Link to this page: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/920/23771

From The Socialist newspaper, 12 October 2016

Momentum should show Blairites the door, not Socialist Party members!

The Socialist Party has been on the front line of the campaign to defend Jeremy Corbyn's anti-austerity leadership from the right, photo by Socialist Party (Click to enlarge)

The Socialist Party sold the Socialist and leafleted outside a Momentum (or Welsh Labour Grassroots as they're known in Wales) meeting in Swansea Council chambers on 8 October.

Our leaflets and paper were well received and we had a friendly response from the 70 attendees who we informed that it was our intention to attend the meeting.

The three of us sat at the back and after about 40 minutes were asked to leave the meeting. We were the only ones asked to leave even though there were members of other parties present. Given that no one was on the door it was also quite possible for right-wingers to be present.

As we left someone else left with us as and told us she couldn't understand why we were asked to leave.

Another approached us outside and queried the decision. It's not the first time I have been asked to leave the council chamber but the last time we had occupied the chamber protesting against the actions of a right-wing Labour council implementing the Poll Tax.

Before we were asked to leave, a speaker from Unite mentioned the witch hunt in the Labour Party but the irony of asking us to leave was lost on those leading the meeting.

The speaker from Unite unfortunately repeated the myth peddled by most union bureaucracies that the Labour leadership in Wales is not right-wing, claiming Labour First Minister Carwyn Jones would work with Jeremy Corbyn.

But this is not true and, along with throwing Socialist Party members out, shows the leadership of Momentum do not have a strategy to defeat the Blairites - the real ones who should be shown the door.

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In The Socialist 12 October 2016:

Housing crisis

Butterfields victory: housing crisis can be beaten

Tories’ £5bn for housing not enough

What we think

Tories whip up division over Brexit...fight for a socialist, internationalist exit

Where next for the BMA junior doctors' dispute

Socialist Party news and analysis

Say no to fracking!

Support the Rotherham 12

Suicidal phone calls: fight to reverse tax credit cuts

Black History Month

Malcolm X: hero of black liberation

Socialist Party workplace news

Union library campaign strikes blow against Bromley Tories

Bin workers' strike - "about more than just pay"

AMEY = A Massive Empty Yard

Ritzy strikers walk-out and rally

Workplace news in brief

International socialist news and analysis

Poland: Mass movement stops total ban on abortion

South Africa: The battle for free education

Shimon Peres - a wolf in sheep's clothing

Socialist Party reports and campaigns

Lambeth working class demo against cuts and gentrification

Appeal: Don't let the banks wreck our finances!

Momentum should show Blairites the door, not Socialist Party members!

Lobby to keep vital day centre funding

Bradford day centre campaigners meet to fight closure

Fight to save care homes in Carlisle

Cable Street 80th anniversary demo

Health and social care attacks

Attack on young people's health and social care: urgent fightback needed

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