24.10.1996

SLP Branch reports

Brighton

A branch was launched in Brighton last week with its first membership meeting. Individual SLP members in the area had already been active and 75 copies of September’s Socialist News sold.

The members discussed building for a public meeting, its agenda and plans for future work. The branch hopes to stand a candidate in the general election. The two constituencies have Tory MPs but both have Labour-controlled councils. Kemptown has the largest working class area and would be where the SLP would want to stand.

The branch also discussed election work in general and specifically the possible use of a minimum list of demands that other candidates could be challenged to support. It was emphasised that this would not be used as an excuse to vote Labour, but rather to expose their party candidates as unable to support even basic minimum working class demands.

The branch is also keen to set up a youth section and begin political discussions in the area.

Hull

This branch has unfortunately seen the loss of two members, including its branch secretary, Shaun May. Both had refused to abide by the constitution, since they considered it to be undemocratic, and so resigned. Other members in the branch also disagreed with the constitution, but have nevertheless agreed to accept it for the time being.

There is much discontent about the constitution and clearly an across-the-board SLP discussion needs to take place now in preparation for next year’s conference or congress.

The membership has not voted for the constitution and yet the leadership insists that all its undemocratic clauses be enacted.

This puts the membership in an intolerable situation. Nevertheless resigning is clearly not the solution. All democrats in the SLP must start the debate in their branches vigorously now. They must study the present draft carefully and prepare amendments to those clauses that restrict the democratic process of building a party by all sections of the class committed to socialism.

Cardiff

Provisionally Cardiff branch has decided to stand a candidate in Cardiff Central in the general election. A fundraising target of £1,000 has been set, and £450 is already pledged.

The branch sold 100 copies of Socialist News in just three weeks and will be increasing its order for future months. Policy documents have also been sold from the SLP stall in Cardiff each week. Discussions have taken place on the election campaign and on the JSA. There were some differences over the tactics needed to unite CPSA members and unemployed workers, particularly over the ‘three strikes and you’re out’ idea.

Swansea branch does not seem to be as strong as yet. Though the members hope to stand a candidate in the general election, they need more support to run the campaign. Please contact them via the national office.

Black Country

The branch had its first public meeting with general secretary Pat Sikorski speaking in Wolverhampton last week. Fifteen people attended, which was a good response, given the embryonic nature of the branch. The meeting discussed the setting up of the branch and organising paper sales. The members were keen that future meetings should include political as well as organisational discussions and Pat Sikorski said that the national office would be able to provide speakers. The next meeting will discuss the general election.

The branch is hoping to start a Socialist Alliance in the area, since there are a number of Labour councillors and Militant Labour members interested, though ML itself has not taken the initiative to set one up.