Posted by Alex Doherty on October 31, 2009, 8:27 am, in reply to "Can NL be democracised?"

Serious efforts to democratise the Labour party were made by New left elements within the party during the mid 70's and early 80's - eventually they were beaten back by the centre and right wing of the party (people who today would be considered to be little better than communists by the NL leadership) - the chances of making NL into a democratic force for good is now negligible. Leo Panitch and Colin Leys document the efforts of the Labour New Left in 'The End of Parliamentary Socialism" - it's an excellent read: http://www.amazon.co.uk/End-Parliamentary-Socialism-Left-Labour/dp/1859843387 --Previous Message-- : I was wondering how or wether it worth : fighting to democracise NL. I dont know how : much influence the members of NL have in : producing the manifesto but from what little : I know it seems virtually none. : If it is possible, maybe a democracised : Labour party should be the political aim of : most of us wether, green, communist ,swp or : social democratically inclined. Which would : probably mean if it ever came about that : most of the current NL crowd would switch to : the Tories or the LibDems which is where : they should be. : Is it possible and if so could not most of : the left agree to a manifesto within it. : One of the ways to do it might be by the : pressure of a modernised and forward looking : TUC. : RobB :

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