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The reconquest of Labour means a mass-movment insurgency
Labour has a long history of nourishing then nullifying socialism in Britain — inside and outside the party itself. But unlike its European social democrat siblings, its link to the unions means it is still an tool for the working class — so long as we act, argues NICK WRIGHT

AS THE left quit a meeting of Labour’s NEC over Starmer’s continuing purge we are reminded that left-right divisions in the working-class movement have a long history.

Matteo Renzi — the former leader of Italy’s Democratic Party (PD) and inspiration for a right-wing faction that split from it earlier this year — gave us last weekend an illuminating insight into the thinking of right-wing “social democrats” today.

To all round incredulity he tweeted: “In 2021 we will celebrate the anniversary of the Livorno split with a great event for many young people, where I will invite Tony Blair. Because the left is either reformist or loses and Joe Biden’s victory proves it.”

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