21.12.1995

Two steps forward, two steps back?

Socialist Labour Party

Recent developments in Scotland have started the process of uniting the left. The Scottish Socialist Movement comrades have already done a great service to the working class throughout Britain by breaking down sectarianism in their development of the Socialist Forum.

Their frustration at Scargill’s proposed “Stalinist” constitution for the SLP, however, has developed a mood of, “Stuff them! We’ll go it alone!” The next few weeks could see the formation of a separate Scottish Socialist Alliance, which in many ways would be far in advance of Scargill’s proposals, particularly in terms of affiliation.

This body hopes to unite the different left groups already in discussions around an alternative constitution being drafted by the Scottish Socialist Movement. It would however abandon the struggle for a democratic Socialist Labour Party it seems to the comrades in England and Wales.

Scargill’s snub to the Scottish comrades by referring to Scotland as a “region” has failed to take account of the Scottish dimension, but separatism is the wrong way to respond. We need to take the experience of Scottish Socialist Forums into England and Wales. The advances made in Scotland can and should be built on an all Britain basis.

As communists we believe in the highest level of organisation, which means a centralist party with maximum democracy. We must concentrate on creating a party that allows for maximum debate and unity in action. Constitution and rules cannot be separate from a programme.

The blame for the current debacle must be placed firmly at the feet of Scargill and co. If we are to avoid a Labour Party mark two, then we must have the widest possible debate. The constitution and rules should be agreed at a founding congress and not by an elitist grouping who think they know best.

An all-Britain party based on a revolutionary programme and a democratic structure is essential if we are to resolve the Scottish dimension and to lay the basis for a class unity which builds on the highest organisation and militancy achieved to date.

Mary Ward