Comments on: An Interview with Mark Steel

By: Carnival of Socialism #39 « Infantile and Disorderly

Carnival of Socialism #39 « Infantile and Disorderly — Sat, 07 May 2011 21:12:36 +0000

[...] in The Telegraph, and Cruella Blog observes that sexism is flourishing in the world of tennis. The Third Estate has an exclusive interview with Mark Steel, addressing the Green Party [...]

By: modernity

modernity — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 13:05:27 +0000

An enjoyable and well-written interview.

The only problem I have with it, is that it’s rather apolitical.

Not that Steel doesn’t cover political topics, but rather the lessons that he draws from these debacles are rather apolitical, how exactly should the Left get around its “self-destruct button”?

and what of the SSP? what was the cause of its breakup?

How to explain away the Respect split, and wasn’t it all the more foreseeable, BEFORE it was lashed together?

I like Steel, but he still bares the hall marks of an SWPer….

By: Salman Shaheen

Salman Shaheen — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 20:42:33 +0000

That was my inferrence. I can only speak anecdotally, but if it seems to someone like me, who is very much turned on and tuned in, that the Left is wasting its time on pointless squabbles (just see the Socialist Unity discussion thread on this interview), then imagine how it must seem to people outside socialist politics who we need to speak to. It’s a turnoff. I think the split in Respect set us back years.

By: Dan

Dan — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:20:14 +0000

But that’s not true. Most of the energy of socialist parties is expended campaigning on issues. Sometimes it’s the right issues, sometimes the wrong ones, sometimes we’re tactically correct, sometimes we’re not. If this is what Mark is getting at he is wrong, and I think it is a deeply unfair caricature. When high profile individuals of the left use such stereotypes it does none of us any favours.

By: Salman Shaheen

Salman Shaheen — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:00:58 +0000

I agree that it’s not only the Greens doing this. However, most people on the street, worry about housing, healthcare, schools etc, don’t give a fig about the petty squabbles of socialist parties that should be speaking to them, not shouting at each other over absolutely nothing of any relevance. There are a lot of really good socialists out there doing really good work. But it seems most of the energy expended by socialist parties goes into attacking one another. And that, I think, is why we’re failing to win trust. I think that’s what Mark was getting at.

By: Dan

Dan — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:58:13 +0000

But the activity of socialists isn’t confined to building these sorts of fronts, and it’s wrong to imply it is. To polarise it in the way mark does, suggesting it is now only the greens taking up ‘bread and butter’ issues is unfair.

By: Salman Shaheen

Salman Shaheen — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 13:27:07 +0000

I get the feeling most of his bitterness was from the last few years. In that respect, I probably joined the SWP at the absolute worst time possible. Of the decades he spent in the SWP before that he has only positive things to say and I don’t for a second doubt that if he had his time over, he’d do it all again.

By: Left Luggage

Left Luggage — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 13:11:51 +0000

A really good interview. Interesting that Mark seems to have such a lot of bitterness towards the SWP. He makes some good observations about Left strategy that his followers should take on board.

We’ve put a little post up commenting on the interview if anyone’s interested: http://theleftluggage.wordpress.com/2009/06/23/interesting-insights-from-mark-steel/

Left Luggage

By: Salman Shaheen

Salman Shaheen — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 13:09:44 +0000

I think socialists are still taking up the issues. But by building large fronts that quickly fall apart and leave the issues rotting by the roadside, it only harms our credibility. Globalise Resistance anyone?

By: Jim Jay

Jim Jay — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 12:30:32 +0000

Excellent interview. Well done Salman.