Durham Miners Gala displays the internationalism Labour has forgotten
The Durham Miners Gala has been since 1879, and while the pits are gone the tradition continues.
Saturday’s Gala may be one of the hottest ever (temperature wise) but the days when the balcony of the County Hotel were filled with leading Labour Party figures are at least for the moment in abeyance.
Keir Starmer has only appeared once, virtually in 2020 and in the last couple of years has written a piece for the Northern Echo on the Gala. The most prominent MP on the balcony is Jeremy Corbyn. Also speaking after a week of Unite’s policy conference is the union’s GS Sharon Graham.
Perhaps the most notable speaker however is the Palestinian Ambassador. It is a striking focus on an issue, Palestine and Gaza, where Labour has a dreadful record. Words on Israel’s numerous atrocities in Gaza and elsewhere there have occasionally been, but few signs of action particularly on arms sales. David Lammy’s claim that Labour’s foreign policy is a mix of Ernie Bevin’s NATO driven pragmatism and Robin Cook’s ethical approach have not stood the test of time well.
The Miners Gala in focusing on Palestine is underlining a core labour movement principle, internationalism. The Durham Miners backed the fight against apartheid in South Africa, and supported those fighting Franco in the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s. It’s an important record of solidarity but probably not one will find an echo in Keir Starmer’s thinking
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