasingly
angry at handing over their money to such an openly anti-working
class party as Labour. In a number of unions, campaigns have been
launched aimed at breaking the link with Labour.
If
these campaigns prove successful, no doubt the various left wing
parties will argue that union political funds should go to them.
Such arguments should be ignored. Workers and their unions are quite
capable of campaigning for their own political aims. The idea that
economic and political struggle can somehow be artificially split
is rooted In Intellectual snobbery and patronage. Workers are not
stupid and should not be reliant on politicians to do their thinking
and act on their behalf.
The
working class has only ever made real gains through self-organisation
and direct action. That is where our money should be directed, rather
than handed over to political parties. The aim of all political
parties is to obtain and then keep power. All else is secondary
– including the interests of the workers they claim to represent |
