“Paradise Lost” - AWL bloggers Expelled from Labour Party

In late September I posted about the rumour I had heard that the Labour Party had apparently “purged” at least one person for being a “member” of the Ultra left “Alliance for Workers Liberty” (AWL). Due to possible appeals I didn’t mention any names.

Last week Leicestershire UNISON member, Nick Holden, posted an article on his website run jointly with his partner, Kate Ahrens (UNISON NEC member). This article was called “Expelled” and confirmed that both of them had been expelled from the Labour Party. A shorter version was also posted on the AWL website yesterday by Nick here.

Nick is pretty bitter about the expulsion. However I must admit that I find most of his complaints somewhat surprising and even a little naive. He freely admits to have been a “supporter” of AWL (even calling himself an “AWLer”) for 16 years. However, I think the chief issue is that he doesn’t appear to think there is anything fundamentally wrong with being a member of the Labour Party but supporting candidates who stand against the Labour Party in elections.

I think this is crucial. Not only is the AWL registered as a Political Party in its own right but it has supported electoral candidates who have stood against the Labour Party. If you don’t think that this deserves expulsion then this does make you wonder what will? How can any political Party ever win anything if they allow its members to support opponents? He says there is no appeal but I understand (and may be wrong), if he is willing to deny being a "supporter" of the AWL then he would have a right of appeal. However, “membership” of the AWL and the Socialist Party (I am reliably informed by another usually well informed Labour blogger) is automatic ground of expulsion “if proven”. Sorry Nick and Kate, but I think quite right too.

LRC Grimmerupnorth (Susan) who I don’t normally see “eye to eye” on many Party things (except this year wearing red poppies!) does, I think, lay into Nick about things in the “Expelled” post comments and her own blog. To be fair, Nick as usual, is quite restrained in his response. As are most (not all) AWLers.

Labour Party “purges” AWL (Workers Liberty)

The Labour Party has apparently expelled a number of members who are "alleged" to be leading activists in the Alliance for Workers Liberty” (AWL). At least one person who was due to attend last week’s Labour Party conference was not allowed due to the expulsion.

AWL has a somewhat complicated political history as a Far Left Marxist Trotskyite group (see here and below.

It also has long been accused of political entryism into the Labour Party. I do not know that much about the AWL nor whether or not the individuals expelled did in fact break Party rules. Since they may be appealing against that decision I had better not mention any names.

However, I thought that AWL supporters would be in trouble with the Party when I saw that the AWL was supporting non-Labour Party candidates in the local elections in the GLA and local Council elections (they even decided to support the awful SWP/Left List and their candidate German Lindsey - see here). How can anyone do that?

Also, they have also even registered as a political party with the election commission in their own right (see here).

I must admit that personally I have found individual AWL “supporters” to have been on the whole, pretty reasonable and decent folk who you can discuss and debate issues with. Obviously there have been exceptions (You know who you are) and of course I think that their overall politics are frankly bonkers.

But compared to the likes of the vile SWP and its largely deranged brain washed minions....

But if it's activists are in fact organising and standing against the Labour Party then they should either leave or be expelled. End of story. I think that most of them are beginning to realise it is in fact a waste of time to stay. But thanks for the subs for those who do (for now).

A somewhat potted history (since 1966) of the AWL from Wikipeda - Firstly, Revolutionary Socialist League; Militant tendency, then Workers' Fight; then International Socialists; then Socialist Workers Party; then Trotskyist Tendency, Workers Power; Left Faction; International-Communist League; Necessary International Initiative; Socialist Campaign for a Labour Victory; Socialist Organiser; Workers Socialist League; Socialist Organiser Alliance; Socialist Organiser ; Alliance for Workers' Liberty; Socialist Alliance; Socialist Alliance Democracy Platform;Socialist Green Unity Coalition.....nuf said?

"In August 2008 two members left the alliance to form The Commune. Their resignations were part of a wave of discussion triggered by an article by (AWL guru) Sean Matgamna which argued that "The harsh truth is that there is good reason for Israel to make a precipitate strike at Iranian nuclear capacity” .

UPDATE: from a usually reliable source

"John

I saw your post about AWL on LabourHome

Membership of it is automatic grounds for expulsion if proven – there are only 2 organisations that are proscribed for entryism where this is the case – Militant (now trading as the Socialist Party and abandoned entryism anyway) and Socialist Organiser (now trading as AWL and running a 2 track in & out policy as some key members were expelled at the point of proscription in 1988).

The SWP (and indeed Tories!) are not proscribed because they don’t practice entryism".