05.12.1996

Nothing to be ashamed of

Around the left

Secrecy and backstage diplomacy can never produce the truth. This is something we have stressed on countless occasions. Political openness is an absolute essential. This is not out of love for some lofty platonic ideal, but from the understanding that without full and open debate in front of the working class it is not possible to forge a genuinely revolutionary working class organisation.

We also believe that no single individual, organisation or party has a ‘monopoly’ on truth. Not for nothing do we believe in scientific socialism. This means therefore that any organisation can make mistakes and errors, whether serious or minor. To do so is not a hanging offence or a mark of Cain - far from it. The Bolsheviks were a perfect example of a ‘non-perfect’ party. Only a cultist would say otherwise.

This brings us to the Workers Power organisation, which recently held its annual conference. WP is a relatively lively group, theoretically and intellectually. Its monthly paper, Workers Power, contains much material which is of interest to the working class movement. However, its fatal flaw lies in its ‘monolithicism’ - ie, a mortal fear of letting the world know that there is internal ‘dissent’ within the organisation; that comrades in WP are not clones who all think alike.

The latest issue of Workers Power gives the game away. In its report on the conference, the intro states:

“The conference also debated Workers Power’s position on Scotland and voted to change it.”

The conference agreed that:

“Our previous position on the demand for a Scottish Assembly was wrong. Instead of opposing the establishment of a Scottish Assembly and demanding a referendum, we should call for the immediate election of a sovereign Scottish Assembly with unrestricted powers” (December).

Excellent. Yes, WP’s previous position of ‘no to a Scottish Assembly; yes to a referendum’ was indeed absurd - and objectively chauvinist. The change of line is to be welcomed therefore.

However the policy discussion at the conference is shrouded in mystery. What exactly was the debate? Who argued for what? How many voted for and against the resolution? What are the practical implications of this line change?

More seriously still, where were the debates, and polemics, in the pages of Workers Power? Or are we supposed to believe that the line change on Scotland was purely the result of ‘spontaneous combustion’ on the day? Perhaps - can we dare to suggest it? - there has been resistance to the ‘party line’ on Scotland within WP, but this opposition never found its way into Workers Power.

It is about time that WP came out of the closet and admitted that there are tendencies and factions within its organisation - and that it is nothing to be ashamed of. Open up the pages of your press to the whole class, not just the select few.

Don Preston