In Bristol, the pseudo left are helping the right

One of the most striking features of the election for the first elected Mayor of Bristol is the shameful role of the pseudo left during the campaign.

Two organisations describing themselves on the left are standing – Respect, and the Trade Union Socialist Coalition. Their candidates, Neil Maggs and Tom Baldwin, vie in the debates to occupy a space to the left of Labour. That this small electoral space is contested by two parties is itself an indictment of their approach.

Yet the real problem of the pseudo left in the campaign is the relentless hostility shown towards Labour, not matched by any pressure on parties and candidates whose election would reinforce Bristol’s existing elites and would ensure no progress to help working class people.

The real stakes in this election – in terms of who can realistically win – are a choice of Labour’s Marvin Rees on the one hand or one of three right wing alternatives. These alternatives – Tory Geoff Gollop, LibDem Jon Rogers and Bristol1st businessman George Ferguson – offer nothing but more of the same.

Take one obvious example, the living wage. Marvin Rees has made this a key commitment. He will make Bristol a living wage city, placing pressure for a city-wide living wage of £7.20 an hour. He will ensure that this is the new minimum for council staff and contractors. The others offer a variation on the theme of ‘no way’. Jon Rogers and his party voted down making Bristol a living wage city this March. The other two are opposed. Ferguson in particular has set out hardline arguments in the media to counter the arguments for the living wage, saying it will cost the council millions. Most of his arguments are no different to those made by Tories when the minimum wage was first proposed.

As with the living wage, so with other key debates in the election – such as affordable housing – Marvin Rees offers change and the other three offer more of the same that only acts in the interests of a few.

Unfortunately the pseudo left in this election cannot see the wood for the trees. Or perhaps they can, and they don’t care.

In the official debates Respect directs its fire almost entirely at Marvin Rees.  In debate after debate the ‘left’ attacks Labour, not the Tories or their various imitations. It cannot distinguish between a Labour candidate fighting for a living wage and more affordable homes, and three middle aged right wingers upholding the status quo.

Nor can they distinguish between a candidate who represents Bristol as it is for thousands, someone who had a tough upbringing in some of the most hard-pressed parts of the city on one side and a GP, and architect and an accountant on the other.

Marvin Rees will make history as the first mayor of a European city of African-Caribbean heritage. Respect prefer to attack him, not the right.

The pseudo left has not stumbled into this in the heat of the debates. It is a considered position. Try doing a word search in Respect candidate Neil Maggs’ Bristol Post article. You’ll find many mentions of Labour, all attacks – but not a single mention of the Tory party, the Liberal Democrat party, or the luxury homes designer George Ferguson.

The pseudo left gives every impression in this election of fighting the wrong enemy and not caring if Bristol gets a middle aged rich right wing white man.

Not only do they not care, they have gone as far as even inviting them into their administration should Respect win. Maggs has said he will establish a ‘rainbow coalition’ cabinet of the parties on the council if he is elected. Maggs and Respect appear to have no reservations about working with the parties of the present government.

The pseudo left should clarify if they are calling for a second preference vote for Marvin Rees or if they are so far gone that they don’t care if we get one of the old elite. Time for Respect and TUSC to put up or shut up – in the real choice in the election, who do they believe should win?

In this election the pseudo left helps the right wing, and even invites them into its fantasy cabinet. The labour movement and the electorate should reject them on polling day.