Introduction
The following programme for a platform was, in its original form, put forward by the Spartacist League, under the title: A call to socialists: Lets build a revolutionary caucus in Your Party. They invited others to join them with the following call:
“First and foremost, we are interested in opening a debate on the policies needed to get Your Party off the ground and win mass support in the working class.
“Below we propose a set of principles which we think could serve as a basis to regroup revolutionary elements in Your Party. Get in touch with us to debate these and to work with us in building a revolutionary caucus.”
So, we in the Consistent Democrats did get in touch. Their original suggested programme is to be found at https://iclfi.org/pubs/wh/2025-yp-rev-caucus. Seeing a number of flaws in their suggested programme, we proposed a number of amendments. The amendments can be found on our site at https://www.consistent-democrats.org/uncategorized/revolutionary-caucuses-the-spartacists-and-platforms-in-your-party, with full tracking.
One key difference with the Spartacists is with their contention that with the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, liberalism became the dominant ideology of the imperialist bourgeoisie, and that this has ensnared the working-class movement and the left and effectively caused them to capitulate wholesale to liberalism, if not become liberals outright. We differ somewhat – we consider it was neoliberalism and neoconservatism – both closely linked to Zionism – that filled much of the vacuum in imperialist post-Soviet bourgeois ideology and thought, and this has indeed infected the working-class movement with free market ideology, support for imperialist militarism, and some forms of identity politics – with Zionism in pole position. So you find in their material denunciation of liberal trends on the left, but not so much those trends that have adapted to right-wing populism, with its anti-migrant agitation and its flipflops between isolationist opposition to neocon militarism, and glorying in it, as personified by Trump.
As a result, you find material opposing ‘mass immigration’ in the Spart draft, but nothing about fighting fascism. They – in part correctly – denounce the Greens as a petit-bourgeois party, but at the same time say nothing about capitalist destruction of the environment. And their point about opposing NATO and militarism says nothing about defence of any workers’ states or other targets of imperialism. We consider our version of this programme makes it substantially better, and like them, we invite discussion and amendments. Such a programme would be the basis for a real revolutionary left wing of Your Party.
For a planned economy run by workers, for workers!
Financial capital, the final product of decay of imperialist finance capital, centred in The City of London is destroying the lives of the working class in this country. Deindustrialisation, privatisation, falling living standards, stagnant productivity, the North-South divide; all this and more has been caused by the fact that the economy revolves around this cancer destroying everything that is good for workers. The only road to regenerate Britain is through the expropriation of the City, and the establishment of a plan for re-industrialisation designed by the working class, for the working class.
A working-class position on immigration.
Farage and Tommy Robinson scapegoat immigrants and foster racist divisions. Starmer and the City compete with their scapegoating but also use migrant workers to prop up a rotting economy. Neither of these benefit working-class people whatever their origin or status. As socialists, we oppose closing the border, and all attacks on the rights of migrants and refugees, but we also oppose the capitalists’ cynical use of desperate migrants to drive down wages. We demand an end to anti-union laws and the revival of the compulsory closed shop for all industries where wages are under such pressure, with union membership and decent wages for all.
For the unity of workers, Muslims and trans people!
There can be no place for bigotry in Your Party. But to have any hope of winning the working class we must win the argument, not simply moralise at those with different views on social questions. One does not need to be a Muslim to oppose the attacks on the Muslim community. And one does not need to agree with gender theory to defend the rights of trans people to live their lives how they wish. We do not need to agree with all the ideas in each other’s heads – merely that we are all part of the working class and must act as a class, who agree to fight for each other’s rights against the ongoing reactionary backlash.
Fight fascism – a working-class militia to defend organised workers and oppressed groups
We are amid the most threatening rise of fascism since the 1930s. Neoliberalism has meant decades-long declines in employment and living standards and Starmer’s neoliberal viciousness in power in the name of ‘Labour’ has led to a vacuum that Robinson, Farage and worse are attempting to fill, with the help of Trump, Musk, etc. This involves a terrorist threat against workers, particularly Muslims and other minorities, from organised fascists. Police arrest pensioners and the disabled for imaginary ‘terrorism’, while turning a blind eye to fascist mobs outside asylum seekers’ quarters demanding ‘kill them all’. We need organised groups of stewards and defenders able to fight off fascist violence. And beyond that, we need a militia to defend the population against a far right that is now fixated on Israel and aspires to inflict Gaza-style bloodshed on populations it hates here. Your Party should popularise and seek to create the conditions where such a mass-based anti-fascist militia can be created.
No to Zionism!
Zionism is a nationalist project based on the displacement and oppression of the Palestinian people. It is the ideology behind Israel’s genocide and has no place in the labour movement. Peace in the Middle East and the unity of Arabs and Jews can only be achieved through opposition to Zionism, support to the liberation of the Palestinians and respect for the democratic rights of all peoples.
Down with US & British imperialism!
British foreign policy is designed to serve the interests of the City of London, itself a vassal of the American Empire. Wars and interventions by Britain and the US abroad have brought disaster around the globe, while bringing only misery and crisis at home. Now, the US is pressuring its allies to re-arm for more wars, which will mean further squeezing working-class people. We say: No arms to Ukraine and Israel! No to NATO! Down with the war drives against Russia, China, Iran, Venezuela – and all non-imperialist or oppressed countries and workers states targeted by imperialism!
No popular front with the Greens – we need to split them!
The Green Party is a middle-class radical party. We cannot merge with it; we cannot treat it as a partner. There are some seriously socialist-minded people in it, mixed with Malthusians and other reactionaries. This party supports NATO and is not anti-imperialist. Greens are correct that climate change threatens the future of working-class people around the world. But this is caused by capitalism and can only be solved by economic planning on both the national and international scale. The Greens though accept capitalism, promote ‘Green’ capitalism, and thus New Labour schemes like ULEZ that punish workers for owning old, polluting vehicles. We support cleaner air, which helps protects working class people and particularly children from dangerous illnesses, but we demand the bosses pay for it, and particularly for new, low-emission vehicles for all who need them.
We need to split away pro-socialist elements attracted to the Greens, to our genuine socialist party, not endorse left talking but untrustworthy figures like Polanski. We reject the Greens’ self-righteous, middle-class politics that put abstract ideals above real living conditions. An alliance with them will only repel workers.
For Irish unity! Self-determination for Scotland and Cymru!
The “United Kingdom” is oppressive to Irish Catholics, Scots and Welsh. British imperialism subjugated Ireland for centuries; it must finally be thrown out of the whole island. As for the Scottish and Welsh nations, their fate should be determined by the democratic will of their people, not by the parasites in Westminster.
Yes to trade unions! No to pro-capitalist union leaders!
The trade unions are the mass organisations for the defence of the working class. At least that’s what they should be! For decades the trade unions have been run into the ground by leaders who stand closer to the bosses than their own members. We cannot let these people take control of Your Party. Whether to rebuild the unions or found a new left party, we need leaders who stand on clear socialist principles and are ready to take the fight to the bosses.
Down with the monarchy! For a workers’ republic!
Workers finally need a government and state which serves their interests, not those of a handful of capitalists and aristocrats.
