RCP and CP in United Front¶
Core Argument¶
This chapter recounts a physical confrontation between fascists and anti-fascists at a Holborn Hall meeting organised by the ‘Peoples Party’ on 6 December, featuring the Duke of Bedford and former BUF leader John Beckett. The meeting represented the first open fascist propaganda activity since their suppression, and the labour movement responded. Of roughly 1,000 attendees, about 300 were in opposition, the remainder mostly fascists. After initial demagogic speeches attacking “alien financiers” and American economic domination, the meeting was disrupted when stewards admitted anti-fascists locked outside, including members of the Revolutionary Communist Party. A mass chant of “We don’t want fascism here!” drowned out the platform. Despite appeals for “free speech” from the fascists, the meeting was abandoned; the opposition sang The Internationale and occupied the platform. RCP members sold Socialist Appeal in the vestibule, the only opposition literature present despite a large CP fraction.
The chapter argues that this victory must not be overestimated. Fascism thrives on decaying capitalism; only if the working class fails to provide a socialist alternative will despairing middle-class elements turn to fascism in masses. Fascism cannot gain a mass base unless the working class suffers serious defeats, but reactionary middle-class elements hit by capitalist crisis will be attracted by fascist propaganda. With British capitalism heading for sharp crisis, unless the Labour government takes radical action to transform the system, there will be a fruitful field for fascist demagogy, especially among young men returning to miserable conditions educated in violence. Organisations like the ‘League of Ex-Service Men and Women’ making radical attacks on ‘alien financiers’ will tend to grow.
The chapter polemicises against the Labour government’s failure to implement real measures against capitalism. If Labour compromises socialism with small reforms and tinkering, the middle class will be used by capitalists to destroy the labour movement. The capitalists will finance fascists who blame the labour movement and Jews for capitalism’s crimes. The lessons of Italy and Germany are invoked as warnings. The chapter criticises the Communist Party for issuing no public call to demonstrate and the Daily Worker for not mentioning the meeting, despite rank-and-file CPers participating. It calls for organised, united opposition—picketing by all working-class parties and trade unions—to break fascist morale before they grow into a menacing threat.