On 26 October, far-right supporters of Tommy Robinson marched in London in the latest ‘Unite The Kingdom’ demonstration. However they were outnumbered by anti-racists who joined a counter demo organised by Stand Up To Racism, and with mobilisations from a number of trade unions.
It is crucial that we build further on the mobilisations against the far right seen in recent months to prevent them gaining momentum. The outpouring of opposition against far-right violence in working-class communities in August set an important example, and prevented any further escalation of the riots that took place over summer.
Stopping the far right, however, is a task that will require much more work. Hate discourse has been fuelled by mainstream right-wing parties like the Tories and Reform UK, but also by Labour. Keir Starmer’s government openly criminalises proPalestine protestors, refugees and Muslim communities.
Meanwhile, Labour continues to oversee a deep social crisis in Britain, which only further pours fuel on the fire. As for instance reported by Tribune, this summer’s racist riots affected seven of the ten most deprived areas of the UK.
The way parties of the liberal ‘left’ such as Labour fail to act against the growing economic hardship experienced by most people has given a strong ground for the far right to propose their ideas as the only alternative to the political establishment all over the world. It is in this context that we have seen the victory of the right-wing candidates in elections in Austria, Argentina, Italy and further gains elsewhere.
Tommy Robinson has recently been sentenced to 18 months in prison for contempt of court after continuing to make libellous claims against a Syrian refugee. He will undoubtedly use this to further his image as an anti-establishment figure repressed for ‘speaking out’.
In reality, their hate agenda is perfectly compatible with the interests of the ruling class, as they pitch different marginalised and impoverished groups against each other, while leaving the capitalist system untouched. Working-class people across the country have been left behind — this holds true for white British workers as well as Muslim, Black, and Asian ones.
It is in the common interest of all working-class people from all backgrounds to develop a political programme to address the individual oppressions facing different communities as well as the ones shared by all of them.
This should include trade union-organised community defence against the far right wherever they show their faces. The example of the RMT and CWU, which called on their members to reach out to refugee centres, mosques and other local groups, is a good start.
However, a trade-union led campaign will need to build roots in every workplace and local community, and put forward an alternative to both the far right, and the Labour government that is driving people into their arms.
A new left-wing party would be an obvious step toward this. On that basis we could fight for priorities such as ending the cost-of-living crisis, ending militarism and supporting the Palestine movement, and the nationalisation of central sectors of the economy, as part of the struggle for a real socialist alternative that can mend the inequality and crisis fostering the growth of the far right.
