It is a measure of Corbyn’s vanity to claim inflated role fighting apartheid

THE defence used by supporters of Jeremy Corbyn that he cannot condone anti-semitism because of his track record of anti-racism needs to be tested. I was campaigns officer for the Anti-apartheid Movement (AAM) circa 1988-93. I say from the outset if I see that timehonoured photo of Mr Corbyn being arrested on the non-stop picket of South Africa House one more time I will scream.

It is not that the picket did not make a contribution to raising the consciousness of British people about the nature of the apartheid state but that is not the whole story.

The picket was organised by the appropriately named City of London Anti-apartheid Group (CLAAG) which in turn was controlled by the ultraleftist Revolutionary Communist Group (RCG). The tactics of mobilising solidarity for the struggle against apartheid was widely discussed in the AAM. The idea that the London-based picket should be the focus of the AAM’S Uk-wide activities was rejected time and time again. Of course tactics were not the main consideration for the RCG in putting forward this proposal. It was typical ultra-leftist grandstanding as they wanted to demonstrate that the leadership of AAM was not sufficiently militant in opposing apartheid in order to take it over.

I am sure readers of The Daily Telegraph may feel they are entering an alien world of intra-left infighting. But they should recall that the AAM was a broad-based movement supported by most political parties, including sections of the Conservative Party, the Church, local authorities and more groups besides. The RCG was a sectarian group opposing apartheid but ultimately using the struggle to seek new cadres for its so-called revolutionary organisation.

‘I can’t remember any meaningful Anti-apartheid Movement campaign fronted by the Labour leader’

It was an unfortunate pattern of the time that many ultra-leftist groups sought to exploit the struggle in the same way. A lot of my time was spent explaining to well-meaning individuals why these groups should not be supported. Apart from this the RCG actively disrupted the work of the AAM.

I can say authoritatively that Mr Corbyn was at best a passive supporter of the AAM’S work in Parliament. I cannot recall any meaningful campaign which he fronted.

It is a measure of his politics that he chose to support this group over the activities of the AAM.

It is a measure of the psychology of Mr Corbyn that he would allow his supporters to make unfounded claims on his behalf as to his role in fighting apartheid.

And it is a measure of the vanity of Mr Corbyn that he would claim an inflated role in the struggle when far, far greater servants of the struggle have maintained their dignity and humility as to their own role.

It represents the Trotskyist falsification of history.