FOLLOWING the half-a-million Together demonstration in March, we now need to roll back the initiatives taken in many towns and cities by the far right, by Reform UK plc — bought and paid for by US finance capital — and by fascist grouplets, acting on behalf of the ruling class facing economic and political crises.

They are by no means embedded as yet, but have clearly been making ground largely due to the corruption, lies and subservience to big business of the Establishment parties, and we’re not waiting for their dogwhistle set-piece provocations in order to take action within our working-class communities — that’s the clear message from the Together Alliance new strategy document. Are we all engaged and ready for that battle?

We need to go beyond the defence of our communities against fascist-inspired mobs — vital and essential as that remains. We need to take the initiative  just as strongly against the state’s austerity cuts to services, super-profits and low-wage economy, hardship and poverty, welfare cuts, housing crisis, international instability, war and more — all the ills of monopoly capitalism that working-class people experience daily, and that the far right distort into racist and nationalist narratives to build support.

The Together Alliance strategy

The new Together Alliance strategy document reflects this direction and views. It establishes specific aims to be achieved progressively over a three-year period, and says more generally:

“We will build communities rooted in solidarity, diversity, and mutual respect. By pushing back against scapegoating, we will help shift the political debate towards  real causes: falling living standards, corporate greed, and political failure. Winning will mean stronger, more confident communities that stand together against racism, authoritarianism, and division — and for a fairer, more democratic society.”

“It means organising within communities plagued by social/economic insecurity to provide alternatives to the far right. It also means exposing false promises, demonstrating that racism has nothing to offer working people, and making the case for real solutions that improve lives. By combining mass mobilisation, coalition-building, deep organising, and a clear alternative vision, we will turn the tide against racism and the far right.”

But how? In my view we must avoid falling back on simplistic ideas and slogans such as “Anyone but Reform” in elections, for example. Most people who are even contemplating a vote for Reform have already — from bitter experience — rejected all the Establishment “anyones” as corrupt and deceitful.

They simply won’t — and shouldn’t — go back to previous illusions.
So we need to put forward radical working-class “alternatives,” distinct in every way from the far-right’s own deceitful and corrupt programmes; based on our real needs as workers and our working-class and progressive organisations, not just in terms of individual policies, but in terms of the fundamental motivations of society — “another world,” that we have long proclaimed, “is possible.”

All our organisations, trades unions and community campaign organisations need to be honestly and openly exploring people’s main concerns and social and political priorities. These may not be comfortable conversations.

Immigration will certainly be raised by many — and we must make sure we are advocating the approach of the Campaign For Anti-Racist Immigration Laws, developed by the Indian Workers Association, Caribbean Labour Solidarity and Bengali Workers’ Council — and supported by the Communist Party — and not some over-idealist “no borders” imagining.

By direct and consistent everyday participation in struggles in our workplaces and communities over the urgent necessities of life, we help make the political realities of the day clear. It is that participation that holds the key. There is little space for those who just wish to observe and comment.

The Together Strategy suggest five strands of work to help shape those realities:

• Demonstrative unity mobilisations across towns and cities in England, Scotland and Wales;
• Musical/cultural movement building — a thriving anti-racist anti-fascist movement in the music and cultural sphere, particularly  aimed at involving significant numbers of young people;
• Workplace organising — to build Together mobilising committees in major workplaces in England, Scotland and Wales, working with union partners;
• Community organising — to build Together mobilising committees in the majority of major towns and cities in England, Scotland and Wales, working with community partners and existing anti-racist anti-fascist organisations;
• Training and education — to map the training offered by alliance partners, develop a coherent programme of training and have trained the layer of activists needed to deliver this work.
• Building movement infrastructure — to facilitate bilateral and multilateral connections between alliance partners to strengthen our movement.

We need to be encouraging each of the hundreds of organisations affiliated to the Together Alliance — and the people in them — to be identifying aspects of this strategy to which they can contribute effectively. And at local level we need to establish an infrastructure of communications and meetings for local groups of the national affiliates to discuss and agree the practical and effective steps that needs to be taken  if this strategy is to contribute not only to the defeat of the drive to fascism, but to the building of a confident, resilient and determined united front to take the struggle forwards for a fairer, more democratic society.