IWCA response to the BNP's new MEP's

[Melbourne Lefty]

Awesome article,

http://www.iwca.info/?p=10141

My favorite bit



At a political level we will renew the search for a way forward with other progressive forces. The strategic objective would be to eventually match the reach of the BNP nationally. Ideology aside, the BNP has established a benchmark for how smaller parties can advance. There are lessons to be learned there and it is futile to deny it.
Systematically building an infrastructure to rival the BNP’s is not simply out of a desire to compete with the Far-Right for working class hearts and minds on the ground in the here and now. Instead we will be encouraging other independent groups and individuals of a like mind to set our sights on being in the right place when Labour as a ‘natural party of government’ is no more.


I love how they call for a return to working class focus and a door knocking approach to build the same way the BNP did.

Persoanlly I feel that if the British Left followed the doorstep strategy of the BNP as a long term tactic the potential is there for much faster growth than the BNP achieved.

If a big enough chunk of activists dedicated themselves to this goal of winning council seats [even parish council seats] and building roots in the community it could be the rebirth of radical left wing politics in Britain.

The issue as I see it is that the left has to stop telling the working classes what to think and start asking them what they need. If a BNP voting lady doesnt like immigrants, but knows you are committed to diversity, and yet you still fix the street-light in front of her house as her local council representative then you probably just won a BNP voter back, as well as all of her friends.

It seems that people like a lot of marching up and down the street screaming about how bad the world is, but when it comes to helping out the little people with their every day problems [the very things that build a community base] then most people on the left dont want to bother.

The BNP figured this out, which is why old "one eye" is going to the euro parliament

[REDSOX]

Looks like a far more intelligent analysis of the BNP than most other leftists have put forward

[The Ungovernable Farce]

Yeah, I think this is probably the best bit of analysis I've seen of the BNP's rise.

[Forward Union]

IWCA are very good in many respects. Some of their former members are in L&S now.

I think their analysis of events is normally spot on, I do of course disagree with the electoral approach, but can quite honestly see why they went down that path.

[K.Bullstreet]

I think it's a top notch analysis - one of the best I've read. I agree with Forward Union, there are obvious disagreements with the politics of the IWCA and myself, and the way they hope to achieve their goals, but I deffinately think we're singing off the same hymn sheet. :)

[Melbourne Lefty]

I only hope that the IWCA can get a bigger profile on the British left.

UAF seems to get all the attention for not really doing much positive work, where the IWCA have actually managed to win council seats and build local support networks amongst actual people by addressing actual problems, not as exciting as throwing eggs at Nick Griffin, but if it were taken up by groups across the UK it would go a long way to building a base to destroy the BNP once and for all, and to completely rip up their community roots.

Because as the demographics of the UK change, I can see the BNPs line on immigration and neo-fascist "blood and soil" ideology wrapped up in a Churchill banner becoming more and more attractive to the communities where they find a base.

And if the BNP manages to build bases in white communities, their counterparts will find it all the easier to build communalist structures in other communities.

And if the UK gets split up into ethnic and religious blocs all clamouring for resources the identity of the people involved will become more and more about ethnicity or religion, and less and less about class.

And if class based politics dies in the working class areas of the UK, what the hell is the point of going on? Is it just going to be a matter of siding with whatever ethnic group is more disadvantaged? More oppressed by its neighbours?

What is the future of left wing politics in the UK? Will it be based on class or communalism?:confused:

[classjustice]

IWCA has been consistently putting out accurate assessments for the last 10 years. Its a shame nobody was prepared to listen when the pilot projects started, but the fact they all did well shows the potential.

The door to door approach is really the only way to go. As an example, in Glasgow I helped out a bit with the pilot scheme, going round the same neighbourhood each saturday, with a questionnaire, then a leaflet, then hassling the council, getting a response on another leaflet, etc etc. None of us had any previous experience, and we still did better at election time than the SSP. We gained the trust and respect of people enough to get out and vote, and it wasn't difficult. People wanted to talk about litter and graffitti in their vicinity, not the Iraq war on the other side of the world.

I would like to emphasise particularly for the anarchists, that for everyone involved in the IWCA it is not about trying to get onto the council or win an election. Elections are only useful indications of how well you're connecting with people, but the process of community work is the end in itself. I must say the election was welcome affirmation that we were doing something right.

Not surprisingly more people are posting on the thread anxious to stop the RWB festival, but understand that this is a complete irrelevance. Some people might feel more of a 'revolutionary' for a day's dodging the police and feeling self righteous, but have a think about what your neighbourhood needs and where arguments can be won. Discussing the state of pavements or litter with someone for 10 minutes is time better spent. If your a lone activist in your neighbourhood then pool your resources and help somewhere else.

In the scheme of things we're already 50 councillors and 2 MEPs behind, almost 1 million BNP voters, with no left wing response to speak of.

Put sectarianism to one side and empower communities first. Maybe in 10 years we might have won the right to talk to people about Marx or Bakunin, but right now the left has a distrustful and cynical audience.

You can be sure that in 10 years time the BNP will have created a cordial environment to discuss German history on the doorsteps of their neighbourhoods.

[Melbourne Lefty]

I would like to emphasise particularly for the anarchists, that for everyone involved in the IWCA it is not about trying to get onto the council or win an election. Elections are only useful indications of how well you're connecting with people, but the process of community work is the end in itself. I must say the election was welcome affirmation that we were doing something right.


This is what I was talking about.

The BNP, a party that wants to deport peoples neighbours has managed to build up a loyal following by going door to door and listening to peoples problems.

How much better would a left wing party do? If it had the same resources the BNP started off with in about 2001?



Not surprisingly more people are posting on the thread anxious to stop the RWB festival, but understand that this is a complete irrelevance. Some people might feel more of a 'revolutionary' for a day's dodging the police and feeling self righteous, but have a think about what your neighbourhood needs and where arguments can be won.


Showing up to try and disrupt the RWB is a good cause, but you are correct, it doesnt really do much to advance the cause of the left. Even if the RWB is shut down the only winners are Labour and to a lesser extent the tories because there is no community level alternative.

While voting doesnt solve anything specific, it is a helpfull way to see how deep your roots in a community have gotten.



In the scheme of things we're already 50 councillors and 2 MEPs behind, almost 1 million BNP voters, with no left wing response to speak of.


when you put it like that it looks even worse.

The BNP also have another 50 or so Parsih councillors that they get co-opted because no-one else stands.

If every left wing person who goes out to stop the RWB just runs for their local parish council on local concerns then there is a base right there.



Put sectarianism to one side and empower communities first. Maybe in 10 years we might have won the right to talk to people about Marx or Bakunin, but right now the left has a distrustful and cynical audience.


Thats about right.

The BNP dont talk about ideology, even the ideology of Nouvelle Droit and the "Europe of one thousand flags" which form the core ideological values of the Griffin Revamp.

They simply go door to door and talk about how the council is doing a bad job and how they believe they would do better.

Sometimes they make empty promises which means they get turfed out next electoral cycle, but it means that the BNP is building up a core of support in that area.

The BNP see councillors much the same way as the IWCA, as something to use to keep score, nothing more really since single or small groups of councillors dont really have a lot of impact. But its what they are keeping score of that counts.

The BNP vote in numerical terms went up 17% in a euro election where nearly every other parties vote [aside from UKIP] went down. They have almost 1 million votes on a shocking turnout and with a vigorous media campaign to expose their dark side. The Tories who won got just over 4 Million. Thats scary.

These protest votes need to go somewhere, the BNP built its machinery and waited for a crisis. The British left needs to build its machinery.

Campaigning door to door in highly targeted areas to build up community support and solidarity are the only ways foward.

If the BNP come to an area with high unemployment, how much better to have a local highly respected and known figure, elected or not, to expose the lies they tell? They would never get a foothold.

The BNP has built up its "bastions" the left needs to do the same. And I think the left can do much better. Because we are not divisive but uniting the left can appeal to a much broader base at the community level. And the issues we can offer real solutions to, like housing, are the ones the BNP are currently leeching off.

Offer people a solution in one area of the country, the BNP made their breakthrough in Burnley when they had practically no-one anywhere else. Once a few councillors are won then left wingers from all over the country need to come into this area and campaign If every national group tries its hardest to recruit everyone in a council ward then the people in that ward may well be many things, but uninformed will not be one of them.

[[email protected] War]

The IWCA just reguritate wot they wrote 15 years ago and change the dates, I was not impressed by the recent effort.

This i think is better;

http://journal-articles.googlegroups.com/web/04.%20Bark.pdf?gda=w7Qbiz0AAAB0VX6k_YyD4zvlgePCgSg tKuE-PWLpvd3smVa8-FYboGG1qiJ7UbTIup-M2XPURDRCtAIzYAd7ET1iMmRpdYsL

[Melbourne Lefty]

The IWCA just reguritate wot they wrote 15 years ago and change the dates, I was not impressed by the recent effort.

This i think is better;

http://journal-articles.googlegroups.com/web/04.%20Bark.pdf?gda=w7Qbiz0AAAB0VX6k_YyD4zvlgePCgSg tKuE-PWLpvd3smVa8-FYboGG1qiJ7UbTIup-M2XPURDRCtAIzYAd7ET1iMmRpdYsL

so what if they are still right?

[[email protected] War]

so what if they are still right?

I do not think they are totally right by some distance. They spent the 1980s and early 90's in Anti Fascist Action, and then when the BNP changed track decided to follow them and mirror what the BNP are doing. Economics or wider political analysis did not come into it, this is mistaken. It is neither Marxism, anarchism or correct from a working class point of view. I find their politics simplistic and superficial myself, whilst offering nothing. It is only in the past 2 years or so that the IWCA stood head to head against the BNP, and the IWCA did badly. The IWCA inability to grow in the last 15 years is the proof that their theory is not right.

[Tjis]

I do not think they are totally right by some distance. They spent the 1980s and early 90's in Anti Fascist Action, and then when the BNP changed track decided to follow them and mirror what the BNP are doing. Economics or wider political analysis did not come into it, this is mistaken. It is neither Marxism, anarchism or correct from a working class point of view. I find their politics simplistic and superficial myself, whilst offering nothing. It is only in the past 2 years or so that the IWCA stood head to head against the BNP, and the IWCA did badly. The IWCA inability to grow in the last 15 years is the proof that their theory is not right.
No leftwing party or organization in the UK and actually most of Europe has grown as much as the BNP. If that's a measure of "correctness", then nothing we have right now is any good ground for further building.

[[email protected] War]

I agree the left and @ are fucked, but that is for a myriad of different and unrelated reasons.

But also the BNP is not that big, they do nothing. In the areas where they are regarded as succesful they can only get out their hardcore members (sometimes as low as 2) to oppose the left.

It is only because the BNP get tons of free publicity in the liberal press that they get votes, and the political situation has enabled them to capitalise (that sort of easy ride may not continue). The easy votes to gather I think has levelled off, it will be far harder to grow further I would say.

[Melbourne Lefty]

I do not think they are totally right by some distance. They spent the 1980s and early 90's in Anti Fascist Action, and then when the BNP changed track decided to follow them and mirror what the BNP are doing.

And no-one helped them out of course.


Economics or wider political analysis did not come into it, this is mistaken. It is neither Marxism, anarchism or correct from a working class point of view. I find their politics simplistic and superficial myself, whilst offering nothing.

They offer to fix stuff for people or listen to them complain from what I hear, and that means they connect with actual working class communities.

It might be "simplistic and superficial" to you, but its the way to smash open the walls that seperate left wing activists from the communities of working class people they want to educate and lead, I assume we still do class politics?

When the BNP decided to become more electoral at the end of the 90s I am sure there were people in the party who wanted them to keep ranting on about Jews controlling the world to destroy the pure Ayran race. But the leaders decided to cover it up, and eventually with the the membership turnover and growth most rank and file end up being pro-Israel [If you take as a sample some of the shitloads of BNP blogs and BNP friendly sites out there].


It is only in the past 2 years or so that the IWCA stood head to head against the BNP, and the IWCA did badly.

The BNP had a ten year head start.



The IWCA inability to grow in the last 15 years is the proof that their theory is not right.


Its proof that most left wing activists were busy on other projects and didnt see the point in grubbing around with the common people. The BNP didnt have that problem. They were desperate and almost dead but they had a monopoly on crazed racists.

[[email protected] War]

A) And no-one helped them out of course.

B) They offer to fix stuff for people or listen to them complain from what I hear, and that means they connect with actual working class communities.

C) It might be "simplistic and superficial" to you, but its the way to smash open the walls that seperate left wing activists from the communities of working class people they want to educate and lead, I assume we still do class politics?

D) When the BNP decided to become more electoral at the end of the 90s I am sure there were people in the party who wanted them to keep ranting on about Jews controlling the world to destroy the pure Ayran race. But the leaders decided to cover it up, and eventually with the the membership turnover and growth most rank and file end up being pro-Israel [If you take as a sample some of the shitloads of BNP blogs and BNP friendly sites out there].

E) The BNP had a ten year head start.

F) Its proof that most left wing activists were busy on other projects and didnt see the point in grubbing around with the common people. The BNP didnt have that problem. They were desperate and almost dead but they had a monopoly on crazed racists.

A) so?
B) yadda yadda... big deal. The rest of us already live in these working class communities and do it everyday...
C) You've turned your answers simplistic and superficial. Who is separated? Only you by the sound of it, as I said the rest of us live in these areas already doing working class politics... Do you do working class politics?
D) So? That's neo fascism for you...
E) arf arf. The IWCA had 10 years to build up to 1 (yes one) head to head with the BNP in one small council ward. The IWCA have no chance & a shit middle class group name too, the initials do not mean anything either. Anything succesful has a better name.
F) Give over, the IWCA are not the only 'common people around', they are the self styled 'alternative' but in actual fact are a small bunch of ultra leftists with a particular spin on events.

[classjustice]

classwar, interesting article, I agree with much of it, such as


'the movement is split historically by ego’s and disputes, and ‘comrades’ on the left are often in their own circle of friends and no more. AAF should aim to provide open and honest dialogue, by working outside our individual and groups “comfort zone”, amongst people who

will have different priorities, without regard to idea origins, in order to get to the key issues of mobilisation and politicisation for anti-fascist struggles. This ideally has to involve all those working class people and groups who are trying to make their lives better through opposition to racism and fascism. It is the relationships between anti racism, anti fascism and the class struggle that are important.'

Thats a pretty clear argument against sectarianism as I see it. I'd support any group doing this kind of work, and the IWCA is looking to build unity with any groups with similar aims.

Is that not better than snapping at the IWCA for having a 'middle class name' (??) Did you even read your own article!?

There is so much there which is off the same sheet as the IWCA, such as recognising the difference between our anti-fascism and conservative anti-fascism (vote anyone but BNP) which inevitably leads people to view the BNP as THE radical alternative.

I don't think you're being realistic here though;

'But also the BNP is not that big, they do nothing. In the areas where they are regarded as succesful they can only get out their hardcore members (sometimes as low as 2) to oppose the left.'

What planet are you on?! Is there a specific example you're referring to here or have I missed something?

This is the same argument people (normally ANL) parrotted whilst the BNP won a councillor, then two, then a lot more, and now two Euro MPs with almost a million votes! But no, you're right, they still have no support.

Would you admit they are 'succesful' when they win their first MP? The big influx of cash from the MEP salaries will allow them to boost their existing branches and consolidate their gains.

The areas where they are succesful, such as North Yorkshire, will be incredibly difficult for the left to win back, and its not useful to fool yourself thinking otherwise.

You're very quick to attack others, but you won't mind if I ask you for some examples of what you do in your own community 'every day?' It must be impressive.

[Melbourne Lefty]

F) Give over, the IWCA are not the only 'common people around', they are the self styled 'alternative' but in actual fact are a small bunch of ultra leftists with a particular spin on events.

I dont know of many other groups in the UK even trying to do what they try to do. I have heard a few good things about the SP but I dont know enough about them to comment.

The BNP plugged away for years on council elections and going door to door and it has let the communities they are in see them [at least to a certain extent] as "one of us".

How many on the pro-working class left spend time as a parish councillor? And if these people are out there why is no-one trying to get them co-ordinated?

In other words, why are people spraying "nazi" on Alan Warners gate [the BNP "festival" land owner] but not cleaning up the spray paint on a little old ladies picket fence and gaining the support of her and her family?:confused: