Classy, classy, classy

You may, or may not, be familiar with the delightful Lindsey German, SWP stalwart and 'Left List' candidate for London Mayor. After her infamous comments, when courting the votes of the Islamist far right, that gay rights shouldn't be a 'shibboleth' for the Left, she has, now the Respect experiment has failed, turned her back on her erstwhile Asian colleagues in a quite extraordinary manner:

"If white socialists had been elected in 2006 in Newham and Tower Hamlets (as they very nearly were) then the balance of forces and level of politics in those areas would have been raised." 

Not 'good socialists', you notice, or 'revolutionary socialists'. No, the word she chose - in a closely argued article, not on the spur of the moment in conversation - is 'white'.

The SWP is imploding over at Socialist Unity, as its Central Committee lash out at each other. Goodness knows what foul creature is slouching towards Bethlehem, out of the wreckage, to be born. But unless you have a tin ear to history, you won't like the sound of a white socialist workers party.