Labour won a by-election in Rotherham last week—but the vote showed the danger that right wing parties pose.
 |
| Trade Unionists Campaign for Public Services in Rotherham. |
Labour’s majority was halved in one of its safest seats as
disillusioned voters punished its failure to lead a fight against Tory
cuts. But such is the hatred of the Tories that Labour did not suffer as
much as it feared. Its percentage of the vote increased slightly.
Anger at the coalition’s austerity policies was reflected in the fact
that the Tories came fourth. And the Liberal Democrats came eighth—the
lowest ever for a party in government—and lost their deposit.
There was a deep dissatisfaction with all political parties. Turnout
dropped from 59 to 33 percent. But Ukip was the main beneficiary of that
disillusionment.
It got its best ever parliamentary result—over 20 percent. This was
because it sucked in very right wing Tories and some former Labour
voters by exploiting a local fostering issue and an anti-immigration
stance.
More worrying was the fact that the Nazi British National Party (BNP)
narrowly beat Respect to third place.
Although the BNP’s vote was down
to 1,804, from 3,900 in 2010. The English Democrats also got 703.
But the English Defence League’s Clint Bristow—who didn’t identify
his fascist affiliations on the nomination form—got a humiliating 29
votes.
Surprisingly Respect failed to make as much ground as expected,
winning 1,778 votes. But it certainly raised the debate about voting
Labour. Interestingly, a local vicar who stood on an Old Labour
anti-corruption platform got 582.
Although the Trade Union and Socialist Coalition’s (TUSC) focus on
fighting cuts, corruption and racism did not translate into votes, in a
field of 11, it polled 281 (1.3 per cent).
The TUSC candidate Ralph Dyson’s lively campaign was reflected in
over 2,000 signatures collected against 750 job losses at Rotherham
Hospital.
Labour leader Ed Miliband claimed that the by-election victory showed
his “One Nation” stance was popular. The Rotherham result doesn’t show
support for a Tory slogan. Workers feel a deep class bitterness directed
against politicians, bankers and bosses.
Worse than that, the result is a warning that Labour’s capitulation
to the bosses could allow forces to the right to grow. We have seen this
happen in Hungary, France, Greece and elsewhere in Europe.
As the Tory attacks intensify, we need a political alternative that is willing to fight against the government.
Mainstream parties lose out
Labour held its three seats in Rotherham, Middlesbrough and Croydon
North in by-elections last week. But the results, and low turnout, show
declining support for the mainstream parties. The Tories came fifth in
Rotherham and fourth in Middlesbrough.
The Liberal Democrats lost their deposit in Rotherham and Croydon
North. Ukip came second in Rotherham and Middlesbrough and third in
Croydon North.
It represents a danger that can drag all the parties to the right as
they pander to racism. But it is too simplistic to argue that Britain is
drifting to the right.
The bitterness against the Tories is still expressed as class anger
such as the protests to defend the NHS or anger about tax avoidance. If
this anger was mobilised it would offer a real challenge to the Tories.
