John Partington

Letters

Continental clause

From Socialist Review, No. 185, April 1995.
Copyright © Socialist Review.
Copied with thanks from the Socialist Review Archive.
Marked up by Einde O’Callaghan for ETOL.

I think it is generally agreed that Labour’s Clause Four debate is untimely and, frankly, foolish. Now that the debate is reaching its climax, however, I think it is important to begin thinking about a further aspect to the ‘nationalisation’ issue.

It is time that serious consideration is given to the notion of the ‘continentalisation’ of the means of production, distribution and exchange. The Socialist bloc within the European Parliament, being in a majority, must be prepared to forward its socialism as that parliament gains greater and greater powers. A continent wide Clause Four should be adopted as a minimum by that party, and ideas for the socialisation of Europe should be planned and tabled.

Whether Labour retains Clause Four or not, the present leadership is never going to revolutionise British politics. Maybe our focus should now be placed on policy within the European Parliament. Not only would such a policy pressurise the left parties of Europe, but such action by European socialists would combat the domestic Conservative/Christian Democrat parties of Europe also, and would pose a check to resurgent nationalism in today’s Europe.

We also need to discuss the reinvigoration of the trade union movement. The report made on this issue in Socialist Review (March 1995) was commendable, but it ignored the Europe wide potential for worker combination. A European shop stewards’ congress and the merger of European trade unions into single continental bodies is something which must develop side by side with the political union of socialist parties throughout Europe.

Luri Steklov called for a ‘federation first of Europe, and then of the entire world’. Europe is on that road, though, admittedly, led by the bourgeoisie. Now that the inevitability of a federal Europe is upon us, it is surely time for plans for a socialist hijack of that federal system to be made. The age old problem of governmental strikebreaking through the stockpiling of imports must cease to be a threat to the advancement of workers’ power.

The socialisation of the Socialist bloc of European left parties, starting with a call for the ‘continentalisation’ of the means of production, distribution and exchange, combined with continent wide trade union organisation and solidarity are the ways forward. The Clause Four debate has made this fact obvious. Socialists must drop their covert nationalism and grasp the internationalist nettle.

John Partington
Manchester

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