NEW ‘BRITISH ROAD’ EVADES KEY QUESTIONS

. By BRIAN BEHAN THE revised version of The British Road to Socialism avoids what after all is the key question facing British Marxists: should they constitute a separate working-class party, or try to work within the Labour Party to build a powerful Left that will reject class collaboration and use the great power. of the working class to ‘establish socialism?

British working-class history has shown that one of the main weaknesses of Marxists has been their failure to drive deep roots within the mass organizations. “ History has also shown that despite clear and undisputed betrayals by MacDonald, Snowden and the like the mass of the working people have not turned to Left alternatives, either those of the Communist Party or of other Left groupings. ' One of the main reasons for the stability. of the British Labour Party, as distinct from ‘social-democratic parties on the Continent, would appear to be its trade union basis.

For a Marxist the problem is not simply to be clear or principled: Both are important.“The problem is to apply clarity ‘and principles ‘in: building ‘a conscious movement.

to. “In British conditions this raises first and foremost. the problem of howto win the masses of Labour, at their present level .

and within their present forms of organization, for a socialist — programme.

; .. The Labour Party as it is now places certain restrictions ; . on the activities of Marxists. These divisions and proscriptions are explained away by the Communist Party as simply arising from the Right-wing domination.

The Communist Party gives neither a clear nor principled . explanation of the divisions. ‘The British Road’ does not admit that the first approach for affiliation was couched in terms which gave the Right wing every opportunity to reject it.

Stands outside the mainstream No mention is made in ‘The British Road’ of the characterization of the Labour Party and trade unions as ‘social-fascist’ at the Leeds Congress of the Communist Party. in 1929.

No mention is made of international policies which. must have played.a big part in further strengthening the. Right. wing and increasing the Marxists’ isolation. -- oy - Against this background the programme simply becomes. an analysis of what capitalism is, plus an. outline of what ‘might happen if socialism were to be established. _ rn Any Marxist road to socialism must more seriously envisage the winning of the key positions in the Labotr movement. The

Tue NEWSLETTER - Communist Party stands ‘now where ‘it has stood for ‘the. past thirty -years—outside - the maitstream of the British Labour ~ movement. . On the one-hand, after the Brighton conference -of the Labour Party, it proclaims the end of the Left ‘in the Labour Party; on athe other, in ‘The British: Road to Socialism’ 7 it resurrects the ‘The Communist Party’s programme. ‘The British Road to Socialism’ was first published: in January 1951 without. the rank. and fibe being. given the ‘opportunity : to discuss it.

Members of the party’s political committee were after-- -wards to reveal. why. ‘The’ original draft: was. taken to Moscow by Harry, Pollitt, then general secretary, and -Stalin himself made additions and alterations: ‘and ‘refused to let them. be changed’. * ~ From. Stalin’s. pe °¢- ‘For a Soviet Britain?” (O35) that that it was a. lie to tax passages ass¢rting (despite . British. communists. with: wanting to introduce’ soviets, or do away. with the. British ich Exepine.

°The British Road to Socialism’ was later ‘revised; ‘a ;

» further revision, in an attractive green. cover, is pab- fished today, price sixpence. It is reviewed here by , ’ BRIAN. BEHAN, building. trade militant and former - member. ‘of the Communist Party’s executive committee.

“Labour Left—with whom it is . going to unite at: some distant : future...

But the Right wing ‘of the British Labour movement can be exposed. in a:serious fashion only by a Left. working within “this movement and fighting for a socialist. programme.

The isolation of the Communist Party is reflected. in the.

way: “The British Road to Socialism’ envisages: a-bureaucratic -transition to socialism. > Cértain changes. have been made in this new version, ‘The “right to strike has been put in.'The programme. now. speaks of - ‘socialist ‘democracy’, “not ‘people’s democracy’. But the ques- tion of the stages of the socialist revolution in Britain- is- still ~ Stoan on. the purges MARCH: 8, 19.58.

blurred:

“The removal of the bans and proscriptions directed: against *..

the Communist Party is the first step in restoring unity to --the movement. This could lead to further steps towards unity, ' including the possibilities of affiliation, and eventually of a - single -working-class party based-on. Marxism..when.: the majority. of the movement. has been. won for the Marxist -.-outlook’. (p. 29). Is this how. it will happen? Can we envisage the Labour -Party, with. its affiliated .membership, ever being. based - on Marxism?

The real King Street argument is-not to be found here. Their .

real argument is that. the. Right wing of the Labour Party is going to ‘be exposed,. and massés.of the Labour workers will come to the Communist Party, which will emerge as a-dominant partner with a few Left-wingers dotted about here and there.

The leaders of the Communist Party do not seriously believe in transforming the Labour Party. At the end of their ‘road’ is a party based on bureaucratic centralism; which sees as the chief enemy -any principled: Marxist - opposition.

How.much more practical, more constructive, more in tune with British. conditions and: working-class traditions to get: the Labour Party moving ina Leftward direction, with Marxists playing a part within it: ~ This:is not to underestimate: the strength of the Right, or to preclude any division in the. Labour Party in the future, but more to recognize that Marxists can only build from reality.

There is space.only to mention, some of the other defects.in this programme. It spéaks about a mass movement, but the form it will take is left vague.

“No mention of: workers’. councils, or councils of. action, : which were surely ‘our: traditional institutions’ (p..10) in 1926! Nor of workers’: control—the: workers will merely ‘help’ in running ‘their industry’ (p. 19).

Lastly, an important question unanswered is this: is there . a basis here in Britain, with: all the experience of the British Labour movement, for.a socialist: Britain-to become ‘a: centre. of world socialism, free from the bureaucratic handicaps and distortions that. the Russian workers have had to suffer?

Sloan has been careful to keep from readers of his news-