2005-02-20,+CPB+winter+newsletter+2005


 * Published for members and supporters of the Communist Party**
 * Ruskin House 23 Coombe Road Croydon CR0 1BD 020 8686 1659**
 * office@communist-party.org.uk**

General secretary Robert Griffiths delivered the main political report to the January 2005 executive committee meeting

Nothing to be gained from a Tory victory
The tsunami disaster has rightly occupied the news headlines over recent weeks. It has brought home to many people that our humanity is indivisible, that we share this world together and ultimately depend upon one another as a single race ­ the human race. It demonstrates the importance of the ecology of our planet for all of us, and our common interests in nurturing that planet and its resources. But we can do none of these things adequately, let alone fully, for as long as our world is in the grip of an economic and social system which is based on exploitation and which breeds inequality, oppression and war. The priorities of that system are not to protect life, especially not in the poverty-stricken areas hit hardest by the tsunami disaster. Although the US Geological Survey had sufficient warning of the initial earthquake and the tidal wave which would inevitably follow, this warning was not passed on to the most vulnerable areas. This would have saved many of the 200,000 lives lost so far in the south Asia and Pacific region. A warning was received, however, on the island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, where there is a US military base. No lives were lost and the warning was not even necessary. Diego Garcia is a British colony where the islanders were evicted nearly 30 years ago to make way for US forces. A recent High Court ruling that the native inhabitants must be allowed to return has been annulled by an order in the British Privy Council, initiated by our New Labour government. The argument put forward by Straw and others is that the island is uninhabitable, not least because it is vulnerable to floods and other natural disasters. Comrades, it should make you laugh ... if it doesn't make you weep.

Imperialism and the Third World
In true New Labour spin-doctoring style, there are daily announcements of past, present and future suspension and cancellation of Third World debt, including for those countries in the front line of the tsunami. What Gordon Brown has proposed is that the Paris Club of rich creditor states suspend ­ not cancel ­ $5 billion annual debt repayments from India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand, although for how long remains unclear. The IMF is expected to offer these countries $1 billion in loans, with additional money for reconstruction from the World Bank. But these countries repay $22 billions every year, much of it to the IMF and World Bank. They owe $300 billion before interest, some of it ­ notably in Indonesia¹s case ­ as the result of arms sales from US, British and French corporations to brutal but compliant regimes. While any suspension or cancellation of debt is welcome, these are near-empty gestures. The Communist Party¹s position is:=
 * Cancel all Third World debt.
 * Fund social and environmental programmes through a Tobin Tax on international capital movements.
 * Impose severe controls on the arms trade.

A tsunami-scale calamity strikes the Third World every week. The World Health Organisation estimates that 11 million children under the age of five die every year as the result of preventable or curable diseases such as malaria, half of them directly related to malnutrition. That¹s 200,000 deaths every seven days. Again, this should lend some modesty to Gordon Brown¹s grandiose ideas for a Marshall Plan for Africa, with Western governments selling bonds on the international financial markets in order to double aid to Africa and other countries to $50 billions. This is chicken-feed compared to debt repayments and to the capital sucked out of these countries by Western transnational corporations in rent, profit and interest payments. Africa and developing countries do not need great white chiefs with their Africa commissions and Marshall plans ­ they need fair terms of trade, fair access to Western markets, an end to the ruthless plunder of their resources and an end to the dumping of subsidised European union products on their home markets. The single biggest step that could be taken to stimulate production and development in the Third World would be for the US, EU and Japan to ease the draconian tariffs and quotas on imported goods from developing countries.

Prospects in Iraq and Palestine
In Iraq, there is no sign of the attacks on occupation and Allawi government forces abating. The barbarous destruction of Fallujah has not weakened the resistance movement. But there have been two deeply disturbing recent developments:

Firstly, we have seen a number of deadly attacks on leading figures in the Iraqi Communist Party and the Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions. Our solidarity with these organisations is unconditional, although that does not necessarily mean that we agree with every aspect of the ICP¹s strategy. What we are absolutely clear about is that these forces represent the best hope for building a genuinely democratic, federal, sovereign and progressive Iraq. Anything which weakens them, weakens the struggle for these objectives. Secondly, there has been a significant increase in inter-communal attacks carried out by Islamist and Baathist forces. This is a development which could threaten the unity of Iraq and which shows the reactionary nature of at least some sections of the resistance movement. But let us not forget that all these events are the product of the imperialist invasion and occupation of Iraq. The January 30 elections are unlikely to solve Iraq¹s problems for as long as the occupation continues. Indeed, the real danger now is that a US-sponsored divide-and-rule¹ strategy is emerging, leading to the division of Iraq into autonomous protectorates run by the imperialist powers and their supplicants, on the Bosnian or Afghan model. Newsweek has revealed US-sponsored plans to train Œdeath squads¹ for use against the anti-occupation resistance. The possibility of permanent US and British imperialist involvement in the running of Iraq underlines the urgency of the Communist Party¹s appeals:


 * Solidarity with non-sectarian left and progressive forces, including the ICP and IFTU, which stand for a united, democratic, sovereign and progressive Iraq. Support the TUC Iraq solidarity conference on February 9. *Reinvigorate the movement for the immediate withdrawal of imperialist troops from Iraq. Mobilise for the March 19 demonstrations in London, Wales and Scotland.

The decision of the Sharon government to cut links with the new Palestinian government of Abu Amass demonstrates ­ if still needed ­ that Sharon¹s objective is Palestinian surrender to the permanent Israeli occupation of a large part of the West Bank and East Jerusalem with a permanently threatened, weakened, disarmed, cowed and dependent Palestinian statelet scattered over separate territories. Blair¹s so-called peace conference¹, with its emphasis on what the Palestinians must do, is more likely to strengthen this strategy than undermine it. New Labour¹s plans Comrades, prime minister Blair has announced that a third-term Labour government will be unremittingly New Labour¹, with further radical reforms in the NHS and education, and new frontiers¹ for the welfare state. It is a sign of how out of touch he is with public opinion that what he sees as a promise is widely regarded by many potential Labour voters as a threat. According to an opinion poll in the Independent on January 11, Labour¹s vote would increase by more than one-third if Brown led the party at the General Election. It¹s one more reason why Blair should quit as prime minister, but no reason at all why Brown would himself make any significant difference in policy terms. He has been the architect of many New Labour policies of privatisation and PFI; he has resisted all the arguments for restoration of the state pension link with earnings; and he has willingly found the money for Blair¹s wars. Indeed, had he and Straw had the public courage of their alleged private convictions and threatened to publicly oppose the attack on Iraq, Blair could never have committed us to that ongoing calamity for the Iraqi people. In the unlikely event of it happening in the near future, the most that could be said of Brown replacing Blair is that it might contribute to a dynamic which might put New Labour policies under pressure within the Labour Party as well as the wider movement. As for Blair¹s threat, many workers ­ especially in the public sector ­ will know that Œreform¹ in health and education will mean more privatisation, more PFI, more market-style management and labour methods, more exploitation of the workforce. Today¹s and tomorrow¹s pensioners should be warned that changing the frontiers of the welfare state will mean less public provision, more involvement of private pension and insurance companies despite their theft of billions of pounds of working people¹s funds, and more reliance on private and family care. Of course, there will be some positive policies in Labour¹s General Election manifesto. There have been gains for working people since 1997, especially in the first term of office.

Growing inequality
But two reports published just before Christmas should also stand as an indictment of the New Labour government. On December 22, the Office for National Statistics released the latest estimates of the distribution of wealth in the United Kingdom. It showed that between 1996 and 2002, the share owned by the richest 1 per cent of the population rose from 20 to 23 per cent (and is still rising). That of the richest one-tenth increased from 52 to 56 per cent. Meanwhile, the proportion of wealth owned by the poorer one-half of the population fell ­ despite all the spin about redistribution by stealth¹ ­ from 7 to 6 per cent. Home ownership distorts these figures because it includes apart from precarious pension entitlements the only major type of wealth owned by working people, despite the reality that much of this asset is mortgaged and often re-mortgaged up to the hilt. If we subtract this element, the growth in inequality since 1996 is even starker. The share of wealth owned by the richest 1 per cent has increased from 26 to 35 per cent, that of the wealthiest tenth from 63 to 75 per cent. Over the same period, the proportion owned by the poorer half of the population has slumped from 6 to just 2 per cent. Any redistribution of wealth under New Labour has been from those with average wealth to those just below the average. The same regression has occurred in terms of income. The biggest earning one-tenth have done very well under New Labour, and now receive 26 per cent of all income. The poorer half of the population receive 27 per cent while the poorest tenth have seen their share drop to 3 per cent. Also in December, the Rowntree Foundation published its Strategies Against Poverty report. It confirms these trends, and like the ONS identifies the sections of the population most likely to live in poverty: the unemployed, single parents, Pakistani/Bangladeshi households, other black ethnic minorities, the disabled and single women pensioners. It also shows the extent to which benefits and income guarantees are increasingly keeping many parents, unemployed and pensioners above the poverty level ­ while the means-testing attached to them is keeping millions in poverty. Comrades, whereas the Rowntree report¹s recommendations are partial and weak, these facts validate the Communist Party¹s demands for:


 * A drastic reduction in means testing in favour of higher universal benefits
 * Severe reduction in indirect taxation, notably VAT
 * Restoration of the link between the state retirement pension and earnings
 * A second state pension for working people with compulsory employer contributions
 * The national minimum wage to be raised immediately to half median male earnings, rising over time to two-thirds
 * A higher top rate of income tax
 * A Wealth Tax.

A Wealth Tax of just 1 per cent on the richest tenth of the population would generate revenue of £150 billions ­ more than the government¹s annual expenditure on education, health, public transport and the environment put together. The Rowntree report also highlights the links between poverty and housing, pointing out that housebuilding in Britain today is at its lowest level since the 1920s despite massive social need. This makes our party¹s Month of Action on Housing, in February, all the more significant. Let us see our party go into action on this vital issue with leafletting, Morning Star and Communist Party public meetings, branch discussions, articles in the Morning Star and letters from party organisations in the capitalist press.

Communist election strategy
Comrades, our Political Committee is putting forward the following approach for the forthcoming General Election:

The Political Report was accepted with an additional point condemning Harry Windsor¹s wearing of a Nazi uniform.
 * Nothing would be gained by a Tory victory and a Labour defeat at the forthcoming general election. We are against any revival of the Tories, and do not want to see the conditions created where New Labour ­ or social democrats ­ in opposition could make a bogus shift to the left or shallow appeals to party unity in a time of crisis. A Labour victory will keep New Labour in our sights and provide fresh opportunities to unite the left and the labour movement around a left-wing programme opposed to New Labour¹s pro-big business, pro-imperialist policies.
 * We cannot call for support for Labour candidates who are or were members of the Cabinet most closely associated with the decision to attack Iraq, notably Blair, Prescott, Brown, Straw, Hoon, Blunkett and Reid. In those constituencies, we urge a vote for candidates who are anti-war, anti-privatisation, in favour of public ownership and the repeal of anti-trade union laws.
 * Where Communist Party candidates are standing we urge all Communists, socialists and progressives to help produce the biggest possible election campaign and vote for a real national and international left-wing programme.
 * In the election campaign, Communist Party and trade union and progressive organisations at local level should canvass Labour candidates on key issues including those identified in the 48th and special 47th congress resolutions.
 * We also urge Communists, socialists and peace campaigners to work to ensure in particular the return to parliament of those Labour MPs who voted against the war on Iraq.
 * In other seats, we call for a Labour vote, but where party organisations believe they should not support a pro-war, pro-New Labour candidate, they can make their case for supporting an alternative to the EC or PC as provided for in our special 47th congress resolution, which will respond on the basis of our programmatic principles, congress resolutions and the points made in this policy statement.
 * Where fascist candidates are standing, all party organisations and members in and around those constituencies are urged to take an active part in anti-fascist, anti-racist campaigning. This approach will, in our view, best maintain the credibility of our party and give a lead to the labour and progressive movements in line with our slogan: 'Defeat New Labour, unite the labour movement'.

Daily Worker/Morning Star 75 years
This year marks the 75th annivesary of the launch of the Daily Worker. Party districts and nations are planning for 75th anniversary events, with EC members reporting progress in their area at March meeting of the executive committee. Party organisations should consider organising at least one fund-raising event for the paper each year.

Iraq for the Iraqis
We were told that the war, which began nearly two years ago, would bring peace and prosperity to the Iraqi people. We were told that they would welcome the invaders. Both claims have proved to be totally false. Iraqis still suffer shortages of food, water, petrol and electricity. They still live in a highly dangerous environment. Surveys of opinion show that most Iraqis want the occupation to end. The resistance is growing, with US estimates putting its number of active supporters at 200,000, and with a much higher level of passive support. Meanwhile, US weapon investigator, Charles Duelfer, has officially given up the search for Weapons of Mass Destruction. The occupying troops are killing innocent Iraqis on a regular basis, and are themselves being killed and wounded in increasing numbers. As in Vietnam, the US cannot win in Iraq. The real question is how much more bloodshed will continue before they withdraw? Tony Blair argues that whatever we thought of the war we should now support the troops staying. But the troops are only there because we went into an unnecessary and illegal war. Blair and Bush would like us to forget their war crimes and endorse their continuing crime against the Iraqi people. We call for the troops to be withdrawn and for an end to the occupation. They can play no part in rebuilding Iraq ­ only the Iraqi people can do that. The British government should recognise that the majority in this country now believe this war was wrong. Instead, it refuses to debate the issue and parliament remains largely silent in the issue. That means we have to once again take to the streets. Our marches have proved time and again that anti war opinion is a massive force in this country and one which will eventually win. 100,000 Iraqi civilians dead. The destruction of the city of Fallujah, with tens of thousands of its citizens left as refugees. This is the cost of the occupation of Iraq. March 19 marks the second anniversary of this bloody war. Make sure you come out on the streets to say: Troops home and Iraq for the Iraqis.

Stop the war action Enfield Tuesday 1 March Chris Nineham (Stop the War Coalition)

Oxford Tuesday 1 March Oxford Town Hall

Southend 7.30pm Wednesday 2nd March Leigh Community Centre, Elm Road, Leigh-on-sea Mark Steele and Sabah Jawad (Iraqi Democrats)

St. Albans 8pm, Wednesday 2 March Jubilee Centre, Catherine Street, St Albans Lindsey German (Stop the War Coalition) Kate Hudson (CND) Paul Mackney (Natfhe) Kerry Pollard MP (Labour against the War)

Sheffield 7pm, Thursday 3 March The Library Theatre, Tudor Square, Sheffield Troops Out - End the Occupation Rose Gentle (Military Families Against the War) Jeremy Dear (National Union of Journalists) Sabah Jawad (Iraqi Democrats Against the Occupation) Lindsey German (Stop the War Coalition)

Lewisham Wednesday 9 March Andrew Murray (Stop the War Coalition) Rose Gentle (Military Families Against the War) Felicity Arbuthnot

Woolwich Wednesday 9 March Andrew Murray (Stop the War Coalition) Rose Gentle (Military Families Against the War)

Newcastle 3pm, Saturday 12 March Newcastle University Auditorium Bruce Kent (CND) Lindsey German (Stop the War Coalition) Mahmoud Kurdi (MAB)

East London Monday 14 March George Galloway MP Go to www.stopwar.org.uk for regular updates on local action Contact Morning Star circulation on 0208 8510 0815 for bundles

INTERNATIONAL
Hans Modrow, former prime minister of the German Democratic Republic and leading member of Germany¹s Party of Democratic Socialism will give the oration at the anniversary of the death of Karl Marx. The event, organised by the Communist Party and coinciding with the March meeting of the executive committee takes place at Highgate cemetary on Sunday 13 March 2pm South Gate 2:30 ceremony. Full details will appear in the Morning Star

HOUSING
February was the start of a Communist Party campaign on housing. Party organisations organised mass leafletting of housing estates and shopping centres with a new leaflet. The campaign ground was laid out by John Foster at the January executive committee meeting. He reported on the problems faced by low paid workers in getting mortgages, the collapse in council house building, soaring council rents and repairs and persistent New Labour attempts to force housing stock transfer through ballots. Successful Defend Council Housing meetings had been held at the Labour Party local government conference in Gateshead at and Commons. The party backs the independence of tenants associations from council control, and argues that the need is to broaden them to include Housing Association tenants. A party housing advisory is being convened and a link to Engels seminal writing on housing is to go on the party website.

Counter anti Sinn Fein smears
by John Foster

The January EC heard a report on complex situation developing in the North of Ireland and the real threat that now exists to the continuation of the peace process. Party members were urged to take forward the points raised in the Needs of the Hour motion within the trade union movement and to seek to counter the propaganda campaign launched by the media and the elements with the British and Irish governments against Sinn Fein and IRA in the aftermath of the Northern Bank raid. It was pointed out that no evidence of any link to the IRA leadership has been advanced and that the allegations follow a very similar pattern to the claims made about the Stormont spy ring¹ and the Castlereagh break-in ahead of previous elections. In neither case was any evidence produced. Nor were there any prosecutions once the elections had passed. In the present case the denigration of the IRA meets the electoral needs of both the DUP and the political establishment in the South. More seriously, however, they provided a context in which the DUP was able to derail the peace process without blame. It was therefore very important that the supporters of the process kept their nerve, continued to press the British government not to capitulate to Unionist pressure and to implement the provisions of the Good Friday agreement in full. Active steps have been taken over the past two months to reconsolidate relations with a number of parties internationally. Discussions have taken place with embassies of China and Vietnam and detailed briefings received from the Tudeh Party of Iran and the Sudanese Communist Party. Mary Davis attended the congress of the Portuguese party and invitations have been received for the congresses of the DKP (Germany), the Greek Communist Party and the Communist Party of India and the Communist Party of India Marxist. Steps have also been taken to strengthen liaison with the Palestine Solidarity Campaign. The party has condemned the indiscriminate violence of occupying forces in

Iraq and called for the speedy withdrawal of British and US troops. It has also reaffirmed its solidarity with the Iraqi Communist Party, condemned the targeted assassination of its leading members and sent a message of goodwill to the People¹s Unity Bloc within which the ICP stood in the January elections.

Agitation & Propaganda

 * No vote for war cabinet leaders**

Nothing would be gained by a Tory victory at the forthcoming general election, while New Labour in opposition could make a bogus shift to the left and shallow appeals for party unity¹, Communist Party general secretary Robert Griffiths told the party¹s executive committee. A Labour victory will keep New Labour in our sights and provide fresh opportunities to unite the left and the labour movement around a left-wing programme opposed to New Labour¹s pro-big business, pro-imperialist agenda¹, he told the Communist Party¹s executive committee. At the same time, we cannot call for support for these members of the War Cabinet most closely associated with the brutal, unprovoked attack on the sovereign people of Iraq¹, he said. The party will therefore be urging support for alternative candidates who are anti-war, anti-privatisation, in favour of public ownership and for the repeal of anti-trade union laws in the constituencies of prime minister Blair, deputy prime minister Prescott, chancellor Brown, foreign secretary Straw, defence secretary Hoon, former home secretary Blunkett and Cabinet pro-war spokesperson John Reid. Rob Griffiths attacked New Labour for growing inequalities in wealth ownership since 1997, pointing out that the share owned by the richest one-tenth of Britain's population had risen from 63 to 75 percent ­ excluding home values, while that of the poorer half has slumped from six per cent to just two. He called for a Wealth Tax, a higher top rate of income tax, higher non-means tested benefits and restoration of the link between the state retirement pension and earnings. Where Communist Party candidates are standing the party urges all Communists, socialists and progressives to help produce the biggest possible election campaign and vote for a real national and international left-wing programme. In the election campaign, Communist Party and trade union and progressive organisations at local level should canvass Labour candidates on key issues including those identified in the 48th and special 47th congress resolutions.

Communists, socialists and peace campaigners should work to ensure in particular the return to parliament of those Labour MPs who voted against the war on Iraq. In other seats, the party calls for a Labour vote, but where party organisations believe they should not support a pro-war, pro-New Labour candidate, they can make their case for supporting an alternative to the EC or PC as provided for in the special 47th congress resolution. The EC will respond on the basis of the party¹s programmatic principles, congress resolutions and the points made in this policy statement. And where fascist candidates are standing, all party organisations and members in and around those constituencies are urged to take an active part in anti-fascist, anti-racist campaigning.

Party launches election drive
In the General Election. widely expected to take place in May, Communist Party candidates will be contesting seats in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Glasgow, Pontypridd, London, Deeside in north Wales and the Manchester and Lancashire region.

We aim to project a national and international left-wing programme¹, Martin Levy told a Communist Party election school in January. The Labour government must be compelled by the working class and progressive movements to change course', he told the meeting of prospective parliamentary candidates and agents at the party centre in Croydon, south London.

Our candidates will spearhead a mass campaign in support of public ownership and public services, civil liberties, the Charter for Women and planet-friendly policies and against social inequality, imperialist war, the European Union constitution, racism and fascism¹, he said. Details of candidates overleaf

Communist party chooses its election standard bearers
Scottish communist leader Elinor McKenzie has been selected as the party¹s candidate for Glasgow Central. Glyn Davies ­ who won 20 per cent of the vote in the local elections ­ is standing in Alyn and Deeside. North West communists are to stand Cuba solidarity activist Geoff Bottoms in a Manchester constituency. Martin Levy will contest Wallsend in the Northern district. Welsh communists are to stand Rob Griffiths in Pontypridd. London communists are to contest Hackney South. Ivan Beavis contested the seat last time and also won a good vote in the greater London Assembly elections. The district committee has launched its election fund primed with £1000 and is asking London Communists to pledge another £2000. And a new election website will up a running as soon as a candidate is selected.

Finance a priority¹
Party organisations need to take the lead on finance says party treasurer Andy Chaffer An expanding programme of political work, new opportunities for propaganda made possible by the leasing of advanced printing equipment at party centre and the prospect of a general election campaign means that finance must be seen as an integral part of political work. The May meeting of the executive committee will launch £20,000 national appeal. In the meantime party organisations need to clear outstanding 2004 dues and quota payments urgently. The next Communist University will take place in early October. It will be an ambitious event but must be self financing so an early budget and tight organisation will be the order of the day. Branches, districts and nations should appoint Communist Review and literature sales organisers and should publicise the opportunity to make use of the online payments though the website. And finally party members are encouraged to to increase Direct Debit and quota payments where possible. The Direct Debit system has made a big improvement in party finances with a high proportion of the cash flowing in on a monthly basis. But it needs constant maintenance. All new recruits should be asked as a matter of course to immediately pay their dues by Direct Debit.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS
This is the theme of a series of Communist Party public meeting being organised throughout the countryin the run up. Watch the Morning Star for details or go to www.communist-party.org.uk
 * Which policy for a real Labour government?**

March Morning Star meetings Which policies for a real Labour government? 2 Political Committee 9-11 Women's TUC 12/13 Executive Committee 13 Highgate oration 19 Stop War march End the occupation Bring Troops home New & prospective members school 23 Political Committee

April Morning Star meetings Which policies for a real Labour government? 9 Communist Review seminar: Imperialism and religious fundamentalism 13 Political Committee

May 1 May Day events commence 4 Political Committee May municipal elections and possible General Election mid-May to June: CP public meetings Latin America's struggle against imperialism 14/15 Executive Committee 25 Political Committee 27-29 Central cadre school Imperialism, politics and the British labour movement

June 15 Political Committee 29 Political Committee

July 9/10 Executive Committee ? Communist Review seminar The Communist Party in Britain 1951-1990s

September month of action on EU constitution 10-15 Trades Union Congress

October 28-30 Communist University

Buy at Boutique Bolshevik
The Bolshevik Boutique is almost out of the new party flags. Made in Italy by a family firm of communists they have been an amazing commercial success and a political winner too and have proved to be money-spinner with orders flooding in to party centre. But we are almost out of stock and need to re order. Still a few available for only £5. The flags are in a bright red with a hammer and sickle motif (designed in 1930 by sculptor Eric Gill for the Daily Worker and not by Ken Gill as one comrade thought!) 100 cms x 140 cms in red and gold. Send £5 plus £1.50 post and packing to party centre with cheques payable to CPB.