14.12.1995

Scottish socialists reject bureaucratic constitution

THURSDAY’S meeting of Dundee’s Socialist Forum was a positive event in spite of great anger and disappointment at the proposed constitution for the Socialist Labour Party.

Comrades from Unison, the TGWU, Scottish Militant Labour, the Communist Party of Scotland, the Scottish National Party and the CPGB discussed the proposed constitution and there was clear frustration at the sectarian manner in which Scargill is proceeding.

It was agreed that efforts be made to propose an alternative constitution which allowed for affiliation and recognised that there was a Scottish dimension to politics in Britain.

There was determination that this constitution would not and could not be imposed on comrades in Scotland who have already gone some way down the road to creating an inclusive structure via the efforts of the Scottish Socialist Movement.

Many comrades expressed the fear that Scargill could be doing a great disservice to the working class by his inability to take on a democratic format for the SLP. Key decisions appear to have already been made and, because the meetings are by ‘strict invitation only’, then there is little opportunity to influence the process at this time.

Comrades were not despondent. There was a real feeling that in Scotland things have moved on beyond sectarian boundaries through the socialist forums. Many of us are determined that a genuine mass party of the working class will be built not through bureaucratic constitution and rules but by combining open discussion and debate with unity in action.

Mary Ward