So it seems that the unite against terror statement has provoked a little discussion in the blogging community. It’s definitely worth reading the discussions at Jo’s and at Perfect, both the original and subsequent posts.

I find it all very interesting. On the one hand, I feel uncomfortable at the outright pro-war-ishness of some of the views of those who signed the statement. On the other, I feel outright frustration at the visceral anti-Labourism of some of those critical of UAT.

I’m still a member of the Labour party. It’s not easy, after the war, after everything, still being Labour. But I’m certain that the only way to create that equal, democratic, even socialist society which is our aim is through the Labour party.

But to do that means re-engaging not just the working class who feel that Labour doesn’t care about their issues anymore*, but also anti-war people who’ve given up on us as an engine for socialist change. I’m not advocating fighting every seat in the land, treating Muswell Hill as of much importance as Hackney – on the contrary, having fought OxWAb in May, I don’t think Labour candidates should do much more in non-heartland seats than turn up and smile. I am advocating a critical dialogue with non-organised (by which I mean not those in another fringe party) socialists outside Labour. I had hoped that LFIQ could do that, bringing together lefties inside and outside the party in a spirit of solidarity with the emerging Iraqi trade union movement, but maybe I’m wrong.

* NB - that “not just” might make you think that I think re-engaging the working class is an easy or a less important task – it’s not either of these things. Although we’ve had some great results recently in places like Becontree and Northfield Brook, where the Labour message was less about immigrants and more about quality of life, ending anti-social behaviour and improving housing and facilities, we’ve by no means cracked that one yet either. (Although I’m not going to say that just yet to the Oxford Labour campaign team, whose euphoria last night was so great that I really think we might soon see t-shirts emblazoned “were you up for Northfield Brook?”!)

UPDATE: Tim Worstall has pointed me towards this post by a guy going by the name of Lenin about the statement. Never calm, it rises in tempo to this disgraceful point:

I’m afraid I haven’t gone far enough. The Palestinians are right to fight the Israelis, and I support their being armed with the tanks and helicopters that their opponents have. The Iraqi resistance is right to fight the occupiers, and I support attacks on UK & US troops. The resistance in Chechnya is right to fight the Russians, and I support attacks on the Russian army. I am a supporter – nay, glorifier – of terrorism. Potentially, under new legislation, I could be locked up or deported – if only my skin were brown and my face bearded.