The Northern Independence Party (NIP) is causing quite a stir. James Matthewson, head of communications to Ian Lavery, who chaired the Labour Party from 2017 – 20, has written for the Times condemning it as a joke party that insults working class culture. He takes particular exception to the whippet in the party’s logo.

The Workers Party has condemned it for proposing the Balkanization of the UK. According to them the problem is not the north south divide. It is capitalism and NIP is undermining working class unity by pretending otherwise.

Meanwhile the Jewish Chronicle has discovered some quotes from NIP founder, Paul Proudfoot, criticizing Israel and some quotes from left wing commentators commenting favourably on NIP. So the anti-Semitism smears have started already.

NIP began in October 2020. It was an outlet for the frustration of Corbyn supporters in the north. Traditional working-class seats had gone from Labour to Tory via the UKIP/Brexit Party wrecking crew. Starmer’s Labour Party clearly had no idea how to win them back beyond wrapping itself in the flag and proclaiming a patriotic foreign policy. But when NIP launched as a democratic socialist and secessionist party few people noticed and even fewer cared.

Things changed with the Hartlepool by-election. The Labour incumbent has stepped down after allegations of sexual misconduct. NIP are contesting the by-election and they have a credible candidate in Thelma Walker, a left-wing Labour MP from 2017 – 2019 who left Labour over Starmer’s treatment of Corbyn and his refusal to oppose the Covert Human Intelligence Sources Bill. So NIP are now newsworthy.

What should socialists make of NIP?

Objections to their Northern nationalism are overblown. There is not going to be a referendum for Northern independence any time soon for two reasons. There is no agreement on the boundaries of the north. Yorkshire and Lancashire are definitely in the north. But what about bits of Lincolnshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Cheshire? And without Scottish independence there will be no impetus for Northern independence.

Does NIP undermine class struggle? I don’t think so. There is not much class struggle happening at the moment, so it is hard to judge. But if the opposition to fire and rehire at British Gas became an all-out strike who would you bet on to support it, NIP or the current Labour Party? It is the lack of class struggle that in part explains NIP’s appeal. I am sure they would, in the spirit of internationalism, support their brothers and sisters in the south and probably send flying pickets over the border in solidarity.

The North/South divide is real. This fed the sense of grievance that delivered so many votes to Leave during the EU referendum and subsequently to Johnson in the Brexit election of 2019. I am much happier if NIP can use the divide to garner votes for an ostensibly socialist alternative to Labour and the Tories than I am by the prospect of some Farage inspired party or darker forces on the right filling the void.