The rise of the cyber candidates...

What would you say if candidates in a union election all said exactly the same thing?

Well someone said it already…

Old former "Trotskyist" Connie Harris dies

London meeting will celebrate political life of Connie Harris : Cadre of Communist movement for 60 years

The following refelects the viewpoint of the Communist League and not me or this blog

BY TONY HUNT

LONDON—A meeting to celebrate the life and political contributions of Connie Harris, a cadre of the international communist movement for more than 60 years, will be held here January 13. Harris, a member of the Communist League in the United Kingdom, died December 7 at the age of 84 after a prolonged illness.
Harris’s decades of political activity began as a young worker in Britain as a member of the Women’s Land Army (WLA) during the Second World War. The WLA had been established by the British capitalists to allow them to draft the male agricultural workers into the armed forces and send them to fight in the imperialist slaughter. Facing abysmal wages and living conditions, and backbreaking work, Harris joined the Agricultural Workers Union and then helped sign up other women to the union.

In the course of her activity in the labor movement, Harris met and joined communists who were affiliated with the Fourth International. That was the international organization founded in 1938 by Leon Trotsky, a central leader of the 1917 Russian Revolution, to continue the course of V.I. Lenin and of the Communist International during its first five years. Harris participated in the 1944 founding of the Revolutionary Communist Party in Britain, an affiliate of the Fourth International in the UK. The organization was linked politically to the same current as the Socialist Workers Party in the United States.

Her decades of activity spanned the postwar upsurge and the later decline in workers’ struggles. Inspired by the revolution in Yugoslavia in the 1940s, she took part in a work brigade to that country in the early ’50s. She actively joined in defending the Cuban Revolution, which triumphed in 1959. During the political radicalization of the 1960s and early ’70s Harris was on the front lines of the international movement against the Vietnam War in both Britain and Canada, where she lived for a time. She campaigned against London’s and Ottawa’s complicity with the U.S.-organized assault on the Vietnamese people’s national liberation struggle. She was an enthusiastic participant in the rise of the women’s movement in Britain in the 1970s.

Harris helped organize solidarity with the struggles of coal miners and other workers against the onslaught by the UK rulers in the 1980s, spearheaded by the Tory government of Margaret Thatcher, and with the new rise of the ANC-led movement to overthrow the apartheid regime in South Africa.

She was elected to and actively served for years on the International Control Commission of the international communist movement.

From the 1960s until her retirement in the early 1990s, Harris shouldered central responsibility in organizing the distribution of Pathfinder Press and related revolutionary-socialist literature throughout the UK, Europe, and other parts of the globe. This work began in the early 1960s as the Pioneer Book Service operating out of an apartment in south London. It was run by Connie and her husband and comrade, Alan Harris, himself a many decades-long leader of the communist movement in Canada, the UK, and internationally.

Today Pathfinder Books in east London—a retail bookshop and wider book-distribution service to commercial shops and libraries—is a product of those early efforts to systematically circulate books containing the hard-won lessons of the international working-class movement. Those are the written materials that above all help generation after generation of revolutionary workers and youth to understand what communism is: organized action as part of the vanguard of those advancing along the line of march of the working class worldwide to political power, and the generalization of the hard-fought lessons of those struggles.

The January 13 meeting here will feature an international platform of speakers. The panel will include Pete Clifford, an early collaborator in the Pathfinder distribution service, who will speak on behalf of the Central Committee of the Communist League in the UK; Jack Barnes, the national secretary of the Socialist Workers Party in the United States; Jo O’Brien, a member of the organizing committee of the first national women’s liberation conference in the UK that took place in 1970; and a representative of the Young Socialists in the UK. Jonathan Silberman of the Communist League and Mary-Alice Waters of the U.S. SWP will cochair the meeting.

Messages to the event can be sent by email to the Communist League at cleagueuk@aol.co.uk or by regular mail to CL UK, First Floor, 120 Bethnal Green Road, (Entrance in Brick Lane), London, E2 6DG, UK. Messages can also be sent by fax to: +44 20 7613 3855.

An ancient declaration across all of old Avalon

The venerable declaration issued by Louise of the Round Table, was issued on the following scroll (see left)

Louise of the Round Table" had written an "ancient declaration" to the leaders of the workers and farmer of Avalon.
This declaration, which was written on the finest white parchment with green ink at the top, and signed with her own fair hand in the finest duck quilled pen, explained that the 30 pieces of silver that the counsellors of Avalon had given to the leading members of the Goual'd, was an amount whose worth could not be disclosed that due to "sensitive commercial sensitivities".

"Ye olde declaration, hereby made on the steps of the halls of Celestis, in ye olde burgh of Avalon, declryes, that ye olde contract signed by the counsellors, the knights of the oblong table and the Goual'd, wyll be varyed from this date forwarde forthwyth.

I hereby declyre that henceforwarde, a sum of one million golden pyces shall be gyvven to those whom wyll be making much money from the olden peoples lyvyng in the buildings and outhouses known as Attlantys."

A response was forthcomyng and will be printed in the next blog entry.

An exciting new tale from Avalon: Homestead carers fight soggy market testing

...and so it came to pass that those who went into the huts of the old and infirm in the streets of Avalon were told that they would be subject to what was called "soggy marketplace tests".

It was decided by Gwendolen of Goswell (left), that these tests would be carried out amongst those known as "homestead carers". The workers and farmers leaders were very cross and protested in the loudest possible terms. They bwrote declarations and proclamations. They took their protests to the opposition knights lead by Catherine of the West.

More tomorrow

Even more tales from Avalon

"Louise of the Round Table" had written an "ancient declaration" to the leaders of the workers and farmer of Avalon.

This declaration, which was written on the finest white parchment with green ink at the top, and signed with her own fair hand in the finest duck quilled pen, explained that the 30 pieces of silver that the counsellors of Avalon had given to the leading members of the Goual'd, was an amount whose worth could not be disclosed that due to "sensitive commercial sensitivities".

The workers and farmers and old folk of Avalon, getting ready for the Winter festivities, were most distressed. They were upset and there was much more wailing and gnashing of teeth all over the province of Avalon. This stretched from the North of the Burgh to the South of the Burgh!

Gwendolen of Goswell, the main advisor to the counsellors, on her rather large salary of 100,000 pieces of gold would have a good festive period, as would the elader of the Goual'd. Mike of the Parrish, was on 360,000 pieces of gold a year plus share options and his own private pony and trap!

Such suffering!

More tales from Avalon

Famous worker-leader, Mikey o' the Bear (with all his own teeth of course!

Ha!
So, the forces of good led by Andrew of the Black Berry and the blonde duchess of dalston were to pitted against John of the east and Prince James.
At this point we are going to introduce a new character, Mikey o'the Bear, one of the worker-leaders and tell you of the day that he met Steve the Large on the road to Goswell.

Mike was there defending the workers' interests as he so often does, only to bump into Steve the Large.

"Ho, ho, ho Chi Minh" said Steve the large. How are things going with the workers and farmers?
Ha! came the reply from Mikey o'the Bear. They would be much better if you hadn't sold out the old folk of Avalon to the Goua'ld and othe nasty forces.
But hark, Mikey continued, what of fair Gwendolen of Goswell? For she has had been tripped up by Mark of the lock, the famous Tribune of the people.

Steve the Large answered, you should speak to her yourself, as I am sure she can defend herself and here she comes down the palatial steps of Goswell Castle.

Mikey was stunned, what should he do? here was the former King of Avalon and one of the leading advisors to the Knights of the Oblong table. Who walked in the front door then ?
It was Louise of the Round table!
Where have you put your false teeth, Mikey o' the bear? She asked.

The great worker leader ran for the hills...

The Militant tendency

There are some on the wild world of blogging who are very hostile to all things Trotskyist.

The best example of the most successful revolutionary group in the UK was the Ted Grant-led Militant tendency during the 1970's and the 1980's.

The Militant tendency grew from a few hundred supporters to almost 10,000 at one point. This organisation was more successful than any Stalinist, Maoist, or even Labourite organisation. They recruited raw working class yooff from the housing estates and trade unionits as well.

I shall be commenting on their rise and fall in the next few days and also on why I think a groiup that everyone commonly agrees had quite an austere image was able to do so well.

Coming from a working class rail and agricultural background, and also with a "Methodee" (methodist) slant, I have some views on this that many of the more middle class intellectuals and some working class pees may disagree with!

Mikey

A story of a fabled land far far away... part X

Here is a scene from the meeting of the grand Counsel of Avalon--a number of noblemen and women listen attentively to speeches.

A story of a fabled land far far away... part IX

The day was a new day and so the gallant knights of the Oblong table assembled. They had as their main adviser Louise of the round table even as they sat around their oblong table in the halls of celestis.

Louise of the round table (left)


The knights of the oblong table sat in a side room with Louise of the Round table. There they would discuss the important issues of the days that affected the workers of Avalon.
They were very busy discussing the future and then they took advice from Gwendolen of Goswell. They sat round chewing the cud and came to the conclusion that there were many things that they needed to sell off to raise money to pay their counsellors allowances.
They decided that they would raise money by selling off three big buildings where children lived.
One of these was in the neighbouring burgh of Camelot. It was a very rich area with big houses that would fetch many millions when sold.

The knights decided that they would sell the homes and then decided that they would sell their homecare services to a private sector.
Gwendolen of Goswell sat with the others and said that: "the bottom line is that we need to sell the services to the private sector as cheaper is better!"

Gwendolen of Goswell and the other senior officers sat down together to discuss what to do. They were Andy of Manchester; Helen of Highbury; Paul of Barnsbury; Mike of the money; Richard of the hills and dales; and Kevin of the vale.
These learned folk were gathered in Helen's office around Louise's round table and decided that they would advise the knights of the oblong table that they should go ahead with cheaper but better. let us find the most crap companies and sell off the public services. let us fill the coffers full and sell off the buildings. let us upset the workers and who cares, they said.

So there will be more in the next instalment...

A story of a fabled land far far away... part VIII

On this page is Merylyn of the Lanes, facing both sides at the same time as always

A story of a fabled land far far away... part VII

So the battle was to be joined: the forces of light led by the Duchess of Dalston (left), and those like Mikey the doci and Andrew of the Black Berry. They were advised Laura of the Butter Fields.

There were also others in this battle like Gary Mandrake and Vaughan from the Shires. The workers and farmers of Avalon were ready for battle.

A story of a fabled land far far away... part VI

So the crystal chandeliers that lit up the halls of Celestis, in the central thoroughfare, Lower Street, of AVALON, were lit up for Xmas. But whilst it was xmas for Gwendolen of Goswell and the senior advisors to Prince James and the other senior knights who dwelt in the corridors of Celestis, for the workers and farmers who dwelled in the province of Avalon it was a different story.

Those who worked for Mike of the Parish on Avalonian contracts were to discover that they were about to recive a nice Christmas pressy of a huge pay cut.

Gwendolen of Goswell met her friends, the Goua'ld who had (pictured left) decided that Mr Parish needed hard cash to do with it as he wished. This was a good way to up his dividends for him and his fellow system lords. The system lords had constructed Atlantis out of pure titanium.

Such a nice present for the workers and farmers of Atlantis...to have a pay cut of 50%.

A story of a fabled land far far away... part V

And so, here is part V.

And so the People gathered up their armies. The great massed ranks of the two armies got together, one led by Andrew of Blackberry, the other by Gary Mandrake.

They went to the local tribune, Mark of the Lock(pictured right) and said: there are terrible things going on in Avalon. Please help us. You are the local tribune, it is your job to trumpet the news to all who will hear.

Mark of the Tribune then went to the steps of Celestis and there he met Gwendolyn of Goswell.
He said to her: "Gwendolyn, how would you feel if John o'the east were to slash your salary in two".
Gwendolyn said that she found this inappropriate.

John o'the East then intervened and said that the tribune were wrong to try and speak with Gwendolyn. He pointed out that the questions from Mark of the Lock were emotive.

The people's armies were assembling their joint forces. Gary Mandrake and Andrew of the Blackberry and their minions were ready for the fight.

A story of a fabled land far far away... part IV

And so the System Lords set up their home and called it Atlantis.

It was a fabulous construction, worthy of any prince or regent.

It was light years ahead of any of its competitors and the big chief, King Tony of Sedgefield had agreed to allow public money be given for this construction.

Forsooth, said Michael of the Parish, leader of the System Lords based in ancient Camulodunum where they had their base. This is a bargain, a steal at half the price!

The leaders of the System Lords, said that had made a 12% profit on their investments in Atlantis and in the Burgh of Avalon.

But, three years after their construction at Atlantis was finished they said, By Gum, we must reduce our overheads. Let us go and see the new knights of the Oblong table, and Gwendolen of Goswell.

This they did. The Counsel's advisors were very receptive, poor Parish, they said. You are living in direst poverty: you are only on a salary of £360,000 per year. The titanium walls of your construction are falling down, and yet your profits are up, let us make you an offer you cannot refuse.

They gathered together all the most sacred and clever people--including the most able legal brains like Louise of the Round Table in all of Avalon and asked the question: how do we convince the villagers and the workers and farmers that the Goua'ld are in poverty?

The biggest brains worked on it and concluded: who cares! Let us give them a large sum of money and tell them to cut the wages of the workers and peasants!

John of the East and Gwendolyn were very unhappy but said, never mind, how much do you desire o mighty Parish?

The wizard who led the Goua'ld system lords concluded: a million quid will do me nicely.

So angry were the noble opponents of Prince James that they called a full meeting of all the noblepersons. This meeting was held in the halls of Celestis.

John of the East fiercely polemicised and jousted with Catherine of the West, leader of the opposition faction of noblepeople.

Paul of Barnsbury said nothing.

There was nothing left but for the workers and farmers to fight against the advisors and their decisions and to get Andrew of the Blackberry on their side.

More in part V...

A story of a fabled land far far away...part III

Where were we?

We were looking at the story of the fabled borough of Avalon...

So what happened earlier?

Many years ago, a small group of system lords wandered down the central streets of Avalon. They found themselves near the Fields and said: "Forsooth, let us maketh an offer that that Steve the Large (then the ruler) and his main advisor, 'Merlyln of the Lane' cannot refuse. Let us tie them up for 25 years!"

They recruited a senior advisor to the Counsel, "Peter of the Bone" and a member of the Praetorian Guard "John o' the Kitchen" in their enterprise.

One day, the advisors were all gathered around the great oblong table in the gilded chambers of Avalon. The chambers were known as Celestis, City of the Gods.

It was decided that many of the Borough's old folk were living in squalor. What to do? Asked Paul of Barnsbury? Ah, said Gwendolen of Goswell (then known as Gwendolen of the Fields), let us get together and sell off the needs of the old folk.

Forsooth, they all uttered, and Merlyln of the Lane agreed. She agreed wholeheartedly and said, let us tie it up for 25 years and sell to the lowest bidder.

The people's army, led by Gary Mandrake, and Andrew of the Blackberry were in total opposition.

Gadzooks they exclaimed, let us fight this. But ther concordat was signed with a quill pen by Peter o'the Bone and Merlyn.

Merlyln was a fabulous sorceress who had faced many ways simultaneously. The workers and peasants were very upset. There was much wailing and gnashing of teeth all around the Provinces. But around the oblong table Merlyln and her pals decided that Gwendolen and her advisors were right.

They announced a fabulous plan and said, hey let us sell these buildings to the System Lords.

The System Lords had a name, that name struck fear and loathing in the workers and farmers, the old people and all in health and social care, for it was The Goua'ld.

A story of a fabled land (in many parts) part II

Here is the fabled town hall of Avalon. This is the ancient, yet rotten borough presided over by those forces we refered to yesterday.

We told you of how the people of the borough, fed up with not being able to park their horse and carts anywhere in Avalon rose up in revolt and overturned Steven the large and replaced him with Prince James.

We also spoke of the famous battle of St Peter's. This was where Gary Mandrake took on Steve the large in open combat, sword in hand, and defeated Steve the large.

The workers and peasants of Avalon were deeply thrilled.

They united as never before, but as was later discovered, although there had been an internal palace coup, still the advisors to the Great Counsel stayed the same.

When there was a meeting of the full counsel, despite a reduced number of noblepersons, Prince James had the same advisors.

The Oblong Table, around which sat seven knights :

Counsellor Terry of the East

Counsellor Lucy of the Cannons

Counsellor George of Clerkenwell

Counsellor Andrew, he of St George's
Counsellor John--also of the east
Counsellor Marisha--also of Clerkenwell
Counsellor Ursula from the Junction

These prepared to do battle with the barons of the opposition.

More later

A story of a fabled land (in many parts)

Over the next few days we will publish in several parts the tale of AVALON.


Avalon is a fabled land ruled over by Prince James and his adviser, Helen of Highbury. It was once ruled by King Steve (aka the large one).
This is a story of Prince James advisors, including Gwendolen of Goswell and Paul of Barnsbury led him astray.

It tells the tale of how the people did do battle against King Steve the large and defeated him in the famous battle of St Peter's. This was where he was vanquished along with his ally, Princess Bridget of Mortonsville.

Steve was defeated and had to hand over the reins of power to Young Jimmy. Did Jimmy know what he was getting himself into?

part two tomorrow...

More on those Albanian Goatherders

Interrogation between CPB(M-L) leader and rank and file member

Here we see a typical confrontation between a leading member of the CPB(M-L), on the right, with her leader in hand, and a party member who has dared to question the will of the leadership.
I am convinced this organisation is from another planet!

The question in my mind, amd as I am sure that Micky will be reading this, is where do we know one another from? Also, the book about comrade Reg is something that I bought and actually read from cover to cover. It is actually interesting believe it or not. I don't want to offend my Maoist relatives here. I woke up the other morning to face a piccy of Marx, Engels, Lenin, Stalin and Mao. I am sad that comrade Micky was so nasty about Ted Grant though.

I gather that Micky H and I are acquainted with one another... I did get rid of all the anoraks and jackets by the way and kept the archive file of Labour News dear editor...

(all pictures taken from Stargate SG-1 and Atlantis are copyrighted to MGM Television)

Bannister Boo Cats

Here is Luci and my Lleucu. Taken when we first got our two young small furry people!!

>^..^<

>^..^<

Having a juice in Brighton

Here we have Luci reading over a fresh juice in a juice bar in Brighton.

Mikey