A Case for Labour
Why do workers join and support the Labour Party of Britain? Do the workers expect the Labour Party to introduce socialism? Not really: they expect the Labour Party to bring them benefits under the existing political system (capitalism). Is this a worthwhile aspiration? The workers think it is—that’s why they join and support the Labour Party.
The next question is: Does the Labour Party actually bring benefits to the workers? Is it possible for the workers to improve their lot under the capitalist system? Yes, it is. They can struggle and get a greater amount and even a greater share of the values they produce—on the job through the trade-unions and in the political field through the Labour Party. This means that the capitalist class will get a smaller amount and even a smaller share of the values that the workers produce.
If this change in the sharing of the values produced by the workers puts the operation of the capitalist system in jeopardy, makes it unviable, so much the worse for the capitalists. The workers, at this time, simply will take over the government and the economy and install socialism. Socialism will give the workers 100 per cent of the values they create and. incidentally, eliminate the need for the Labour Party.
The SPGB sees only the negative aspects of the Labour Party (betrayal, sellouts, misleadership, no struggle and education for Socialism, etc.). The SPGB sees no positive aspects of the Labour Party (an organization that organizes the workers so that they can struggle for political benefits, etc.) The workers see both the negative and the positive aspects of the Labour Party. The workers see the Labour Party as the present vehicle which will bring them toward a better life. When this vehicle ceases to improve their lot, they will alter the vehicle or change to a new, better one.
J. J. Sternbach,
New York
Reply:
Your letter is based on a number of misconceptions. All references to the Labour Party could equally apply to the Conservative Party. According to current opinion polls and recent by-election results, they have amassed more working-class support than the Labour Party, for just the reasons you give in your opening remarks. We get no further on when you assert that the Labour Party is "an organization that can and sometimes does, struggle for political benefits for the workers” when you singularly fail to give instances of any “benefits.” You will be aware that the present Labour Government’s message to British workers is that living standards must fall and wage claims are to be limited to less than 10 per cent. (they are running inflation at approximately 17 per cent.), while productivity should increase so as to encourage investment and profitability. Profits, you will note, belong to the capitalist class as do the means of wealth production and distribution and this fundamental relationship has never been seriously challenged by the Labour Party or its supporters. Your charitable view of them does not measure up to reality.
Your view of the workers gradually acquiring more and more of the share of the values they produce under capitalism is not to the point. What has not altered is the basic pattern of ownership of wealth, which has remained substantially the same since the formation of the Labour Party. While the position of the worker relative to, say, his grandfather has improved, so has that of the capitalist and his grandfather.
The reference to a "change in the sharing” of values does not take into account the capitalists’ economic considerations. While the owners have a trade and manufacturing boom they are more likely to concede wage demands; it is precisely when individual concerns are less ‘‘viable” because trade is in a depression that the capitalist will resist workers’ demands more keenly. Even before he is pushed to the limit, he will begin to lay-off men. Beyond this he may shut down altogether and wait for an improvement. Note the contrast between your view that workers will simply take over the economy and the real situation where trade-union leaders are agreeing to hold down wage demands while the Labour Government attempts to feel its way through the depression and reduce the massive unemployment figures.
It is simply not a question of the honourable (or otherwise) intentions of the Labour Party and its individual members. It is a political party committed to running a capitalist system of society. While workers can be persuaded that this is a worthwhile exercise they will be rewarded with the crumbs which fall from the capitalist’s table and told to be grateful for them. The workers are not stupid as you say; that is one good reason for continued work in putting the Socialist case.
Editors.
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