-
Archive 1982: Militant Tendency - entryists in Labour
Michael Crick looks at the 'Military Tendency' in 1982 as the Labour Party decide whether to have a register of approved pressure groups within the movement.
Subscribe for more like this, every day: http://bit.ly/1epe41j
Dangerous world: http://bit.ly/1JCsSYb
The news explained: http://bit.ly/1epgay4
Music: http://bit.ly/1RVTRNy
Technology: http://bit.ly/1LI1K9y
Like us on Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1wQ1Gty
Follow us on Twitter: http://bit.ly/1mFUjBD
published: 11 Aug 2015
-
Tony Benn speaking at Militant tendency rally
Tony Benn was one of the speakers at the 1984 Militant tendency rally in the Wembley Conference Centre, packed with 3000 thousand supporters.
The Militant Rally of 20 October 1984 took place during a number of historic battles, including the Miners strike of 1984-5.
The 1980s saw epic battles of the organised working class in the UK that shook the ruling class to the core.
The Militant, now the Socialist Party, played a leading role in some of the key battles which took place, particularly the Liverpool struggle.
In the Labour Party, a monumental battle opened up to remove the Militant, and all left influences from the Labour Party, which also got extensive media coverage.
The Labour Party expelled the Militant editorial board in 1983, comprising of Ted Grant, Peter Taaffe, Keith Di...
published: 16 Mar 2014
-
Labour is returning to its 80s militant roots and Derek Hatton's return proves it
Derek Hatton marks Labour's slide back to the 80s just one day after seven Labour MPs quit. Asa Bennett reports.
Get the latest headlines: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/
Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=telegraphtv
Like us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/telegraph.co.uk
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/telegraph
Telegraph.co.uk and YouTube.com/TelegraphTV are websites of The Telegraph, the UK's best-selling quality daily newspaper providing news and analysis on UK and world events, business, sport, lifestyle and culture.
published: 19 Feb 2019
-
Labour party | Militant| What's next for Labour | 1980s Politics | Blackpool | TV Eye | 1982
A LIVE DEBATE FROM BLACKPOOL ABOUT THE FUTURE OF MILITANT - IN THE LIGHT OF THE LABOUR PARTY'S CONFERENCE DECISION. THE QUESTION:
SHOULD MILITANT MEMBERS NOW BE EXPELLED?
FRANK FIELD MP
TONY MULHEARN - TOXTETH CANDIDATE
AUSTIN MITCHELL MP
First shown: 30/09/1982
To license a clip please e mail: [email protected]
Quote: VT27901
published: 27 Aug 2023
-
Peter Taaffe Militant Rally 1985
Peter Taaffe, now general secretary of the Socialist Party of England and Wales, speaking at the 5,000 thousand-strong 1985 Albert Hall rally held by the Militant tendency. At that time, the Militant was a tendency within the Labour Party, and campaigned for "Labour to power on a socialist programme. The Militant left the Labour Party in 1991 to form the Socialist Party, which now campaigns for the building of a new mass workers' party, and at the time of writing (2012) is supporting the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition.
Also speaking was Terry Fields MP. See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yn6XzhuZeA
published: 29 Jan 2012
-
Militant Labour | British Labour Party | TV Eye | 1981
Within the Labour Party and with a strong base in Liverpool- there exists a Trostskyist group called Militant
They claim footholds in two to three hundred constituencies, 5,000 committed supporters and 60+ full time employees.
Local MP, Frank Field opposes their spread . Now the NEC are to consider their activities against the background of Labour’s crushing defeat at Crosby.
This is a slightly shortened version of the original programme.
First Shown: 03/12/1981
If you would like to license a clip from this video please e mail:
[email protected]
Quote: VT25826
published: 16 Jul 2017
-
Tony Mulhearn speaking at massive Militant Rally 1988 - Socialist Party video
Expelled from the Labour Party for fighting Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's Tory government attacks on Liverpool city council, Tony Mulhearn, Militant supporter and now a member of the Socialist Party, was one of the 47 councillors who set a needs budget and forced the Tory government to retreat.
Nearly 8000 packed the Alexandria Palace (the 'People's palace') on 19th June 1988 for the final Militant rally before the Militant broke from the Labour Party in an historic move, to form the Socialist Party.
Ot the liverpool47 website, Tony writes:
"We Translated Socialism Into The Language Of Jobs, Housing And Services"
TONY MULHEARN, one of the '47' Liverpool councillors from 1983 to 1987, told the 2007 Socialist Party congress how they defied Thatcher 20 years ago.
"LIVERPOOL SH...
published: 18 Mar 2011
-
Socialism 2016: Peter Taaffe debates with Channel Four journalist Michael Crick
Socialism 2016 was a weekend that put socialism on the agenda.
The debate between Michael Crick, well known Channel 4 journalist and the author of the book 'Militant', and Peter Taaffe, general secretary of the Socialist Party, generated great interest. 120 attended and 100 were unable to get in the room.
Peter began by quoting from Michael's comments on the BBC Radio 4 programme. The thing about Militant was that they were "brilliantly organised, brilliant orators. They plan things, know what they're doing and they keep at it. They're committed, they put the hours in, they go to meetings night after night after night and they commit huge amounts of their own personal income and their lives"!
Peter Taaffe is author of The Rise of Militant, online at www.socialistparty.org.uk/militant an...
published: 17 Nov 2016
-
Neil Kinnock's famous speech from 1985 Labour Party conference
Jeremy Corbyn is facing fresh pressure over Brexit as his left-wing backers are poised to launch a major campaign to convince him to try to keep the UK in the EU. Trade union leaders are joining forces with Labour MPs and members of the campaign group Momentum to launch a nationwide speaking tour. The Left Against Brexit tour wants to pile pressure on the Labour leader to radically change his policy and sign up to overturn Brexit. But the campaign is likely to expose deep divisions within Labour, which is torn between its Brexit-backing heartland voters and Remain-backing southern activists.
Original Article: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5795507/Trade-Unions-Labour-MPs-launch-speech-tour-stop-Brexit.html
Original Video: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/video/news/video-1699958/Video-...
published: 01 Jun 2018
-
Militant MP Terry Fields - Socialist Party video
Terry Fields MP (8 March 1937 -- 28 June 2008) was a Militant Tendency (now Socialist Party) supporter and Labour MP who was jailed for 60 days for refusing to pay the poll tax.
Terry defended the Liverpool city council's fight against prime minister Margaret Thatcher's cuts to the rate support grant, as did the other MPs in Merseyside. Liverpool refused to implement the cuts, passing a needs budget and demanding more money from the government.
Terry was "a worker's MP on a worker's wage", one of three Militant tendency Labour MPs in the UK who campaigned for socialist policies in the Labour Party in the 1980s, before Tony Blair finally ensured the Labour Party was beyond saving as a party for the working class.
Here he is speaking at the thousands-strong 1985 Albert Hall rally held b...
published: 06 Mar 2011
3:05
Archive 1982: Militant Tendency - entryists in Labour
Michael Crick looks at the 'Military Tendency' in 1982 as the Labour Party decide whether to have a register of approved pressure groups within the movement.
Su...
Michael Crick looks at the 'Military Tendency' in 1982 as the Labour Party decide whether to have a register of approved pressure groups within the movement.
Subscribe for more like this, every day: http://bit.ly/1epe41j
Dangerous world: http://bit.ly/1JCsSYb
The news explained: http://bit.ly/1epgay4
Music: http://bit.ly/1RVTRNy
Technology: http://bit.ly/1LI1K9y
Like us on Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1wQ1Gty
Follow us on Twitter: http://bit.ly/1mFUjBD
https://wn.com/Archive_1982_Militant_Tendency_Entryists_In_Labour
Michael Crick looks at the 'Military Tendency' in 1982 as the Labour Party decide whether to have a register of approved pressure groups within the movement.
Subscribe for more like this, every day: http://bit.ly/1epe41j
Dangerous world: http://bit.ly/1JCsSYb
The news explained: http://bit.ly/1epgay4
Music: http://bit.ly/1RVTRNy
Technology: http://bit.ly/1LI1K9y
Like us on Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1wQ1Gty
Follow us on Twitter: http://bit.ly/1mFUjBD
- published: 11 Aug 2015
- views: 15959
2:45
Tony Benn speaking at Militant tendency rally
Tony Benn was one of the speakers at the 1984 Militant tendency rally in the Wembley Conference Centre, packed with 3000 thousand supporters.
The Militant Rall...
Tony Benn was one of the speakers at the 1984 Militant tendency rally in the Wembley Conference Centre, packed with 3000 thousand supporters.
The Militant Rally of 20 October 1984 took place during a number of historic battles, including the Miners strike of 1984-5.
The 1980s saw epic battles of the organised working class in the UK that shook the ruling class to the core.
The Militant, now the Socialist Party, played a leading role in some of the key battles which took place, particularly the Liverpool struggle.
In the Labour Party, a monumental battle opened up to remove the Militant, and all left influences from the Labour Party, which also got extensive media coverage.
The Labour Party expelled the Militant editorial board in 1983, comprising of Ted Grant, Peter Taaffe, Keith Dickinson, Lynn Walsh and Clare Doyle.
The Militant Rally celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Militant newspaper.
The Tory government had just backed down in the face of mass struggle and temporarily returned some of the money which it had stolen from the Liverpool City Council.
The miners were in the middle of their epic one year strike which nearly toppled Thatcher. The Militant also played an important role in many ways in this struggle, and this is also reflected at the rally.
But it was only in 1989 - 1991 that the battle against the Poll Tax, a battle led by the Militant, through the non-payment campaign organised in the anti-poll tax unions and the All-Britain Anti-Poll Tax Federation, finally brought an end to British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's brutal rule.
The huge Militant Rally of 1984 in Wembley took place during a number of historic battles, including the Miners strike of 1984-5. Militant organised annual rallies which attracted thousands of people.
The 1980s saw epic battles of the organised working class in the UK that shook the ruling class to the core.
The Militant, now the Socialist Party, played a leading role in some of the key battles which took place, particularly the Liverpool struggle.
In the Labour Party, a monumental battle opened up to remove the Militant, and all left influences from the Labour Party, which also got extensive media coverage.
The Labour Party expelled the Militant editorial board in 1983, comprising of Ted Grant, Peter Taaffe, Keith Dickinson, Lynn Walsh and Clare Doyle.
The Militant Rally celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Militant newspaper.
The Tory government had just backed down in the face of mass struggle and temporarily returned some of the money which it had stolen from the Liverpool City Council.
The miners were in the middle of their epic one year strike which nearly toppled Thatcher. The Militant also played an important role in many ways in this struggle, and this is also reflected at the rally.
But it was only in 1989 - 1991 that the battle against the Poll Tax, a battle led by the Militant, through the non-payment campaign organised in the anti-poll tax unions and the All-Britain Anti-Poll Tax Federation, finally brought an end to British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's brutal rule.
www.socialistparty.org.uk
https://wn.com/Tony_Benn_Speaking_At_Militant_Tendency_Rally
Tony Benn was one of the speakers at the 1984 Militant tendency rally in the Wembley Conference Centre, packed with 3000 thousand supporters.
The Militant Rally of 20 October 1984 took place during a number of historic battles, including the Miners strike of 1984-5.
The 1980s saw epic battles of the organised working class in the UK that shook the ruling class to the core.
The Militant, now the Socialist Party, played a leading role in some of the key battles which took place, particularly the Liverpool struggle.
In the Labour Party, a monumental battle opened up to remove the Militant, and all left influences from the Labour Party, which also got extensive media coverage.
The Labour Party expelled the Militant editorial board in 1983, comprising of Ted Grant, Peter Taaffe, Keith Dickinson, Lynn Walsh and Clare Doyle.
The Militant Rally celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Militant newspaper.
The Tory government had just backed down in the face of mass struggle and temporarily returned some of the money which it had stolen from the Liverpool City Council.
The miners were in the middle of their epic one year strike which nearly toppled Thatcher. The Militant also played an important role in many ways in this struggle, and this is also reflected at the rally.
But it was only in 1989 - 1991 that the battle against the Poll Tax, a battle led by the Militant, through the non-payment campaign organised in the anti-poll tax unions and the All-Britain Anti-Poll Tax Federation, finally brought an end to British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's brutal rule.
The huge Militant Rally of 1984 in Wembley took place during a number of historic battles, including the Miners strike of 1984-5. Militant organised annual rallies which attracted thousands of people.
The 1980s saw epic battles of the organised working class in the UK that shook the ruling class to the core.
The Militant, now the Socialist Party, played a leading role in some of the key battles which took place, particularly the Liverpool struggle.
In the Labour Party, a monumental battle opened up to remove the Militant, and all left influences from the Labour Party, which also got extensive media coverage.
The Labour Party expelled the Militant editorial board in 1983, comprising of Ted Grant, Peter Taaffe, Keith Dickinson, Lynn Walsh and Clare Doyle.
The Militant Rally celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Militant newspaper.
The Tory government had just backed down in the face of mass struggle and temporarily returned some of the money which it had stolen from the Liverpool City Council.
The miners were in the middle of their epic one year strike which nearly toppled Thatcher. The Militant also played an important role in many ways in this struggle, and this is also reflected at the rally.
But it was only in 1989 - 1991 that the battle against the Poll Tax, a battle led by the Militant, through the non-payment campaign organised in the anti-poll tax unions and the All-Britain Anti-Poll Tax Federation, finally brought an end to British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's brutal rule.
www.socialistparty.org.uk
- published: 16 Mar 2014
- views: 7742
2:25
Labour is returning to its 80s militant roots and Derek Hatton's return proves it
Derek Hatton marks Labour's slide back to the 80s just one day after seven Labour MPs quit. Asa Bennett reports.
Get the latest headlines: http://www.telegraph...
Derek Hatton marks Labour's slide back to the 80s just one day after seven Labour MPs quit. Asa Bennett reports.
Get the latest headlines: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/
Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=telegraphtv
Like us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/telegraph.co.uk
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/telegraph
Telegraph.co.uk and YouTube.com/TelegraphTV are websites of The Telegraph, the UK's best-selling quality daily newspaper providing news and analysis on UK and world events, business, sport, lifestyle and culture.
https://wn.com/Labour_Is_Returning_To_Its_80S_Militant_Roots_And_Derek_Hatton's_Return_Proves_It
Derek Hatton marks Labour's slide back to the 80s just one day after seven Labour MPs quit. Asa Bennett reports.
Get the latest headlines: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/
Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=telegraphtv
Like us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/telegraph.co.uk
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/telegraph
Telegraph.co.uk and YouTube.com/TelegraphTV are websites of The Telegraph, the UK's best-selling quality daily newspaper providing news and analysis on UK and world events, business, sport, lifestyle and culture.
- published: 19 Feb 2019
- views: 4170
25:48
Labour party | Militant| What's next for Labour | 1980s Politics | Blackpool | TV Eye | 1982
A LIVE DEBATE FROM BLACKPOOL ABOUT THE FUTURE OF MILITANT - IN THE LIGHT OF THE LABOUR PARTY'S CONFERENCE DECISION. THE QUESTION:
SHOULD MILITANT MEMBERS NOW...
A LIVE DEBATE FROM BLACKPOOL ABOUT THE FUTURE OF MILITANT - IN THE LIGHT OF THE LABOUR PARTY'S CONFERENCE DECISION. THE QUESTION:
SHOULD MILITANT MEMBERS NOW BE EXPELLED?
FRANK FIELD MP
TONY MULHEARN - TOXTETH CANDIDATE
AUSTIN MITCHELL MP
First shown: 30/09/1982
To license a clip please e mail:
[email protected]
Quote: VT27901
https://wn.com/Labour_Party_|_Militant|_What's_Next_For_Labour_|_1980S_Politics_|_Blackpool_|_Tv_Eye_|_1982
A LIVE DEBATE FROM BLACKPOOL ABOUT THE FUTURE OF MILITANT - IN THE LIGHT OF THE LABOUR PARTY'S CONFERENCE DECISION. THE QUESTION:
SHOULD MILITANT MEMBERS NOW BE EXPELLED?
FRANK FIELD MP
TONY MULHEARN - TOXTETH CANDIDATE
AUSTIN MITCHELL MP
First shown: 30/09/1982
To license a clip please e mail:
[email protected]
Quote: VT27901
- published: 27 Aug 2023
- views: 2181
17:46
Peter Taaffe Militant Rally 1985
Peter Taaffe, now general secretary of the Socialist Party of England and Wales, speaking at the 5,000 thousand-strong 1985 Albert Hall rally held by the Milita...
Peter Taaffe, now general secretary of the Socialist Party of England and Wales, speaking at the 5,000 thousand-strong 1985 Albert Hall rally held by the Militant tendency. At that time, the Militant was a tendency within the Labour Party, and campaigned for "Labour to power on a socialist programme. The Militant left the Labour Party in 1991 to form the Socialist Party, which now campaigns for the building of a new mass workers' party, and at the time of writing (2012) is supporting the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition.
Also speaking was Terry Fields MP. See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yn6XzhuZeA
https://wn.com/Peter_Taaffe_Militant_Rally_1985
Peter Taaffe, now general secretary of the Socialist Party of England and Wales, speaking at the 5,000 thousand-strong 1985 Albert Hall rally held by the Militant tendency. At that time, the Militant was a tendency within the Labour Party, and campaigned for "Labour to power on a socialist programme. The Militant left the Labour Party in 1991 to form the Socialist Party, which now campaigns for the building of a new mass workers' party, and at the time of writing (2012) is supporting the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition.
Also speaking was Terry Fields MP. See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yn6XzhuZeA
- published: 29 Jan 2012
- views: 8467
20:36
Militant Labour | British Labour Party | TV Eye | 1981
Within the Labour Party and with a strong base in Liverpool- there exists a Trostskyist group called Militant
They claim footholds in two to three hundred const...
Within the Labour Party and with a strong base in Liverpool- there exists a Trostskyist group called Militant
They claim footholds in two to three hundred constituencies, 5,000 committed supporters and 60+ full time employees.
Local MP, Frank Field opposes their spread . Now the NEC are to consider their activities against the background of Labour’s crushing defeat at Crosby.
This is a slightly shortened version of the original programme.
First Shown: 03/12/1981
If you would like to license a clip from this video please e mail:
[email protected]
Quote: VT25826
https://wn.com/Militant_Labour_|_British_Labour_Party_|_Tv_Eye_|_1981
Within the Labour Party and with a strong base in Liverpool- there exists a Trostskyist group called Militant
They claim footholds in two to three hundred constituencies, 5,000 committed supporters and 60+ full time employees.
Local MP, Frank Field opposes their spread . Now the NEC are to consider their activities against the background of Labour’s crushing defeat at Crosby.
This is a slightly shortened version of the original programme.
First Shown: 03/12/1981
If you would like to license a clip from this video please e mail:
[email protected]
Quote: VT25826
- published: 16 Jul 2017
- views: 91445
6:43
Tony Mulhearn speaking at massive Militant Rally 1988 - Socialist Party video
Expelled from the Labour Party for fighting Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's Tory government attacks on Liverpool city council, Tony Mulhearn, Militant suppor...
Expelled from the Labour Party for fighting Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's Tory government attacks on Liverpool city council, Tony Mulhearn, Militant supporter and now a member of the Socialist Party, was one of the 47 councillors who set a needs budget and forced the Tory government to retreat.
Nearly 8000 packed the Alexandria Palace (the 'People's palace') on 19th June 1988 for the final Militant rally before the Militant broke from the Labour Party in an historic move, to form the Socialist Party.
Ot the liverpool47 website, Tony writes:
"We Translated Socialism Into The Language Of Jobs, Housing And Services"
TONY MULHEARN, one of the '47' Liverpool councillors from 1983 to 1987, told the 2007 Socialist Party congress how they defied Thatcher 20 years ago.
"LIVERPOOL SHOWED how Marxists can link directly with working-class people on a clear set of socialist principles. Militant supporters linked up to the aspirations of the working class - a decent job, a decent wage, a decent house, a decent pension - basically what's required to lead a civilised life.
Then we campaigned to meet these aspirations. We translated socialism into the language of jobs, housing, and social services. We were elected in 1983, increased our majority in 1984 on these policies and implemented them.
We started more apprentices in our four years than had been started in the previous 40 years. We built more houses than all other councils in our time in office.
Liverpool council made a gigantic leap in meeting the needs of the working class. So we could mobilise massive support - firstly amongst local authority workers, then the whole working class. We had demonstrations of up to 60,000 people in defence of Liverpool council - this enormous movement solidified the Labour party and the Labour council.
At the time many doubted whether councillors would pass a deficit budget but we were amazed how many, even honest right-wing Labour, councillors stood firm and voted for an illegal budget.
Mass campaign
This resulted from the pressure of Liverpool's working class, reflected inside Liverpool District Labour Party, the policy-making body that imposed policy on the Labour group.
We conducted a mass campaign. When Patrick Jenkin, the local government minister, came to Liverpool to see what was going on, we showed him all the city's dreadful housing conditions. This patrician Tory said he hadn't seen housing like that in his life.
He was compelled on that basis to negotiate a deal with us in 1984. We were the only council to get extra funding, £60 million, which allowed us to balance our budget and continue our policies.
District Auditor
Thatcher then came to Liverpool. The Daily Express quoted her as saying: "These people have no respect for my authority" and had to be put down. From then on, the 47 councillors faced calumny in the press.
The District Auditor came to Liverpool. He found no financial irregularities but claimed that, by deferring the setting of the budget for three months, we lost government income which if we'd put it in the bank would have earned interest. He said our actions had lost Liverpool £106,000 - the Tories had taken many millions from the city since 1979!
If the unelected District Auditor, with the powers of a feudal baron, believes you're out of order as a councillor, he can remove you from office. So at a stroke, he removed 47 democratically elected Labour councillors from office.
Our campaign amongst the working class for funds to appeal raised £650,000. We fought all the way to the unelected Law Lords, who declared we were unfit for office and unceremoniously kicked us out. Many of the 47 surcharged and dismissed ex-councillors faced being victimised and losing their jobs.
Who was the liability?
Labour leader Kinnock called Militant an electoral liability. In Liverpool we never lost an election when we were in control and got the highest Labour vote since 1945 despite the city's population having slumped from 700,000 to 450,000. We won with turnouts never seen before - 50%, 55%, even 62% for local elections. Some 'electoral liability'!
After Kinnock's treacherous speech at Bournemouth in 1985, Denis Healey told Kinnock his speech had won Labour the next general election. In the 1987 election Kinnock got the second lowest vote for Labour since 1931.
Labour's right wing used the rule book to change the party. Even right wing Labour councillors claimed in 1988 to be standing on the policies of the 47 and got elected.
But then they embraced neo-liberalism and wrecked the Labour Party. Constituencies were closed down. Labour councillors now total just 20 - the Lib Dems dominate the city. Not one new house has been built for years.
New Labour hardly exists and the years of reaction are only now coming to an end. But if we were in the same position today, we'd do the same and fight for our class. It's what we were elected to do."
https://wn.com/Tony_Mulhearn_Speaking_At_Massive_Militant_Rally_1988_Socialist_Party_Video
Expelled from the Labour Party for fighting Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's Tory government attacks on Liverpool city council, Tony Mulhearn, Militant supporter and now a member of the Socialist Party, was one of the 47 councillors who set a needs budget and forced the Tory government to retreat.
Nearly 8000 packed the Alexandria Palace (the 'People's palace') on 19th June 1988 for the final Militant rally before the Militant broke from the Labour Party in an historic move, to form the Socialist Party.
Ot the liverpool47 website, Tony writes:
"We Translated Socialism Into The Language Of Jobs, Housing And Services"
TONY MULHEARN, one of the '47' Liverpool councillors from 1983 to 1987, told the 2007 Socialist Party congress how they defied Thatcher 20 years ago.
"LIVERPOOL SHOWED how Marxists can link directly with working-class people on a clear set of socialist principles. Militant supporters linked up to the aspirations of the working class - a decent job, a decent wage, a decent house, a decent pension - basically what's required to lead a civilised life.
Then we campaigned to meet these aspirations. We translated socialism into the language of jobs, housing, and social services. We were elected in 1983, increased our majority in 1984 on these policies and implemented them.
We started more apprentices in our four years than had been started in the previous 40 years. We built more houses than all other councils in our time in office.
Liverpool council made a gigantic leap in meeting the needs of the working class. So we could mobilise massive support - firstly amongst local authority workers, then the whole working class. We had demonstrations of up to 60,000 people in defence of Liverpool council - this enormous movement solidified the Labour party and the Labour council.
At the time many doubted whether councillors would pass a deficit budget but we were amazed how many, even honest right-wing Labour, councillors stood firm and voted for an illegal budget.
Mass campaign
This resulted from the pressure of Liverpool's working class, reflected inside Liverpool District Labour Party, the policy-making body that imposed policy on the Labour group.
We conducted a mass campaign. When Patrick Jenkin, the local government minister, came to Liverpool to see what was going on, we showed him all the city's dreadful housing conditions. This patrician Tory said he hadn't seen housing like that in his life.
He was compelled on that basis to negotiate a deal with us in 1984. We were the only council to get extra funding, £60 million, which allowed us to balance our budget and continue our policies.
District Auditor
Thatcher then came to Liverpool. The Daily Express quoted her as saying: "These people have no respect for my authority" and had to be put down. From then on, the 47 councillors faced calumny in the press.
The District Auditor came to Liverpool. He found no financial irregularities but claimed that, by deferring the setting of the budget for three months, we lost government income which if we'd put it in the bank would have earned interest. He said our actions had lost Liverpool £106,000 - the Tories had taken many millions from the city since 1979!
If the unelected District Auditor, with the powers of a feudal baron, believes you're out of order as a councillor, he can remove you from office. So at a stroke, he removed 47 democratically elected Labour councillors from office.
Our campaign amongst the working class for funds to appeal raised £650,000. We fought all the way to the unelected Law Lords, who declared we were unfit for office and unceremoniously kicked us out. Many of the 47 surcharged and dismissed ex-councillors faced being victimised and losing their jobs.
Who was the liability?
Labour leader Kinnock called Militant an electoral liability. In Liverpool we never lost an election when we were in control and got the highest Labour vote since 1945 despite the city's population having slumped from 700,000 to 450,000. We won with turnouts never seen before - 50%, 55%, even 62% for local elections. Some 'electoral liability'!
After Kinnock's treacherous speech at Bournemouth in 1985, Denis Healey told Kinnock his speech had won Labour the next general election. In the 1987 election Kinnock got the second lowest vote for Labour since 1931.
Labour's right wing used the rule book to change the party. Even right wing Labour councillors claimed in 1988 to be standing on the policies of the 47 and got elected.
But then they embraced neo-liberalism and wrecked the Labour Party. Constituencies were closed down. Labour councillors now total just 20 - the Lib Dems dominate the city. Not one new house has been built for years.
New Labour hardly exists and the years of reaction are only now coming to an end. But if we were in the same position today, we'd do the same and fight for our class. It's what we were elected to do."
- published: 18 Mar 2011
- views: 7895
48:05
Socialism 2016: Peter Taaffe debates with Channel Four journalist Michael Crick
Socialism 2016 was a weekend that put socialism on the agenda.
The debate between Michael Crick, well known Channel 4 journalist and the author of the book 'Mi...
Socialism 2016 was a weekend that put socialism on the agenda.
The debate between Michael Crick, well known Channel 4 journalist and the author of the book 'Militant', and Peter Taaffe, general secretary of the Socialist Party, generated great interest. 120 attended and 100 were unable to get in the room.
Peter began by quoting from Michael's comments on the BBC Radio 4 programme. The thing about Militant was that they were "brilliantly organised, brilliant orators. They plan things, know what they're doing and they keep at it. They're committed, they put the hours in, they go to meetings night after night after night and they commit huge amounts of their own personal income and their lives"!
Peter Taaffe is author of The Rise of Militant, online at www.socialistparty.org.uk/militant and
Liverpool - a City that Dared to Fight, online at www.socialistparty.org.uk/liverpool and both can be bought at leftbooks.co.uk
https://wn.com/Socialism_2016_Peter_Taaffe_Debates_With_Channel_Four_Journalist_Michael_Crick
Socialism 2016 was a weekend that put socialism on the agenda.
The debate between Michael Crick, well known Channel 4 journalist and the author of the book 'Militant', and Peter Taaffe, general secretary of the Socialist Party, generated great interest. 120 attended and 100 were unable to get in the room.
Peter began by quoting from Michael's comments on the BBC Radio 4 programme. The thing about Militant was that they were "brilliantly organised, brilliant orators. They plan things, know what they're doing and they keep at it. They're committed, they put the hours in, they go to meetings night after night after night and they commit huge amounts of their own personal income and their lives"!
Peter Taaffe is author of The Rise of Militant, online at www.socialistparty.org.uk/militant and
Liverpool - a City that Dared to Fight, online at www.socialistparty.org.uk/liverpool and both can be bought at leftbooks.co.uk
- published: 17 Nov 2016
- views: 9655
5:56
Neil Kinnock's famous speech from 1985 Labour Party conference
Jeremy Corbyn is facing fresh pressure over Brexit as his left-wing backers are poised to launch a major campaign to convince him to try to keep the UK in the E...
Jeremy Corbyn is facing fresh pressure over Brexit as his left-wing backers are poised to launch a major campaign to convince him to try to keep the UK in the EU. Trade union leaders are joining forces with Labour MPs and members of the campaign group Momentum to launch a nationwide speaking tour. The Left Against Brexit tour wants to pile pressure on the Labour leader to radically change his policy and sign up to overturn Brexit. But the campaign is likely to expose deep divisions within Labour, which is torn between its Brexit-backing heartland voters and Remain-backing southern activists.
Original Article: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5795507/Trade-Unions-Labour-MPs-launch-speech-tour-stop-Brexit.html
Original Video: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/video/news/video-1699958/Video-Neil-Kinnocks-famous-speech-Labour-Party-conference-1985.html
Daily Mail Facebook: http://facebook.com/dailymail
Daily Mail IG: http://instagram.com/dailymail
Daily Mail Snap: https://www.snapchat.com/discover/Daily-Mail/8392137033
Daily Mail Twitter: http://twitter.com/MailOnline
Daily Mail Pinterest: http://pinterest.co.uk/dailymail
Daily Mail Google+: https://plus.google.com/+DailyMail
Get the free Daily Mail mobile app: http://dailymail.co.uk/mobile
https://wn.com/Neil_Kinnock's_Famous_Speech_From_1985_Labour_Party_Conference
Jeremy Corbyn is facing fresh pressure over Brexit as his left-wing backers are poised to launch a major campaign to convince him to try to keep the UK in the EU. Trade union leaders are joining forces with Labour MPs and members of the campaign group Momentum to launch a nationwide speaking tour. The Left Against Brexit tour wants to pile pressure on the Labour leader to radically change his policy and sign up to overturn Brexit. But the campaign is likely to expose deep divisions within Labour, which is torn between its Brexit-backing heartland voters and Remain-backing southern activists.
Original Article: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5795507/Trade-Unions-Labour-MPs-launch-speech-tour-stop-Brexit.html
Original Video: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/video/news/video-1699958/Video-Neil-Kinnocks-famous-speech-Labour-Party-conference-1985.html
Daily Mail Facebook: http://facebook.com/dailymail
Daily Mail IG: http://instagram.com/dailymail
Daily Mail Snap: https://www.snapchat.com/discover/Daily-Mail/8392137033
Daily Mail Twitter: http://twitter.com/MailOnline
Daily Mail Pinterest: http://pinterest.co.uk/dailymail
Daily Mail Google+: https://plus.google.com/+DailyMail
Get the free Daily Mail mobile app: http://dailymail.co.uk/mobile
- published: 01 Jun 2018
- views: 93122
12:36
Militant MP Terry Fields - Socialist Party video
Terry Fields MP (8 March 1937 -- 28 June 2008) was a Militant Tendency (now Socialist Party) supporter and Labour MP who was jailed for 60 days for refusing to ...
Terry Fields MP (8 March 1937 -- 28 June 2008) was a Militant Tendency (now Socialist Party) supporter and Labour MP who was jailed for 60 days for refusing to pay the poll tax.
Terry defended the Liverpool city council's fight against prime minister Margaret Thatcher's cuts to the rate support grant, as did the other MPs in Merseyside. Liverpool refused to implement the cuts, passing a needs budget and demanding more money from the government.
Terry was "a worker's MP on a worker's wage", one of three Militant tendency Labour MPs in the UK who campaigned for socialist policies in the Labour Party in the 1980s, before Tony Blair finally ensured the Labour Party was beyond saving as a party for the working class.
Here he is speaking at the thousands-strong 1985 Albert Hall rally held by the Militant tendency. This video, from the original tapes, is shown here for first time.
Terry was a fireman with the Merseyside County Fire Brigade 1957-83, elected to the FBU National Executive Committee before becoming an MP. It was the 1977-8 Fire Brigades Union national strike which led Terry to join the Militant tendency.
An MP for Liverpool Broadgreen 1983-91, he was expelled from the Labour Party for refusing to pay the poll tax, and he remained an Independent MP 1991-92. On 11 July 1991, Fields was jailed for 60 days for refusing to pay his £373 poll tax bill.
Tam Dayell said of him "The Terry Fields that I knew in the House of Commons was a gentle, reflective, neatly dressed, pipe-smoking friend and colleague, who in no way fitted the stereotype of some caudillo of the Militant Tendency."
https://wn.com/Militant_Mp_Terry_Fields_Socialist_Party_Video
Terry Fields MP (8 March 1937 -- 28 June 2008) was a Militant Tendency (now Socialist Party) supporter and Labour MP who was jailed for 60 days for refusing to pay the poll tax.
Terry defended the Liverpool city council's fight against prime minister Margaret Thatcher's cuts to the rate support grant, as did the other MPs in Merseyside. Liverpool refused to implement the cuts, passing a needs budget and demanding more money from the government.
Terry was "a worker's MP on a worker's wage", one of three Militant tendency Labour MPs in the UK who campaigned for socialist policies in the Labour Party in the 1980s, before Tony Blair finally ensured the Labour Party was beyond saving as a party for the working class.
Here he is speaking at the thousands-strong 1985 Albert Hall rally held by the Militant tendency. This video, from the original tapes, is shown here for first time.
Terry was a fireman with the Merseyside County Fire Brigade 1957-83, elected to the FBU National Executive Committee before becoming an MP. It was the 1977-8 Fire Brigades Union national strike which led Terry to join the Militant tendency.
An MP for Liverpool Broadgreen 1983-91, he was expelled from the Labour Party for refusing to pay the poll tax, and he remained an Independent MP 1991-92. On 11 July 1991, Fields was jailed for 60 days for refusing to pay his £373 poll tax bill.
Tam Dayell said of him "The Terry Fields that I knew in the House of Commons was a gentle, reflective, neatly dressed, pipe-smoking friend and colleague, who in no way fitted the stereotype of some caudillo of the Militant Tendency."
- published: 06 Mar 2011
- views: 6246