04.04.1996

Not that straightforward

In brief

“The way forward is with the Socialist Labour Party ... You can now call yourself a socialist again, refer to each other as comrades and feel as though you’re actually doing something positive by working to get socialism in this society rather than simply tinkering about with little bits of capitalism which mean nothing to ordinary people ...”

Around 80 people attended a meeting in North London last week to hear what turned out to be a strong rallying call to join the SLP.

A Liverpool docker spoke of the excellent action being pursued internationally by himself and his comrades against the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company.

Leading RMT activist Bob Crow and other SLP speakers from the platform extolled the virtues of the recently born party. The audience would be forgiven for believing that the way to achieve socialism is now guaranteed under the leadership of the SLP. Unfortunately, all is not that straightforward.

One of the issues raised from the floor during discussion was the question of party democracy. A number of people spoke of their frustration about not being allowed to join the SLP without relinquishing membership of their present organisation.

Bob Crow stated that it would be absurd to accept the principle that a person should be allowed to have membership of the SLP as well as another party.

He asked how a soccer player could be a member of both teams on the pitch. Clearly for comrade Crow the SLP is playing against the rest of the left, not on the same side.

If the SLP has any potential to be a genuine socialist alternative to the Labour Party, its members will need to fight to make it so. A major part of this fight must centre around the question of party democracy.

Gareth Phillips