The interview and comment on the Angell Ward by-election in Lambeth [Red Weekly, 18 November] unfortunately failed to answer the crucial questions on the fight for class struggle candidates in bourgeois elections. It is a pity that a number of remarks by Marie Montaut, the Labour candidate, were allowed to pass without comment.
In particular, Montaut's attack on the candidature of a member of the International Socialists is unwarranted sectarianism, reflected in the introduction to the interview. Is it really the case that the revolutionary left should not stand candidates 'whether the Labour candidate is right or left'? Montaut is very free with accusations of 'political treachery' when it comes to IS, without once mentioning the genuine political treachery of the Labour Party leadership which is behind the cuts and the preservation of the racist Immigration Act.
Of course, IS should be criticised for their sectarian failure to fight for a class struggle candidate within the mass organisations of the working class, including the Labour Party. But nowhere is it made clear what fight the IMG waged for a candidate on a class struggle programme who would be accountable to those mass organisations.
Is Marie Montaut such a class struggle candidate? It would seem not. Her election address is formulated by the Labour Party. She is clearly not accountable to the working class of Lambeth — she talks about her political stand on the Council being 'reflected through to people in the area'. Any populist could stand on that basis.
Finally, Montaut's adoption as candidate seems to signal the end of her 'record of struggle' — the Labour Party refused her permission to speak at the 10 November mass picket of a National Front meeting [unlike the two far left candidates], and on the platform of the All Lambeth Anti-Racist Movement the previous Saturday.
Following Red Weekly's correct analysis around the Walsall and Newcastle by-elections it is important that it is spelt out why a Labour candidate is now being supported against the IS. Have new criteria been established for a class struggle candidate, or has there perhaps been an error of judgement? In either case Red Weekly should make its position clear. — CHRIS O'BRIEN (South London)
The result of the Angell ward by-election was as follows: Marie Montaut [Labour] 701, Gerald Hartup [Conservative] 481, Kathleen Mott [National Front] 224, John Sandland [National Party] 165, Europe Singh [Socialist Worker] 34, Alan Whereat [Anti-National Front and Anti-Labour party] 28, Evan Sparks [United Anti-Fascist] 17. The turnout was 20.8 per cent.