Anthony Barnett (London, OK): While the US and, locally, the British version of credit capitalism totters, the threats on Iran escalates, a general election hoves into view, the united of the UK is challenged by Scotland, Europe stands on the verge of a reformed treaty and a new charter of fundamental rights (UK not), it seems that the marriage of convenience between George Galloway and the Socialist Workers Party is ending in denunciations and a split. Only the most hardened can follow this stuff, but according to Harry's Place the SWP have sent a long open letter to their partners which includes the following,
We all shared a vision of Respect as being a broad coalition. It is our enemies who are so intent as portraying it as an ‘Islamo-Trot’ marriage of convenience. What we fear is a withdrawal into the electoral common sense that only particular ‘community leaders’ can win in certain areas.
In Tower Hamlets it was important Respect had councillors elected from the Muslim community – representatives of the most oppressed community in Britain – but it would have been good to have returned other candidates too, who reflected the totality of the working class in the East End.
Ah, that word. The "totality" of the working class. Way back when the left was rampant I had a friend who was a scaffolder who nicknamed the various trotskyists who tried to recruit him "the totalies" because they were always for totally abolishing this, or totally doing that.
