Michael Rosen: Facebook question and answers: how to fight austerity

Michael Rosen

Could left-minded friends here please give a quick summary of the various 'unity' organisations resisting the cuts etc? I'm lost. Am I right in thinking there's TUSC, Unite the Resistance, Coalition of Resistance, the People's Assembly? Have I included any who don't exist anymore? Have I missed any out? Are these 'unity' organisations competing against each other?

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Gill Goodswen, Beccy Reese, Rachel Burns and 36 others like this.
Neil Mckenna False Economy, UK Uncut, and Positive Money. The former is a rallying point I guess for the left unionised; the latter not quite, not quite at all.

Yesterday at 7:08am · Edited · Like · 1
Jeremy M.T. Sutcliffe Michael, it's the left. Competing is axiomatic.

Yesterday at 7:07am via mobile · Like · 1
Bev Turner · Friends with Alan Gibbons and 11 others

I would be interested in the answer to this. I was impressed that at the Glasgow bedroom tax protest reps of political parties were not invited to speak. Only reps of "the people" spoke.So much better than jostling for attention.

Yesterday at 7:08am · Like · 4
Neil Mckenna Nothing stopping anyone being affiliated with the lot.

Yesterday at 7:09am · Like · 2
Neil Mckenna You'll find everyone hates Liam Byrne for a start ...

Yesterday at 7:10am · Like · 1
Mike Lammiman http://www.taxpayersagainstpoverty.org.uk Dare I also mention the Green Party?

Taxpayers Against Poverty
www.taxpayersagainstpoverty.org.uk

A taxpayers' alliance to promote social justice

Yesterday at 7:10am via mobile · Like · 2 · Remove Preview
Neil Mckenna The big NGO Charities too, thery're all onside ...

Yesterday at 7:13am · Edited · Like · 1
Petra McQueen There are w few more groups named here:http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/mobileweb/2013/04/12/margaret-thatcher-protest_n_3071706.html. Although Wigan Rugby supporters didn't immediately spring to my mind - they might be a powerful source!

Day Of Rage 2013?
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk

A party celebrating Margaret Thatcher's death - first organised nine years ago -...See More

Yesterday at 7:19am via mobile · Like · 1 · Remove Preview
Lucie Hill-Hempstead I ran a fairly big anti cuts campaign for a while and got sick of the competition. There was no unity! I found the fact that these organisations charge £40+ to affiliate with them quite ironic too!

Yesterday at 7:20am via mobile · Like · 1
Andy Sharp · Friends with Jon Appleton and 12 others

They are not competing. Coalition of Resistance behind (instigated) People's Assembly which Unite the Resistance are supporting. Don't know much about TUSC but trust they're not getting all Life of Brian on us.

Yesterday at 7:20am via mobile · Like · 4
Ingrid Malone · Friends with Jamie Renton and 2 others

I thouht the coalition of resistance was meant to pull together all the different groups and they have planned a day of action on 22 June

Yesterday at 7:22am · Like
Saira Weiner Yes I agree UTR supporting all.

Yesterday at 7:22am via mobile · Like
Lisa Kitching Cant we all just join together to form one big group (even if we dont agree on everythin) and bring down this government and start a real way of life in this country?? : )

Yesterday at 7:23am · Like · 11
Aviah Sarah Day Ukuncut. Being in different groups doesn't always mean competition. Sometimes groups can compliment each other. Some like to be on family friendly creative actions....others like using their skills to occupy spaces and are better placed to defend themselves against cops. Some people are arrestable...some less so dct

Yesterday at 7:29am via mobile · Like · 4
Jon Gamble I have a theory that the number of chiefs multiplies in inverse proportion to the number of indians.

Yesterday at 7:40am · Like
Lucie Hill-Hempstead Aviah is right there. UK Uncut are very much about unity in my experience. Have united with them on a few things.

Yesterday at 7:41am via mobile · Like
Charlie Pottins In local areas where trades union councils for instance have initiated campaigns, the national "unity" organisations with their instant leaders are less important. Also campaigns like Keep Our NHS Public appear to be a network of genuine grass roots activists and health professionals. A positive sign I have noticed in London is some informal liaison between trade union badies and less conventional groups like UK Uncut, so each can do things their own way without treading on each other's toes and can exchange ideas and experiences and help rather than hindering each other.

Yesterday at 7:47am · Like · 2
Dave Plummer · Friends with Andy Lawson and 10 others

As far as I'm aware UK Uncut are one of the few genuinely independent groups. However, members of the SWP, SP, Greens, Counterfire, Workers Power, independents and even Labour get involved in different groups even if their party/group isn't officially affiliated.

The more fighty trade unions tend to put their name to anything that comes along (PCS, NUT, RMT, FBU spring to mind - I'm PCS.)

I reckon the CoR are the closest thing we've got to a genuine united campaign.

Yesterday at 7:47am · Like · 1
Lindsey German Mike, COR and I think all the other organisations are supporting People's Assembly which is big gathering in June. Already 1400 people are registered and it's more than 2 months away. I hope that what comes out of it is a. solidarity with teachers and civil servants who are striking the following week b. a programme of anti austerity events over the autumn c. local groups/organisation which can bring everyone resisting cuts/austerity together. Some of us have been arguing for this sort of thing for 5 years now and we can't afford to lose more time. http://thepeoplesassembly.org.uk/register/

Register now
thepeoplesassembly.org.uk

Saturday, 22 June 2013 from 09:30 to 17:00 Central Hall Westminster, Storey’s G...See More

Yesterday at 7:47am · Like · 5 · Remove Preview
Dave Plummer · Friends with Andy Lawson and 10 others

Lindsey, I think the TUC can be held partially responsible for the delay in getting something like the Peoples' Assembly off the ground. The March 26th mooch became a focus, took a lot of peoples' time and took a lot of wind out of a lot of peoples' said when it resulted in pretty much bog all (as many of us anticipated!)

And as for Oct 20th...

Anyway, things are happening now and, as long as the TUC don't get involved, might actually get us somewhere!

Yesterday at 7:54am · Like · 1
Annie Gwillym Walker Left Unity is encouraging people to form local groupshttp://leftunity.org/.
I am signed up for People's Assembly but I know that for some who are genuinely outraged going to London is not possible, for whatever reason.
This is my fear, that we cannot unite and make a stand.

Left Unity | Left Unity
leftunity.org

Left Unity

Yesterday at 8:03am via mobile · Like · 1 · Remove Preview
James Baker · Friends with Roger Stevens

What about the Judean People's Front? Splitters.

Yesterday at 8:09am via mobile · Like · 3
Jonathan Humble · 3 mutual friends

You forgot the Judean Popular People's Front ...

Yesterday at 8:09am · Like · 4
Tom Mycock CoR seems to have dosh and high profile supporters but nowt on the ground, not round here anyway. It's an alliance between Counterfire and the Unite bureaucracy. UtR is the SWP. NSSN is the SP, and TUSC is too mostly. The only one that seems unaffiliated and building from the bottom up by initiating local groups before showing off its union gold with a flashy conference is Left Unity. But I might be wrong on that. All of them should fold and become a real united campaign.

Yesterday at 8:10am via mobile · Like · 4
Anjelica Falterfoot Dont forget that there are disability campaigns that are not part of these groups because of being sidelined and isolated by all the parties

Yesterday at 8:15am · Like · 7
Jonathan Eyre · 18 mutual friends

you are right Anjelica Falterfoot, , No Politician or party has made a stand against the mass inspections and requirements to report to centres for re-examination and to have your papers re-examined and data checked and disability denied and the the consequential denial of benefits, mobility, independence, dignity and , naturally the process is de-grading and pseudo medical.........

Yesterday at 8:23am · Like · 2
Pat Stone · Friends with Bob Dyson and 2 others

Someone thinks there is already a lot if togetherness. It just needs to be publicised? http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2FqX-P4mx1FLU&h=HAQEL4WYZAQH1FKS2trezDY_2YYXYp6oKSJgZWfsaaqsbiw&s=1

Tony Benn - 10 min History Lesson for Neoliberals

Tony Benn - 10 min History Lesson for Neoliberals I did not create or own this v...See More

Yesterday at 8:25am · Like · 1 · Remove Preview
Slavka Jovanovic In my borough we have a very active umbrella organisation called Haringey Alliance for Public Services.

Yesterday at 8:44am via mobile · Like
Annette Mansell-green CPB! I get your point though there is just a little irony there. I know that you are a writer but that doesn't mean that people should take you so literally all the time. (Smiley face with raised eyebrow, sideways look and slight knowing smile).

Yesterday at 8:59am via mobile · Like
Michael Craven Dammit someone already made the obvious Life of Brian gag.

Yesterday at 9:06am via mobile · Like · 3
Simon Hardy Left Unity is not in the same category as NSSN, UTR, COR etc. They are all anti cuts groups whereas LU is an embryonic political party.

I agree we need a united anti cuts movement - one national organisation under which the local groups can come together. The People's Assembly offers a chance to make that happen, but only if it isn't another top table rally dominated by trade union big wigs but instead reflects the real diversity of the local groups and campaigns

Yesterday at 9:31am via mobile · Like · 7
Sarah Hermione Tyrer · 7 mutual friends

Is this a plea for them all to join up? Because I was thinking the same thing - the left's long trouble - competition (no pun intended)

Yesterday at 9:49am · Like · 2
Saleh Mamon maybe that is the way all struggles develop. individuals and groups set up organisations based on their politics and geography etc. hopefully, they will link up and form a coalition which will have a national presence.

Yesterday at 10:03am · Like · 1
Mo Ungi Bring back Labour Party Young Socialists and Militant Tendency! Those were the days...

Yesterday at 10:05am via mobile · Like · 2
Peter Barlow · Friends with Pam Burnard and 2 others

http://leftunity.org/
http://www.facebook.com/The14thNovemberMovementLeftPartyUk

Left Unity | Left Unity
leftunity.org

Left Unity

Yesterday at 10:05am · Like · Remove Preview
Lindsey German Here's a list of the considerable number of local union organisations and others supporting the People's Assembly:http://thepeoplesassembly.org.uk/supporters/ The comments above are right: it isn't an electoral campaign or party but aims to unite people in different parties (and none) who want to fight austerity. In that sense it is a mass campaign like Stop the War.

Supporters
thepeoplesassembly.org.uk

Tony Benn President, Coalition of Resistance Len McCluskey General secretary, U...See More

Yesterday at 10:07am · Like · 5 · Remove Preview
Bill Jefferies · Friends with Max Watson and 33 others

I hope people don't expect too much, if anything, from the People's Assembly. Reflect on the failure of the Coalition of Resistance to build anything solid, then consider that the PA is being built by the same people, in the same way - top down bureaucrats moaning on - and with the same inevitable failure as the result. One big meeting then....nothing.

Yesterday at 10:14am · Like · 3
Kate Richardson By far the most successful campaigns in recent years have been the grassroots ones which have fairly spontaneously sprung up to defend swimming baths and libraries. These have tended to be huge (400 marching in Levenshulme, 500 in Withington, meeting of 100+ to defend burn age and fallowfield libraries) and so far reasonably successful (3 out of 4 baths saved, no news on libraries yet but we live in hope) the sects get involved but can't dominate. This passion and organisation seems to be driving the bedroom tax protests too. My personal experience from the trades council is that the control freakery of the sects means they are acting as a brake on resistance movements not an accelerator pedal....

Yesterday at 10:20am · Like · 6
Kate Richardson By the way, talking about manchester

Yesterday at 10:20am · Like
Jeremy Hoad There's a difference between trying to find a specific local solution for a local facility and campaigning against broader matters such as government policies. This isn't always recognised.

Yesterday at 10:53am · Like
Joe Lo · Friends with John McDonnell and 10 others

Left Unity is the only one that's a political party trying to unite the Left, started by a call from Ken Loach. It's different from TUSC because it's going to be a proper party that people join as individuals, not an electoral coalition of a few small far-left organisations that people join as representatives of the SWP or SP etc. It's different from Respect because there's no charismatic but egotistical leader like George Galloway.

I don't think there's too much competing, all these organisations do different things and have different emphasis but work together.

http://leftunity.org/

Left Unity | Left Unity
leftunity.org

Left Unity

Yesterday at 11:03am · Like · 1 · Remove Preview
Berry Daines · Friends with Keith Flett and 7 others

The co-operative party has been around since the 1930s, has an fb page.

Yesterday at 11:11am · Like · 1
Nick Grant TUSC is an electoral coalition that stands candidates in elections. The others don't. UtR unites cuts campaigners with trade union leaders and rank and file activists in non-Parliamentary action. The COR hasn't done much lately but is generally a campaigning outfit for Len McLuskey and the UNITE union which funds it. The People's Assembly is merely that, neither an electoral group nor a campaign group. Hope that helps for now Michael.

Yesterday at 11:43am · Like
Jack Saffers · Friends with Paul Mason and 22 others

No-one's mentioned the National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts. Though its strongest base is in the student movement, it's formed as a broad catch-all oeganisation.

Anticut.com

Yesterday at 12:09pm via mobile · Like
Jack Saffers · Friends with Paul Mason and 22 others

* www.anticuts.com

National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts — A coalition of students and workers fighting against tuiti
www.anticuts.com

A coalition of students and workers fighting against tuition fees and education cuts

Yesterday at 12:09pm via mobile · Like · 1 · Remove Preview
Bill Jefferies · Friends with Max Watson and 33 others

There's all these groups, all claiming to possess the *one true path to redemption*. Anyone who's been around for anytime knows the exact opposite. They're all basically the same and all basically fail, to do the basic things, they claim to basically do.

Yesterday at 12:22pm · Like · 1
Jacqui Mc Menamin Disability Law is a charity now struggling with limited resources to help those effected by cuts

Yesterday at 1:49pm via mobile · Like
Michael Bosman I tried to unite two local campaigns and its was stamped on by the swp

Yesterday at 2:18pm via mobile · Like
John Geoffrey Walker The SWP was central to setting up Oxfordshire Anti-Cuts Alliance, which brought the various organisations together, so let's have less of the sectarianism. The SWP line is, in fact, to get united organisations wherever possible.

Yesterday at 2:33pm · Like
Michael Bosman I'm not being sectarian as I don't believe they always behave like this; they did on this one occasion that I was involved in.

22 hours ago via mobile · Like
Saleh Mamon I appreciate such honest comments. We should counter sectarianism on the left where we find it. We should also counter sectarianism based on religion and ethnicity that the ruling class promotes.

21 hours ago · Like · 1
Chris Smallaxe McCabe NHS Action Party, Community Action Party. I'm for Left Unity functioning as a movement & a party, as it has momentum & broad appeal.

21 hours ago · Like · 1
Jonathan Eyre · 18 mutual friends

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=563690493652928&set=a.192375567451091.43122.191782724177042&type=1&theater

Timeline Photos
Black Triangle's banner tied to the gates of Iain Duncan Smith's country pile in Buckinghamshire today

By: Black Triangle Anti-Defamation Campaign in Defence of Disability Rights

18 hours ago · Like · Remove Preview
Bill Jefferies · Friends with Max Watson and 33 others

The SWP are good in Oxford. Well that's ok then.

16 hours ago · Like
Adam DC Question is… is Left Unity going to become the new Socialist Alliance? And can it work?
I'd like to think so, it would be nice to see some unity with all these groups there is likely already quite a lot of crossover with members and supporters, I've be...See More

5 hours ago via mobile · Like
Jim Hollinshead The thing is, loads of organisations - some of them ad hoc campaigns, some front organisations for established left groups/parties is what you get when the 'official' movement is in disarya and can't lead - with a few honourable exceptions the union le...See More

3 hours ago · Like
Bill Jefferies · Friends with Max Watson and 33 others

We need to learn from the past, anything organised by Counterfire or the SWP or the SP will fail.

3 hours ago · Like
Tom Delargy · Friends with Gary McFarlane and 123 others

Michael, I think this can't be a serious question. Playing devil's advocate? You forgot George Galloway's RESPECT. And you forgot Arthur Scargill's Socialist Labour Party. Coalition of Resistance and Unite the Resistance compete with each other for ext...See More

about an hour ago · Like

Sunday, 14 April 2013

Facebook question and answers: how to fight austerity

Michael Rosen