Thread by @copscampaign

The #SpyCopsInquiry is back today, hearing from witnesses talking about being targeted by #SpyCops in 1970s London; squatting movement activist Piers Corbyn & anti-apartheid activist Ernest Rodker. We will be live tweeting (as will @tombfowler). Today will also be live streamed

https://twitter.com/ucpinquiry/status/1387324631447740418

@tombfowler We are now watching Mitting's pre-recorded video, warning us all about the Restriction Orders that apply to this #SpyCopsInquiry

@tombfowler You can read Piers Corbyn's witness statement on the @ucpinquiry website: ucpi.org.uk/wp-content/upl…

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry He moved to London in 1965 to study and the first demonstration he can remember attending in London was a CND march.

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry He was involved in many other campaigns and movements, and confirmed that he attended both anti-war demos in 1968.

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry He supported the VSC, and mobilised people and banners for demos, and maybe even did some stewarding, but was not a 'member' of the VSC.

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry He was asked if he remembered seeing any violence at these demos – according to Piers “I wouldn't say any violence was initiated by demonstrators. It was the police who were trying to stop people...” (from reaching the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square.

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry Talking about the organisers, he said "I wasn't one of those".
He described the IMG as “one of the most influential” groups involved in the VSC. He said the IMG's role, historically, was to mobilise people and make them aware of the issues.

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry He was asked about his involvement with other groups.

He said that the war in Vietnam was a “formative crisist for tens of thousands of young people at the time and I was one of them”

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry Piers became president of the student union, and then the Editor of London student newspaper ('the 'Senate') in around 1970.

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry He confirmed that the Spartacus League was part of the IMG, but that you could join it without joining the IMG – he said that people would be invited to join the IMG after they'd “proved their worth”.

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry We looked at a report about the Spartacus League [MPS-0732360], dated January 1972. This meeting took place at Corbyn's home in Rendle Street, as did other meetings. He didn't realise that undercovers were attending these meetings.

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry The IMG produced and sold a paper, the 'Red Mole' – it changed names a few times but this is the one he recalled.

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry Barr read from page 2 of the document – detailing a discussion about the 'Red Defence Group', and how the Notting Hill branch of the IMG could “take over, run and use the organisation for recruitment to the IMG.

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry Barr asked if this is something the IMG frequently did?

Piers pointed out that this report was authored by a spycop, and may be a reflection of his assumptions, and the police's own prejudices.

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry Piers said that he was “always interested in getting people to join in and stay active and make propaganda”.

He made the point that if these reports were less redacted, or he was supplied with photos, he might find it easier to recall the people and events of 50 years ago.

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry [UCPI 0000019654]. A report from June 1972 about a conference that took place in May. Piers was asked which category of attendee he would have fallen into – a delegate, a consultative delegate, an observer or a visitor?

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry Piers thinks he may have been a 'delegate'.
Barr noted that 'Visitors' couldn't take part in any votes – did this mean the conference was open to the public?
Piers said no, you had to be invited – either via a branch or someone else.

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry [UCPI156946] para 24 includes a report on a speech made by Surgitt.
Corbyn was asked if this was an accurate description of the speech and the atmosphere at the time. He said “maybe that description is a bit over the top” but “those types of things were said”

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry On page 4 (para 16) there was a mention of “fraternal greetings” from a Peruvian member of the Fourth International. Barr read out the report of this rabble-rousing Marxist.

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry According to Piers, “the IMG would say 'If you care to struggle, we will solidimise with you'
– meaning that they would support (which is not always the same as 'endorse') all kinds of people engaged in anti-capitalist anti-imperialist struggle.

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry He said that capitalism was in crisis, so a transition to a more socialist and more democratic society was needed.
He pointed out that 'revolution' needn't mean violence, but could also be taken to mean a “fundamental change in the way that society was organised”.

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry The IMG was a small group – of a few hundred people – and knew that they couldn't make this kind of fundamental change in society without mass numbers.

There was some digression about corruption and parliament.

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry Piers wondered aloud if he was “one of those armchair socalists” at the time – he was “very keen” on talking to people about all sorts of issues (Ireland, workers' struggles, tenants' and housing campaigns etc)

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry Piers made a comment: “you've done a lot of work to get all this stuff together”as Barr brought up another report [UCPI/8948]

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry Corbyn was asked to explain what the 'Red Circles' were. These were public meetings, held in places like pubs, with a variety of speakers on all sorts of issues, and some “lively discussions”

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry He talked about them selling the 'Red Mole' in Portobello Road.

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry He said that the IMG did support many groups and campaigns, and didn't always try to control them. Sometime they would set up a 'Support Committee'.

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry He thinks that they were supportive of the Claimants Union, which worked to make sure people got the benefits they were entitled to.

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry The report mentions a 'perspectives' document produced by Piers, ahead of a discussion about merging branches together.

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry The IMG used coded initials in case these internal documents fell into the hands of Speciial Branch, but the #spycop who submitted this report had included a key to this code as an appendix.

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry He says the IMG took these security features seriously. But looking back, he wonders if the effect was to make members of the IMG feel more important than they were.

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry Piers let slip that they all had a 'party name',
He himself was known as 'Annual' – due to being described as a 'hardy annual' for his habit of turning up at every NUS conference.

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry He pointed out that of course it would have been more accurate to call him a perennial. plant.

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry Piers noted that he was under surveillance for these ten years – he thinks it was probably a waste of police time “I didn't do anything dangerous, nor did anybody to my knowledge in the IMG”

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry [UCPI /8130/2]
Piers was next asked about the relationship between the IMG and trade unions. “It was termed as an important thing to do” - Corbyn explained that the IMG wanted to develop into a wider field, and move away from being so student-focussed.

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry Barr: Did the IMG try to gain control of any trade unions?

Piers insisted that “it wasn't about control, it was about support”, they would support a strike (for example) even if they didn't agree with everything the strikers did.

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry The next report [UCPI 00007940] said that “Corbyn and <name redacted> emerged as the leading personalities advocating a strong militant approach"
ucpi.org.uk/publications/s…

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry The spycops report goes on to describe IMG members being “furious at this 'wishy washy' approach” of the International Socialists (IS).

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry There was mention in the report of a call-out for “three volunteers to take part in a special task during the demonstration which would involve breaking the law” so Barr asked him about the IMG's attitude towards breaking the law

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry Piers still believes that there are just laws and unjust laws, and promises to talk more about squatting later on. He noted that there was very little about squatting in the Bundle of evidence.

He reckoned that the IMG would have had similar views to his own to law-breaking.

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry Piers talked about the legislation going through parliament right now, which would give more powers to the police.

In those days, the Government was trying to limit the powers of trade unions and the right to strike.

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry According to Piers, “unjust laws should be challenged and broken”

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry [UCPI 8798] There is a leaflet attached to this report, on the subject of the 'metro youth demonstration'. This was produced by Corbyn, so Barr asked him why he had advocated a policy of not engaging with the police in future.
ucpi.org.uk/publications/s…

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry Further down we see Piers' assessment of the recent Red Defence Group (RDG). "The turn-out was not very good but the numbers are not important”
The group chose to march down Portobello Rd, which the police didn't want.

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry After a break, we came back and looked at some more documents..
[UCPI 00000 17814] Barr read out paragraph 6 of this report, on the South London branch of the IMG

ucpi.org.uk/publications/s…

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry Piers was put forward as the IMG candidate for Lambeth Central in the forthcoming Greater London Council (GLC) elections.

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry [UCPI 00000 17335]
ucpi.org.uk/publications/s…
Paragraph 4 includes a reference to flyposting- Corbyn was asked if this meant illegal fly-posting or not.

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry Corbyn was asked if this meant illegal fly-posting or not.
He said "it depends", and pointed out that there was lots of corrugated iron around, and people would fly-post on it. Some fly-posting might be considered more illegal or unlawful than others.

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry There was then some discussion about the IMG's participation in an anti-fascist demo on 23rd April 1977 – which became known as 'The Battle of Wood Green'.

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry Does Corbyn remember attending?
He doesn't know – he asked if Tariq Ali would have been a 'leading light' in this demo?

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry He does remember Tariq and others “speaking from the back of a truck” somewhere in Harringey.

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry He doesn't understand how it could be called a battle, when it probably wasn't. These were mass demos, with a big police presence which tended to keep the National Front & anti-fascists apart.

The event in Wood Green ended in disorder, Barr told us. Piers doesn't remember this

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry He went on a bit of a rant about the more recent police reaction to a demo in Hyde Park last weekend.
(claiming that 500,000 attended!)

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry He doesn't remember the big (Aug '77) march in Lewisham.

He does remember attending Anti Nazi League events but again described himself as a supporter rather than an organiser.

He remembers their music festivals, & thinks they were a good way of getting young people involved.

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry ucpi.org.uk/publications/s…
[UCPI 00000 21485]

The Inquiry then gave Corbyn a chance to educate Mitting about the Fare Fight campaign (about public transport fares). He says this campaign had huge, and very wide, support, and claimed that everyone read the leaflets.

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry [UCPI 00000 08129] ucpi.org.uk/publications/s…
We were shown paragraph 13, of this report about a pre-conference meeting attended by London IMG members.

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry Corbyn was also asked about the situation in Ireland, and the political activity taking place in London around that.
There were many Irish people in London, and many who were republicans (in the sense of thinking that Ireland should be a republic).

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry Barr asked him if people at these meetings called for violence.
Piers remembers Bloody Sunday, and the struggle against internment, and the anger felt at the British Army's actions.

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry We moved on to the topic of squatting.
Piers explained that he rented the place in Rendle Street, but ended up taking the landlord to a rent tribunal. After this he and his older brother (Andrew) started squatting, in the same area, as a solution to their own housing needs.

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry Originally he thought of squatting as a hippie thing to do, but quickly caught on that it could be immensely useful.
They set up an IMG 'squatting faction'

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry [UCPI 0000009509]
ucpi.org.uk/publications/s…

Barr asked about the section entitled 'Demolition' and Piers talked more about the demolition of formerly-occupied houses in Elgin Avenue.

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry “Our collective organised strength and support meant that we could physically resist and in a confrontation human justice would be on our side. So whatever happened the GLC had to lose and we had to win” said his text at the time.

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry Piers was asked for his views on eviction resistance.

He explained that the barricades were both physical and symbolic/ political.

The squatters were fighting for housing for everyone, and against properties being left empty. In some cases they were offered rehouisng.

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry Barr asked again about violence, after reading out Piers' comments from the newsletter. Piers went to some lengths to explain the kind of eviction resistance that took place – there were many squatters in the area who would turn up and join in.

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry Someone called Michael Johnstone is quoted in the newsletter as saying that he would fight against eviction by throwing some sand at the bailiffs.

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry Piers said he was surprised by the strength of feeling in Elgin Avenue, and how many people stayed put through that last weekend, despite the fear of eviction. On the Monday, they were rehoused.

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry Piers noted that he had begun squatting as a self-help housing solution, and that the squatters of London were 'successful' in that so many of them were eventually given more secure housing by the GLC and other London councils.

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry The next report [UCPI0000021215 ] was from a meeting at Conway Hall in March 1979. There was a speaker from the 'Persons Unknown' trial, and many supporters attended. Many of these were anarchist groups.

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry Piers also spoke at this meeting, and Barr asked him about his links with anarchists – did he share their aims and objectives?
ucpi.org.uk/publications/s…

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry “I don't come and go to meetings based on who's there. I come and go to meetings based on what needs to be said” said Piers.

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry Piers regarded the anarchists a bit like the myriad other groupings which existed at the time – name-checking the Hare Krishnas, Children of God and others - he says he “hoped they'd cooperate when we needed numbers to make a point”

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry There were just a few more questions for Corbyn..

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry Earlier on, the Inquiry showed him a photograph of one of the #spycops, 'HN80'.
The Inquiry thinks that this person infiltrated the SWP, exclusively, so how likely is it that they would have been seen selling the Red Mole? (the IMG paper)

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry Unlikely that an SWP member would be seen with the Red Mole, agreed Corbyn.

Piers did remember the name 'Colin Clark' ,as a good conversationalist but “didn't suspect him of being a policeman at the time”. He did not recognise the man in the photograph.

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry There were two suspicious characters at the Huntley Street squat, who said their names were Nigel and Mary.
At the subsequent court case, somebody called Michael Harris (it is unclear what his job title was) said “they work for me”.

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry Piers told us that the magistrate was angry to hear that these agents of the court/ State (?) were aiding and abetting squatters.

It is still unclear who employed this pair – was it the court, or Special Branch, or someone else?

@tombfowler @ucpinquiry Piers fitted in another reference to his current election campaign (to be Mayor of London)

Piers remains fascinated by the Inquiry. He thanked them earlier for providing the Bundle, and reminding him of the past.

After another break, the hearing recommenced so that Barr could ask Corbyn about a few more points.

He asked which other groups operated in a similar way to the IMG – in trying to 'take over' or control other campaigns.
The only example Piers gives is the International Socialists (IS); saying that in comparison the IMG was a bit less controlling.

He also said the anarchist groups were “very self-contained” and wouldn't want anyone interfering with them”.

Piers remembered that “they would turn up at meetings and join in with anything”.

Rajiv Menon QC appeared and asked Piers if he had ever – during his 50 years of activism – taken part in “any political activity that you consider was subversive in that it threatened the safety & well-being of the State and was intended to undermine or overthrow...”

Piers interrupted to say no, he had not.

We have been told that HN338 attended a number of meetings at Piers' home. However he has been provided with neither a photo nor the cover name used by this man.

Piers mentioned some names of people he thought could have been this #spycop

<providing an excellent demonstration of why the Inquiry should tell core participants these cover names – to ensure that innocent people are not publicly 'accused' of being undercover cops>

ucpi.org.uk/publications/s…
Piers was next asked about the accuracy of this report [UCPI0000010850 ] into squatting, produced in 1976.

He says that many of the details are correct, but the report over-simplifies things, and betrays the 'anarchistic' attitude of its (unknown) author.

According to him, it implies that anarchism was far more prevalent than he thought it was.
“Although squatters became political, you know, people squatted through desperation”.

The document claimed that 80% of squatters did not want council housing, but Piers disagreed with this.
He doesn't know who wrote this, but blames an 'anarchistic person'.

According to the report “the general attitude towards the police is one of complete non-cooperation” and Piers disagrees with this, because he frequently dealt with the police.
<He doesn't show any awareness of why many squatters deliberately avoid working with the police at all>

Piers is still surprised by the dearth of material about the squatting movement from that era. Surely #spycops would have visited, or even moved into, the squats? Why are there no reports about these places?

The morning session ended slightly after 1pm, so the Inquiry will resume at 14:05
#spycops