I have never heard of John Golding before, but found this book fascinating. It's an insight into the mind of one of the traditional right-wing Labour fixers. There is very little I would disagree with him about politically - pro-Europe, pro NATO, pro Public Ownership, but his approach to 'The Left' is so different from mine. Like many in the Labour Right, he sees the role of the party first and foremost to stop the Left from ever gaining power as it would be disastrous for the country. Which is fair enough, but then why be in a left-wing party? His assumption is that Labour belongs to him and people who think like him, and not to any socialists. I'm more of a social democrat than a socialist, but to me the party should be a broad church encompassing anyone that believes in democracy and socialism. Golding's argument is that 'Trot' entryists have a contempt for democracy and need to be smashed. What is clear though is that he also has a contempt for democracy and will use any trick, backroom deal, procedure or falsehood to subvert a majority decision if he doesn't agree with it, if it means keeping hold of power and keeping the Left out of it. So many parallels with today, where once again the Right are in complete control of the party. With a thumping parliamentary majority they have the ability to transform the country, but show no interest in doing so - once more the default is to keep the left out of power, that's all that matters.
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