04.04.1996

Open Polemic on the question of programme

From its inception, the strategy of Open Polemic was based on the concept of a general line for communists, as opposed to the particular lines being advanced by the various vanguardist organisations - including the particular line being developed by The Leninist, which at that time was about to declare itself to be the Provisional Central Committee of the CPGB.

As a result of consistent engagement in theoretical work and related practice, the strategy of Open Polemic has evolved into a call for open polemic and communist rapprochement among Marxist-Leninists to resolve demarcations as the means to move towards the eventual formation of a historically non-specific and multanimous, future party of a new type.

In August 1995, Open Polemic responded positively to the invitation of the Provisional Central Committee of the CPGB to join the Party as a faction and, following further exchanges, a form of representational entry by a number of comrades from OP was effected. This has undoubtedly strengthened and given a new impetus to the common, pro-Party struggle for communist rapprochement.

However, whilst recognising the significance of the decision to open the doors of the CPGB to other organisations, Open Polemic takes the view that the Provisional Central Committee, at this time, is objectively the ‘Leninist’ faction of the Party. This view is supported in respect to the publication in September 1995 of the ‘Draft programme’ for the Party which was introduced by Jack Conrad (Weekly Worker September 21 1995) as having originated with The Leninist. The OP comrades organised in the ‘For a Permanent Party Polemic Committee’ faction of the CPGB immediately raised objections to such a sectarian and particular programme being put forward as a Party discussion document in the very initial stages of the process of rapprochement.

In response to this development and as a further elaboration of its ‘general line’ concept, OP has produced ‘The Common Theoretical Programme for Communists’ and OP comrades within the CPGB will be taking this document as the basis for their intervention in the Party polemic on programme.

Open Polemic
February 1996