Militant Labour | British Labour Party | TV Eye | 1981

Within the Labour Party and with a strong base in Liverpool- there exists a Trostskyist group called Militant
They claim footholds in two to three hundred constituencies, 5,000 committed supporters and 60+ full time employees.
Local MP, Frank Field opposes their spread . Now the NEC are to consider their activities against the background of Labour’s crushing defeat at Crosby.
This is a slightly shortened version of the original programme.
First Shown: 03/12/1981
If you would like to license a clip from this video please e mail:
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Quote: VT25826

[@Gubbins2010]

So the big argument against Militant is that they were organised? Says it all.

[@andrewtucker94]

Yes, if you are the most naive person in the world

[@jomammahbeetch8236]

@@andrewtucker94well I think he’s right. What now?

[@andrewtucker94]

@@jomammahbeetch8236 I could certainly point you in the direction of some history books

[@jomammahbeetch8236]

@@andrewtucker94 a couple thousand could point you in the direction of something worthwhile.

[@stephenholmes1036]

The far left, I suggest they go and live in North Korea , China or Cuba.

[@uktravel8341]

15:42: "It's entirely untrue that we would not accept being voted out of office." *picture of Lenin in the background*

[@marilynmalone1381]

And?

[@uktravel8341]

I forgot. 1920s Russia was a hotbed of democratic debate and political openness, wasn't it? Just ask the workers at Kronstadt.

[@doom1894]

@@marilynmalone1381 Lenin literally caused a civil war in Russia because he wasn’t happy that he Lost the vote

[@robbibittybob20]

@@doom1894 which vote is this?

[@grayfiander7769]

@@robbibittybob20 He dissolved the constituent assembly, which was to convene in 1917/18 in order to establish a government to replace the provisional government which had taken control after the Tsar’s abdication. The Bolsheviks, after seizing power in the October Revolution, dissolved the assembly. However, Lenin speaks directly on the dissolution of the constituent assembly which is worth reading. It gives a good idea of the justifications for doing so.

[@Red-Revolution708]

Individuals here saying Labour made Thatchers job easy. Thatcher was behind in the Polls, it was a certain war in 1982 that made Thatcher popular not Militant.

[@phildavies6020]

I remember Hatton arriving at a public meeting in Newbridge inNeil Kinnock's constituency. Arrived surrounded by a gang of 'heavies', his minders.

[@shaunhufton5265]

Sounds familiar all this even though I remember it well. Momentum?

[@jonathanhadley2555]

Socialism from below & not above!

[@warprecautions631]

Nah. Militant was far more extreme, they were full on Trots, and they still are (They became the Socialist Party UK). Momentum is just kinda pathetic.

[@ianedwards60]

You love being robbed by the rich

[@shaunhufton5265]

@@ianedwards60 thanks Ian, I was born in a two up two down terrace in a mining town, got bathed in a tin bath and the toilet was at the bottom of the yard next to the coal house. Educated at a comprehensive school and started work down the coal mines at 16 years old. I believe that life should be progressive. I see nothing progressive about that these so called intellectuals.

[@PERCYxyz]

What is familiar the McCarthyite witch hunt against Socialists within the Labour party. The right always had an obsessive hatred of party democracy.

[@ryanconnor9240]

Hold on Terry McDonald called them undemocratic and dangerous, yet wants them forcibly removed from the party when other anti-militants just wanted to convince them of leaving. What a hypocrite.

[@gig2734]

4:44 15:35 What would the two have done with today's economy? With the collapse of the planned economy in the Soviet Union? With China's success? With Internet, AI, Automation? 16:42 That he can not believe that voters can have other priorities and that the program can fail, is not entirely promising.

[@terrymckenna3382]

Soviet collapse was just complete mismanagement of natural resources, they had a secret policeman for every 400 people, that is astonishing. But what finished them, most academics agree (Russian and West) is their own Vietnam, the war in Afghanistan made them bankrupt.

[@4thinternational283]

Militant was , and remains, an anti Soviet organization. They are Trotskyists; respecting the revolution but viewing the USSR as degenerate workers state.

[@petermills542]

Neil Kinnock's 1985 Conference speech slaughtered the Militant Tendancy ! And for their ridiculous 'Entryist' stance , read PARASITICAL 😂

[@JK-br1mu]

Yah, still blind belief in the Planned Economy, which never works anywhere......in 1981.

[@jmartin4204]

I may have been small but do remember well the Militant paper and may have read one few times yes read from an early age at four years old , and pretty good understanding what they were saying even then. Thank you for this was a massive fan of Tv Eye wish they brought it back

[@politicalphilosophy-thegre3894]

Margaret Thatcher totally destroyed British TV with the 1990 Broadcasting Act.

[@haydoncooper3744]

Brings back memories. Now re-branded as Momentum? if they are still going?

[@manoftrent71]

Labour made Thatcher's job very easy in the 80s.

[@mindblast3901]

Labour made Conservative Job easy 2021

[@edwardstabletoparmies955]

You expect an opposition to say the same as the Tories? Or to actually offer an opposition.

[@manoftrent71]

No I don't. But Labour like today were poorly led, had no coherent policies and were too busy bickering among themselves to pay attention to the plight of working people whose way of life was being cynically destroyed. That has to be the real tragedy of those times.

[@rfvtgbzhn]

@@manoftrent71 I am not really an expert on what happened to Labour during this time but I think most of the harm was done by the right wing which split and formed the SDP and later expelled left members that did real working class policies and where often very popular (see for example Liverpool council).

[@Red-Revolution708]

Very untrue a ‘War’ in 1982 in the South Atlantic called the Falkland Islands made her very popular to many. Though we’re still picking up the pieces today economically, in many ways look back at 2008 it was her policies that made it worse for millions in the UK .

[@garethglitter5932]

Citizen Smith without jokes.

[@ianedwards60]

that's the best you've got

[@hickster222]

Power to the people.

[@jonnobloggs8642]

The People's Republic Of Dingle !

[@stevenpaulgoulding]

@@jonnobloggs8642The Dingle Popular Front.

[@spartacusforlife1508]

Cut my political teeth in liverpool at this time. Had many friends in militant, all young like i was at that time. Went to many meetings, watched as militant took over liverpool constituencies. Wasn't difficult , constituency membership was very small. But , militant was a party within a party. It took every opportunity to overthrow the Labour heirachy wherever they could. They would ambush the labour leadership whenever they could rather than supporting them and as for Derek Hatton, the idea that he was Militant is ridiculous. He was a crook plain and simple. He was despised by militant members

[@willie5958]

Actually their aims and objectives are exactly what the Labour Party were set up for !

[@robbief5517]

Hatton the only man driving a Rolls-Royce with a private plate in Liverpool

[@iainholmes2735]

Hi nick, you probably already know this, but Lenin himself had a few Rolls Royces. I understand that one of them (specially fitted with snow tracks) was in his mausoleum. Re Hatton: I'm still unsure what to make of him. A very, very charismatic man. Still looks striking and fit as a fiddle. Some say the 1991 TV series 'GBH' was partly based on the various contradictory views of him.

[@CashelOConnolly]

@@iainholmes2735so did the party running Germany between 1933 until 1945 live in squalid conditions?🙄

[@TEAMGETHELP]

@15:10 "BECAUSE I'M A DEMOCRAT I'M A SOCIALIST"

[@JerzyFeliksKlein]

They are not mutually exclusive. If he said he's a capitalist and a socialist then it would have made no sense. Socialism sensu stricto relates to distribution of goods within a society, it's not a political system.

[@dbleaker]

@@JerzyFeliksKlein socialism has to do more with the ownership of production than it does with the distribution of goods.

[@hickster222]

Should have said because I'm a socialist I want to starve the population to death or put them in reeducation camps.

[@paulwier4963]

Am glad my mom moved from Liverpool to marry my dad in Belfast

[@DL-cd7ew]

My God, Thatcher was right all along

[@andrewkilbride971]

Well presumably for you she was, but for millions of destroyed lives for generations she very obviously wasn't. You clown.

[@ps-tv]

@@andrewkilbride971 does that include the millions who could afford to buy their own home and have that dignity, rather than rent a crappy sub standard house or flat from the council?

[@andrewkilbride971]

@@ps-tv Well, I guess for you anyway, that was generally a price worth paying. But I'll bet it's not one you paid.

[@MarineAqua45]

@@ps-tvhat aside: how the bloody-hell,could anyone,vote for a political-party,whose members(Unfortunately:-),included: a bunch of bloody-minded,wankers:who worshipped:bloody-Lenin,Trotsky & Stalin? You vote for people,who believe in democracy & the USSR (At that time:-),was the enemy. Its like voting for a mass of:John Tyndall-types in the Tory Party. Most people thought that John Tyndall(Of the BNP:-),was a:raving-lunatic.

[@petershanks3049]

I only have 1 question , who is / was funding this Centre ? ( @4.35 mark )

[@PERCYxyz]

Grass roots funding - as much of the left media is funded today. I know, it's a revolutionary idea to have a media which isn't funded by Tory billionaire moguls, but there you go.

[@besserman1]

We have a one party state now. It changes its name from time to date

[@jonathanleblanc2140]

Did Ted Grant actually say "nationalize the press" !? What!? Had he ever heard of TASS? Pravda? Wow.

[@williamclegg8787]

What would be the problem having the press nationlised instead of being run for private profit? It would at least be accountable, and would not be propagating lies and smears, and stooping to gutter level.

[@williamclegg8787]

@signoguns Currently, in the UK, the 'Government' works in the interests of big business, and many of the ministers have financial interests in business, so how would that be working 'by the people' for the people?? It would be nothing more than a ploy to further private profit...and how would accountability and transparency show in your sugestion. ?

[@williamclegg8787]

@signoguns Please tell me the ways that you think it could go wrong? You seem to imply that a Nationalised media would be run by some 'elite body' WRONG.. A media owned and and controlled by the nation, with a democratically elected team of people running it who are accountable to the nation, and the books open for all to see. What is so threatening about that, how could it go wrong? Along side that...all the economic levers of society being run the same.way..now thats socialism. Pity the thought of such a society alarms you. Your comment about having a choice from far left to far right...yes there are choices. But the far left does not have multi-million pound backers. Most rely on donations, sales, events etc. If you feel the choices put before you in a Capitalist Economy are the best you can get, then I'm afraid you are being very narrow minded. Right now, as you will have witnessed, people across the world are coming up with all manner of ideas due to lockdowns. They still communicate, indeed more than ever now, and families have realised what they have been missing. Musicians and artists have all come together to show their skills and in the process keeping us all happy. This is because peoples minds are realising a new freedom to express, also realising the value of each others efforts, without seeking reward. Imagine how much different life could be with even more freedom. The choices denied because of capitalist economics, where only the well off can afford the best that life can offer. We should all have access to the very best that life can offer, Education, Health, Housing, Jobs, Food, Childcare, and much more. I have lived in this Capitalist Society for 72 yrs and I have no choice wherever I may go in the world but to continue in the same corrupt systems, that offer nothing to the people except exploitation, and corruption. Need I say more...

[@jonathanleblanc2140]

William Clegg there are so many ways, as signoguns has said. For one thing, you ask “what is so threatening” about a media “owned and controlled by the nation.” Well, again I ask, have you never heard of TASS? Pravda? Volkischer Beobachter? There is A LOT that is threatening about that. Malevolent in fact. Also, you seem to think that a “democratically elected team of people running [the media]” would be a good idea, but if you think about it for a minute, it isn’t so much. This group would then be subject to the same political forces and political issues as any other democratically elected group (Parliament, Local Councils, Congress etc) ; i.e., they would become politicians. One year the Labour politicians would win control of the newspapers, another year the Tories would win control. Whoever is popular at the moment would control the media. That’s no way to run a free press.

[@williamclegg8787]

@@jonathanleblanc2140 To answer your question, No I have not heard of those newspapers. But in todays Russia I would question the validity of the title Pravda (meaning Truth). You see, Russia is purported to be a Communist country, but it does have all the traits of a Stalinist Bureaucracy..ie those who have and those who have not. So based on that fact, how can one believe the assumed independance of it's medias...by name only they are existing, but what and who are they really serving? In a true democratic society voices are heard according to their popularity, so why are the majority suppressed? Why is vast opposition to change poorly reported or not reported. The wealthy tycoons have their strands rooted in everything ( regardless of it's title) unless it's a workers press media, and then it is challenged, or railroaded even controlled with publishing laws etc etc. Those currently in control of society will produce anything to keep their positions of power, even if it means allowing workers to have their own newspapers. But having said that, it does not indicate a free society, free to develop and flourish. Here in the UK I can name you many media outlets tht support workers...they are produced for and by workers...however their popularity is stifled by all manner of hurdles created by Capitalist society. When the populace is fully educated with facts and not half-truths, allowed to speak their minds in a democratic way through debate and not brainwashed, then, and only then will there be decisive leaps forward to a better society for all.

[@frantreml7795]

Sounds like Momentum now

[@ThekaiserXD]

Momentum could only dream. The Militant Tendency fought and won agaisnt Thatchers cuts in the 1980s. Were is momentums efforts to stop austerity now?

[@ianedwards60]

Won't be missed

[@stormytempest3907]

@@ThekaiserXD Hello, Yes Thatcher was BRUTAL! but Derrick and Co meant well but believe you me things went on with that crowd.... Not Nice.

[@vacatiolibertas]

15:34 I gotta say: I love the Militant guy's confidence in his program.

[@th8257]

He's absolutely nuts

[@MrGoneTroppo]

Power to the people comrades!

[@chrisparnham]

I remember spending 2 years of my life battling these guys in the LPYS in Hastings. They were absolutely bonkers and as boring as fuck, - totally relentless though really believed it all lol.

[@MarineAqua45]

@@chrisparnham Yes & anyone who gives an interview with a poster of Lenin in the background,is a fruit-loop & undemocratic. Communism is as authoritarian as fascism & those types that were found in militant & in momentum nowadays,will often go off on one,defending their crap causes.

[@MrGeekGamer]

That's because he's mentally ill.

[@Joe-og6br]

Christ seeing people defend Militant even after Labour lost 2019 election with the worst result in generations. I am not sure who here is a Labour member, but when I was knocking on doors the amount of people who said they would normally vote Labour but for many reasons could never vote for Corbyn. And if you want to blame the media, you are basically calling the voters stupid and people hate that.

[@kevinlongman007]

And now we have Momentum.

[@ianedwards60]

now you've got the tories, enjoy being poor

[@dulcesolum]

Mostly thanks to Momentum.

[@sjewitt22]

@@dulcesolum I bet it'll be their fault if Starmer loses, you probably think it was their fault when Milliband lost.

[@dulcesolum]

lol no

[@annprince5298]

I went out curiosity to one o their meetings isat there listening guess who came on the platform but David Plunkett a labour member of parliament he stated that he would give support n to the militant tendency ( he was blind and had a guide dog he eventually became a Minister.

[@grahamlive]

Yeah. Alistair Darling was involved with this movement as well. He eventually became Chancellor of the Exchequer.

[@jogzyg2036]

"Thats entirely untrue nobody would ever vote us out of office... It's clear we wouldn't be voted out... It wouldn't be necessary... We would nationalise the press" Not suspicious at all.

[@MaterLacrymarum]

Nationalize the press, rather than pay them backhanders to control the message? Yeah, that worked out.......

[@cryingonion2]

We have ended up with one party now anyway: Rishi and Keir: 2 cheeks of the same arse, as George Galloway eloquently puts it. "If voting changed anything they would abolish it" - Ken Livingstone's book. Funny that the Tories are now expelling people from their party who stand up for their constituents, ie Andrew Brigden. What goes around comes around

[@Lamilton82828]

Demonising militant with out actually showing that any of there ideas are wrong

[@finshenton7458]

‘At the same time nationalise the press’

[@JDWilly]

​@@finshenton7458 You already live in a corporate state, represented by monolithic corporate press. How would a nationalized press be any worse?

[@williamclegg8787]

@@JDWilly You have answered your own question in your comment..corporate state, corporate press, owned and run by ??? private profit..

[@kevinlongman007]

Militant are not the Labour Party...simple as that.

[@th8257]

Are you on this planet?

[@jonmortermusic]

15:47 Ted Grant...my god...words fail me

[@AlexandraBryngelsson]

Ted Grant was a hero and we will complete his legacy in britain and the world!

[@Fort976]

He was a total loon whose ideas fortunately are stone-dead.

[@henfencey5751]

I agree. Communism will win!

[@petermills542]

Dream on !! 🤣

[@Ashley-1917]

Long live the IMT!

[@MartinBlack]

a 'nationalised press', now that sounds like a GREAT idea!

[@channelfogg6629]

'a 'nationalised press', now that sounds like a GREAT idea!' - What, as opposed to on owned by millionaires? Doyou realy think that is a 'free' press?

[@rfvtgbzhn]

He wanted to nationalize it under worker's control. And yes, I think this would be a great idea, much better than the current situation in which it is controlled by capitalists.

[@CanadianMonarchist]

@@rfvtgbzhnSo it would be under the control of elite Labour supporters rather than elite Tory supporters?

[@rfvtgbzhn]

@@CanadianMonarchist No, it would be under the control of the people who work there.

[@CanadianMonarchist]

@@rfvtgbzhn Was Pravda under the control of the journalists and printers or under the control of the Central Committee?

[@petermills542]

Derek Hatton!! 🤡🤡😂😂🤣🤣

[@mikemines2931]

Delivering redundancy notices by taxi!

[@ianedwards60]

You'll be expected to read books? Terrible!! All of the book?

[@psyskeptic9979]

15:35 this answer has to scare anyone. To think that in the 1980s I was vulnerable to this rhetoric. Socialism has never really worked.

[@JerzyFeliksKlein]

It shouldn't, the communists always thought that way. If the plan failed to achieve the objective then it meant the society was not up to the task (not that the plan was shite in the first place).

[@psyskeptic9979]

@@JerzyFeliksKlein exactly, Karl popper was one of the first and best at explaining how Marx became unfalsifiable

[@chestikov2011]

They say people become more right wing as they get older.And more senile

[@chestikov2011]

@@psyskeptic9979 A party popper could explain the reasons why Capitalism benifits fewer and fewer people as BIG CAPITALISM MONOPOLIES kill the smaller capitalists. High street shop chains going bust explains this

[@psyskeptic9979]

@@chestikov2011 most people outside big corporations are doing just fine. I'm typing on a microsoft computer and I love the guys. thanks microsoft

[@eleanorclub]

0:43 Man, that's a special type of comb-over -- from the base of the neck to the front o' the head🤓

[@dwadlad]

Unelectable then, unelectable now.

[@liamneeson9628]

Where we are now with a smiley face.

[@Natashahoneypot]

Came here for Derek hatton could not find

[@lewisclark1122]

RIP Frank Field

[@xm3405]

The organisation that became Jeremy Corbyn's Momentum

[@cjmillsnun]

Not quite. Militant is now the socialist party, however Momentum is scarily similar

[@xm3405]

@@cjmillsnunA lot of people who worked at Militant now work for Momentum, they are extremely similar, it's a recreation.

[@robbibittybob20]

Momentum is controlled by lansman, who threw corbyn under the bus

[@bloodboughtbigphilr8266]

Completely different origins and ideologies. Momentum came from the London Labour left more reformist, inclined towards identity politics and not necessarily Marxist. Militant and their successors are doctrinaire Marxist-Leninists committed to class struggle and worldwide socialist revolution.Momentum operate within the Labour Party and could be said to be a faction more than 'a party within a party'. Militant's successors now operate outside.

[@TimmyTheTinman]

His momentum to lose in a landslide…

[@Cottam89]

actually scary as hell that this is happening now within labour in 2019 and its getting stronger and stronger

[@hickster222]

With any luck labour won't get anywhere near power for decades. They really are the pits.

[@Jmcinally94]

@@hickster222 Tories have been doing great work since you posted this huh? 😂😂😂

[@carrauntoohil86]

​@@hickster222Yea, we're doing so well as a country with the Conservatives. Rampant inflation, homelessness trebled in towns and cities since 2010, public services under staffed/underpaid and constantly striking, major banks leaving the city post Brexit. Let's hope for another two decades of this at least and see how much further we can fall as a country and society

[@svejkfan2220]

Hatton banging on about Socialism in front of pictures of Lenin. Ask those people in Eastern Europe who experienced socialism under a government started by Lenin how they feel about it.

[@dunny61a]

Svejk fan that’s very small minded as Russians lived in India style conditions at the period of the overthrow of capitalism. So it’s completely nonsense to believe socialism caused the breadlines. The 1000 year feudal rule caused that. Don’t believe the Tory hype

[@svejkfan2220]

Czechs and Slovaks did not. Hungarians did not. Nor did those in the East of Germany. I don't vote Tory and I think they are wrecking the country. However, I am not naive about what happened under the Soviet bloc - no one allowed to leave, Stalin moving whole tribes of people to Siberia, enforced famines in Ukraine, secret police and so on. Extremism is never good - on either political side.

[@MarineAqua45]

Svejk fan These days that Communist bastard is living the life of Reilly as a capitalist businessman in Cyprus. How hypocritical of him.

[@MarineAqua45]

Neill Dunne Lol everyone knows what the soviets did to their own people including the working-class. Yes they made life a bit better, but they were the same oppressive state as before the revolution. Capitalism works in a limited form.

[@MarineAqua45]

madcapoperator Labour should have adopted the German methods of employment & politics in the 60s & possibly we’d still have industry today? Not this ridiculous in-fighting with Trotskyists against sensible policies.

[@brightonduder]

Lenin pic behind Derek

[@derekgriffiths3368]

Labour did great stuff look at croxteth and norris green huyton lol

[@kevinlongman007]

Militant did nothing for Liverpool.

[@PeacockRhino]

And yet to this day they vote for more of the same. The city is a lost cause.

[@sratus]

Sitting there with a big picture of Lenin behind him, Jesus, young Derek wasn't very bright.

[@paulanthony5274]

You're

[@iVenge]

Od Derek isn’t very bright either.

[@hgbarmann]

I didn’t see Jesus behind him,!.....Lenin and Jesus are poles apart on policy...

[@spartacusforlife1508]

Eddie roderick😂😂😂😂 had a minute kiosk in croxteth. Became a councillor and somehow started owning shops just over the road from his kiosk.

[@WilliamViets]

In 1981, many people foresaw what government led by Jeremy Corbyn would be like.

[@williamclegg8787]

I think you mean they were brainwashed by the media into what it would be like under J.C....

[@williamclegg8787]

@Nidgi It people like yourself who have the fear of a real socialist leader. You see, in spite of the media lies and smears, there are a great number of people who can see right through all of it, and vote accordingly. People never saw J.C as a Messiah, nor did they see a society being created by him. The many, not the few would build the society they see as fair, and this is what th media didnt like...a challenge to the all injustices in society. J.C. was simply elected to be the leader of a movement that was created long before many of us were born, and which should have but never delivered the aspirations of the people. But here in J.C was someone we could all believe in to make steps towards a better society. Yes, those much better off would have been asked to pay more, and of course this did not go down well, they would rather spend their wealth on backing muti-million pound media moguls producing their reknown lies, and smears. They did this with the late Tony Benn, and others too. If a fair a ent society is what your afraid of then don't expect a cure for your fears anytime soon. The struggle will continue for generations to come until society changes.

[@williamclegg8787]

@Nidgi Well, give me examples of other alternatives that have been offered to benefit the many and not the few.

[@th8257]

@@williamclegg8787 or perhaps it's actually you that's a brainwashed loon

[@th8257]

@@williamclegg8787 that's absolutely naive, destructive utopian nonsense. The fact that you talk about Tony Benn, a man who did more than pretty much anyone else to destroy the Labour Party and keep Thatcher in power, underlines how out of touch with reality you are.

[@paulrimmer2853]

Scousers have bummed off the Central Govt. for decades.

[@raymondsawyer8626]

Thatcher hammered Liverpool , Michael hesletine intervened and his efforts played a big part in new development, he was given Freeman of the city, and the late Duke of Westminster's contribution was enormous, Liverpool is a vibrant city,it doesn't sponge of central government

[@paulrimmer2853]

@@raymondsawyer8626 Liverpool receives 80% of its income off Central Govt. Labour turned Liverpool into a useless socialist fiefdom. Thatcher actually saved us.

[@ScorchedEarth-cd5cl]

That's why the majority of them vote labour

[@anthonymitchell8893]

bummed ? rimmer. why do u feel like a trip to the public urinals hold on hardly any left these days 😂🤣🤣😂😁😎😍😘😗😎

[@anthonymitchell8893]

@@paulrimmer2853 she closed down the cottaging industry thats for sure she certainly smashed the toilet traders convention

[@haydoncooper3744]

They were all a bunch of students who never grew up and continued to be students.

Long time ago in a galaxy far far away...

[@esspaul]

Not that far away ...

[@leooostveen4435]

we have groin support ...

[@lyxnick]

Wasn't alive in the early 80s so never really understood the whole Militant/Derek Hatton/Kinnock, etc, thing during the 80s. After watching this, it's clear why Labour were out of power until 1997.

[@sparkspark833]

It's clear how Labour still don't have any answers...

[@gazriley624]

8.28 the kirkdale area? nope! that is Tuebrook

[@wamblecropt7506]

I thought that. That's the church on Rocky Lane, isn't it?

[@mookie2637]

Ted Grant was a frothing monstrosity. Thank God for Frank Field (who I bump into every week or so).

[@stevenpaulgoulding]

Liverpool’s loony left.

[@liamfraserobrien]

The arrogance is amazing from the militant side.

[@aaddy5157]

Dean Gaffney

[@kevinlongman007]

What about him?

[@sparkspark833]

How do I join?

[@theuber1337]

This is Militant today: socialistalternative.net/ We're doing good work around the world. I'm in the US section.

[@SunflowerSocialist]

Marx Matters didn’t SAlt Solit from CWI?

[@Zayden.]

@@theuber1337 I thought IMT is the descendent... US section: socialistrevolution.org/

[@wjw8417]

Fuck Socialism, fuck marxism, fuck communism

[@nigeh5326]

William Wallace so you won’t be liking ‘the Communist Manifesto’ and reviewing it on Amazon? 😀

[@jackfitzpatrick8173]

The East Germans...the North Koreans...and the Venezuelans can tell you what happens when clowns like these gain power.

[@deeeeznuts]

The DPRK was richer than the south until the collapse of the Soviet Union

[@freeworldorder9558]

Yeah... then the USA declares a trade embargo and pressure everyone else to follow it and bring that country some "democracy"...

[@henfencey5751]

Even with the clear spin against the Militant, what with all the drop-outs they interviewed complaining about being expected to read what whatnot, this documentary goes hard. I love seeing Ted and the old generation of comrades arguing from the heart. 9:50 This man is literally complaining that Militant is using its popularity to legitimately win using democratic channels. And yet they accused Militant of being anti-democratic. It's super funny

[@briandelaney9710]

Marxist Leninists had no business in the Labour Party

[@margarethoughton3577]

BAD MAN,brought Liverpool to it's Knees! Him & his cronies! 😡😡😡

[@johnbull9195]

They would nationalise the press then the electorate wouldn't vote them out!?!

[@williamclegg8787]

John Bull, Please explain to me how a Nationalised Press / Media would affect how people vote? Do you mean like it does now but added bells and whistles to protect it's backers?? Or does the very thought of accountabilty, transparancy, and truth present a problem?

[@johnbull9195]

@@williamclegg8787 No, it's the thought of the governent being in charge of what is printed and broadcast which presents a problem. It might be alright when you're lot got in but when the the Tories got in you'd be the first to complain.

[@williamclegg8787]

@@johnbull9195 Yes we would, as we always have done because capitalist press produces lies, smears, and builds up who it wants, then brings them crashing down when it suits...all in the interest of private profit....so yes we do challenge who runs owns and controlls the press, and in who's interest it is produced.. But you see a socialist plan of production would not allow media to be full of Bull, pardon the pun. Seems to me your scared of opening the books and having an accountable press, elected democratically,,,runn by the people, for the people....

[@johnbull9195]

@@williamclegg8787 The capitalist system allows different perspectives to be published and not a State monopoly on information. It's seems to me you have a rather naive judgement about what the State would do with control over the press.

[@williamclegg8787]

@@johnbull9195 I'm far from naive about what I believe a Socialist State would do with a planned economy, which you loosely call 'control'. Right now it is controlled but you fail to admit it. Different perspectives indeed? unless they are truthfull, challenging, and factual, then they are often not published, or if they are, it's only because they have to allow some appeasment. You cannot plan something you have no control over, so how how can you control something if you dont own it? You seem to think that a socialist planned economy would very restrictive...indeed that would be far from the truth. I'm sure your ready to demonstrate to me numerous examples of what it would be like using other misnamed socialist / communist economies...but are they really what you think real socialsts want? of course not. The public wants to know, and deserves to know the truth about its leaders, the country they live in, not lies and half truths.....Capitalism is for private profit, not for those who sell their labour to survive an ever failing economy.

[@Z_F-P_22]

15:35 ted grant what a speaker

[@JerzyFeliksKlein]

delusional?

[@roddyteague6246]

You can pick up the South African twang when he got into full flow. Born & raised in Germiston on the East Rand.

[@richmotroni]

And Labour did not return to power for another 16 years. Way to go militants.

[@tomgibson6801]

nope that was due to the falklands, the right of the party backstabbing foot and forming the sdp and kinnock being a twat

[@tomgibson6801]

corbyn* socialism worked in britain until that bitch thatcher ripped the country apart

[@tomgibson6801]

wow one strike. nothing compared to the misery of the 80s. you love thatcher and hitler. hahaha lol

[@tomgibson6801]

hitler thatcher trump all useless cunts

[@tomgibson6801]

at least i'm not a fucking nazi

[@socialist7736]

When I see these labour bureaucrats talking about “exposing Militant” I can’t help thinking about the old refrain: “though cowards flinch and traitors sneer, we’ll keep the red flag flying here”

[@horseradishpower9947]

@LDN EDD They did keep it up, and we sorted them out! 😁

[@richysarney44]

Hows that working out for you now Comrade? lmao Keep goose stepping to that shitty 'red flag' tune lol The far left aren't getting near to 10 Downing Street.

[@malcomhyde6929]

Well said.

[@paulwier4963]

I don't work 4 nothing 2 give it so 2 give it away 2 socialism I give money to charity no commiuts

[@jayeevee1693]

Frank Field - always a hero

[@uktravel8341]

He hasn't achieved a lot of what he stood for in politics.

[@tomgibson6801]

always a sad tory plant twat

[@RevolutionarySM]

Respect to all those Militant socialists who fought for a British workers party. They were expelled and betrayed by the late 1980's. Labour became a neoliberal austerity party that is to blame for the huge inequality that today exists. Yes, the Conservatives also share blame, but it was Tony Blair and Labour who ruled between 1997 and 2010.

[@carolyntreadwell6298]

The PLP/centralists/Blairites of the Labour party also ruined Corbyn's chances at leading our country - They have a lot to answer for, they have let us all down!

[@carolyntreadwell6298]

@Paulo ChanDo you know what regime change is, and how it is implemented?

[@JDWilly]

@Paulo Chan Define what you mean by "worked". You need to consider things in their proper historical context. The Russian revolution marked a sudden transition from what was essentially feudalism. Lenin saved millions by pulling Russia from WW1. The soviet union drastically closed wealth divide, increased literacy, sent the first man, woman, animal, and satellite to space, improved life expectancy (which in Russia dropped and never recovered after the transition to capitalism). This happened in the midst of WW2 in which Russia suffered far worse than the capitalist countries. Does that fit your definition of "worked"? Or maybe your definition of "worked" is the UK during the industrial revolution: children working 14 hour days in factories and mines, 6 days a week? Is that a functioning system by your definition? Or maybe it's the US installing dictatorships/backing mass murders/arming terrorist groups in South America, Iran, Afghanistan, Chile, Indonesia, etc., in order to stop democratically elected socialism? Or bombing Vietnamese peasant farmers "back to the stone age" to prevent democratic socialism (and LOSING)? Are these examples of capitalism working and socialism failing? Is it a billion of the worlds population living in slums due to lack of work? Is it the worldwide falling rate of profit and subsequent stagnation of wages that Marx correctly predicted? Be exact or don't speak at all.

[@JDWilly]

@Paulo Chan Didn't see your response until now. Which is fine I suppose because you spent all that space addressing none of my points anyway. "last I checked hegemony wasn't a feature of capitalism" HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA Just coincidence that capitalist countries have consistently maintained dominance by installing totalitarianism elsewhere I suppose. It's ironic that your judgement of socialism is that it becomes "totalitarian", that it has never existed etc, and yet capitalism in its mythical "non hegemonic" form has literally never existed - It's entire functioning depends on violently suppressing democratic socialism. You don't even have to be a communist to have at least read SOME history. I know capitalists who aren't thick enough to deny this. Unreal. You'd think you'd have learned something after spending so much time in this comment section. Anyway, socialists don't deny the failures of the 20th century. There were for sure failures. If you dislike genocide though I've got bad news about the system you support.

[@JDWilly]

@Paulo Chan Okay so first, to make things easier, I'm going to filter out the straw men so that it's not just you arguing with yourself: "Capitalism sure is terrible" - I didn't say that "a workers paradise" - I didn't say socialism would be paradise "Seeing as America and the capitalist world in general are just sooooo awful" - I didn't say that So that's most of the content of your replies out the way with. Now let's go over your criticisms of previous attempts at socialism: "breadlines" - have appeared in capitalist societies "genocide" - have been frequently conducted by, or directly supported/funded by, capitalist societies - particularly against budding socialist societies - strange! "labor camps" - have been installed by capitalist societies "totalitarianism" - frequently installed, or directly supported/funded by, capitalist societies So it seems like you have a lot of problems with capitalism, weird. But of course you support the mythical non hegemonic "free market" that has never existed, not the real capitalism. So you're consistently nonsensical at least - there's a logic pertaining to a fairytale world. Anyway if you want you can go back and address the actual points I made in my first comment, I can't be bothered reiterating them. As for your business, without knowing what it is it's absurd for me to hazard a guess at what would happen to it under socialism. Is it something worthwhile that people would do without being forced to by money fetishism? If so then great, people will still do that thing whether or not they're making money for someone else in the process. Would you still be able to extract money from the labour of others? No.

[@johnhouldingloyal]

These Militants almost brought our city ti it's knees.

[@williamclegg8787]

Can you please evidence this publicly?

[@ianedwards60]

Nothing to do with Thatcher then?

[@ianedwards60]

Have you ever heard of Margaret Thatcher?

[@oakashthorn5714]

@@williamclegg8787 yes it was a fucking shit hole

[@thewinnertakesitall4384]

@@oakashthorn5714 and still is

[@ow4744]

Gotta love Ted Grant - "But we CAN'T FAIL". How many snake oil salesmen have said that over the years? Definitely the kind of person that inspired Brecht's line about the people forfeiting the confidence of the government.

[@rfvtgbzhn]

I doubt that Brecht was inspired by people like Ted Grant. Brecht was a Communist.

[@MaterLacrymarum]

Well this is a great example of how media was used to put fear into people. This stuff is pretty shocking. Besides, we all know how this turned out, and none of their worst case scenarios came to be.

[@elisorrells5314]

You say this about militant labor, but do you say this when they said the same thing about the British Movement, the DUP, or Enoch Powell?

[@MaterLacrymarum]

@@elisorrells5314 They weren't the subject of this video. If you listen to the River of Blood speech, I don't think it can be said that none of it came to pass.

[@tonymcmahon_historybear]

Ted Grant lets the cat out of the bag when he says "there wouldn't be a counter-revolution" - whoops, lol.

[@carolebarker2195]

Lol! You can see Peter Taaffe squirming uncomfortably next to him when he said it! Probably thinking of elbowing him in the ribs!

[@wallacepearse]

The Jewish Ted Grant aka Issac Blank leading the Irish rebels of Mulhearn and Taafe. He reminds me of Joe Higgins, former leader of the Irish branch of Militant.

[@joeowenstalkingsense4439]

Shaun Underwood Ive researched Ted Grant and he was a Jewish South African. In fact, his father brought him to South Africa after fleeing Tsarist Russia. He then left South Africa with two other Jews (Ralph Lee and Max Basch) and headed for London.

[@ScorchedEarth-cd5cl]

Kicked out of 109 locations but never their fault.

[@kevinlongman007]

Weeding out the Militant tendancy was the best thing Neil Kinnock ever did.

[@williamclegg8787]

I wonder who he did that for? It certainly wasn't in the best interest of the Labour Party. And did it make a difference, or change peoples opinions about the direction Labour should be taking..NO...Indeed it made the grass roots more resolute, as the party drifted to the right.

[@kevinlongman007]

@@williamclegg8787 Well it led to the reforms Blair and Brown brought in with 'New' Labour...they knew the party needed to change. And I don't get why people say Labour moved to the right. The minimum wage, lgbt and race relations legislation and increases in spending on state education and the NHS are not what I would call right wing policies...

[@williamclegg8787]

@@kevinlongman007 The party were being led into a right wing direction but it did not change the views of those who were supporting left wing policies. I think Kinnock was hoping the witchhunt would cleanse the party of the left ideas that were being supported, but it failed. There will always be exchanges of ideas, and those ideas will have different effects and support over time. You only have to look at the vast changes in manifesto to see how the struggles of the working class have had to be addressed by resolute actions to change the laws, and social changes to accomodate pressure from below. You said " The minimum wage, lgbt and race relations legislation and increases in spending on state education and the NHS " The minimum wage was, and still is severley flawed. LGBT and Race Relations still has a long way to go, which is a 'poor result' after all this time. Increases in state education is laughable, with schools struggling to finance books and other materials to fulfill the needs of the children in state education. Not to mention the deterioration of numbers of teachers, and an ever increasing workload. The NHS being incrementally privatised by backdoor deals, and starved of cash, whils't hitting those who run the service such as doctors and nurses ( charging them to park at work).. Are these the best examples you can find to show how a right wing Labour leadership was correct back then, and what Labour is doing for it's voters now ?

[@kevinlongman007]

@@williamclegg8787 Well John Smith, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown were not exactly far left and they all became leader after Kinnock. Even Red Ed is not what I would call far left. Also all the issues I highlighted were achievements under Labour. If things have stalled or gone backwards that is because the Conservatives and the Coalition have been in Government for the last 10 years.

[@lenwilkinson672]

@@williamclegg8787 These called Labour Party don’t know left or right.They don’t know their arse from their elbow. Blair ruined Labour.There are no Labour M.P.s of the calibre of the 1945 Labour government. The lot who call themselves Labour aren’t worth a Swiss bank.😊😊

[@vincentreynolds2127]

Tony MulSquirm.

[@Genetulsa1]

Too many commercials

[@raymondsawyer8626]

They built new houses around Liverpool for working class people at the time

[@danielbrown8556]

@Gary Dodgson that’s not what militant did though

[@th8257]

They gave council jobs to their mates. They were rotten and corrupt

[@letsgoraiding]

With money they didn't have.

[@BossySwan]

Derek Twatton

[@wedduck]

Still going strong and getting stronger.

[@oakashthorn5714]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 don’t look at the election results lad

[@wedduck]

@@oakashthorn5714 If you think it's all about election results in the capitalist system you need to think again lad. We're a global movement.

[@lecheflan4777]

Derek Hatton was, still is, so fucking hot.

[@jesselivermore2291]

I can imagine it now, a communist uk, long lines to get your free Russian shoes, your Cuban sugar, your Nicaraguan coffee ration, what a great idea lol.

[@anthonymitchell8893]

long lines for your government approved needle craft hope you have the mark of the beast ?🤣🤣🤣😂😁😎

[@zippymufo9765]

These people needed some free helicopter rides.

[@Red-Revolution708]

My only hope is that Militant is still strong amongst our Comrades.

[@unitedbolts8053]

How to own the system.

[@stevefc]

Eddie Roderick Claiming Militants aims and objectives are not in accordence with what the Labour party was set up for. Until removed by The Blairite right of the Party every membership card of Party outlined their objective as in Rule 4 clause 4 which reads as follows...To secure for the workers by hand or by brain the full fruits of their industry and the most equitable distribution thereof that may be possible upon the basis of the common ownership of the means of production, distribution and exchange, and the best obtainable system of popular administration and control of each industry or service. Its the political careerist who have abandoned Labours original aims and objectives for their own personal gain, lets hope the emergence of a credible opposition to the Tories continues and that we see in the not to distant future a fulfilment of labours original objectives and a country run for the benefit of the majority, instead one run for that of a few, We have nothing to lose but our chains.

[@thecrow4840]

Ashame Corbyn sold out over Brexit.

[@hodgheg]

No, they abandoned clause 4 because 100 years of history demonstrates that nationalisation isn't 'common ownership', it's just 'government monopoly' which is the worst of all worlds. Check out Venezuela to see how well it works.

[@th8257]

The term "loony left" was popular in those days. I see it still applies to some people.

[@thethinker8805]

Mk1 plonker

[@robbryant52]

Ted grant what's that on his head

[@ScorchedEarth-cd5cl]

Yarmulke

[@chestikov2011]

If i was PM i would suspend parliament but who would vote for that ?

[@johnmorrow7080]

So biased could be a BBC piece

[@CanadianMonarchist]

They’re interviewing far-left people who make far-left points that would disturb the average voter. How is that biased? There’s a reason the left split in the 80s.

[@TimesFM4532]

Thank god we got rid if then twice

[@Robbiewa-bg4lu]

Momentum the son of Militant

[@factorylad5071]

Wrong. Newton never said momentum but he did say momenta. Being Militant means being right from the start.

[@edmund184]

3:11 old Marxists classics, what sort of Huck Finn, Nicholas Nickleby, Uncle Tom's Cabin?

[@chasleask8533]

Don't forget "Duck Soup"

[@edmund184]

"Whatever it is I'm against it!" Marx

[@stephennoonan8417]

7:49

[@xleplex7070]

0:49 By an Enabling Act. Germany: sounds, familiar...

[@rfvtgbzhn]

It seems to have a different and more general meaning in the UK: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enabling_act#United_Kingdom

[@stuartcunningham7666]

RCP

[@ThekaiserXD]

Proud to be a member of the of Militant Scotland successor, Socialist Party Scotland. The cause for socialism is the cause against austerity, against unemployment, against zero hr contracts, against poverty etc. If you also wanna fight against this then join the socialist party!

[@onana2491]

🥀🥀🥀

[@stuartboswell3103]

He bankrupt Liverpool rest my case

[@lameduck3630]

What a waste of everyone's time.

[@GeorgejamesB01]

Militant like momentum grooms young people, it’s not only wrong but disgusting

[@alexmckee4683]

What do you think the "Young Conservatives" are?

[@jonathanhadley2555]

What would be the Militants point of view on the pandemic/plandemic, as the Right-Wing Nationalists seem to think that its all to do with the Kalergi plan?