12.12.1996

Maximising socialist message

After the Leicester council by-election Militant Labour has renewed its call for joint socialist candidates for the general election, as well as the need for the SLP constitution to be amended so that all socialists can participate in the building of the SLP. We print here the letter from ML’s national secretary to Patrick Sikorski

To: Patrick Sikorski
general secretary/treasurer SLP
December 9 1996

We would like your NEC to consider the matter raised in this letter. We have always sought ways to cooperate with the SLP to maximise the support for socialism. We have particularly appealed to you over the issue of elections.

In the by-election in North Braunston ward of Leicester West last Thursday (December 5) both of our parties stood. You polled 101 (8.5%) and we polled 150 (12.4%). Our parties came respectively fifth and fourth.

The result shows many things - firstly that we are capable of mounting strong campaigns; and we will continue to do so.

 More importantly however, this result shows what an opportunity was wasted. If the SLP had agreed to our suggestion (raised with your Leicester branch) of a joint candidate, we would, in our opinion, have had a bigger impact than just our combined votes. We would obviously have beaten the Tories and would only have been 100 behind New Labour. It is our opinion that had we fought together, had Brenda Nixon and councillor Tommy Sheridan spoken at the same meeting instead of rival meetings, we would have made a much bigger impact and won more people to socialism than we did singly.

We know that your next conference will debate constitutional amendments that will encourage the participation of all groups and socialists - we support such moves and would welcome their arrival. However, we still have the general election to face. In Scotland we are in an alliance that is contesting seats.

In England and Wales we are standing in a number of seats. Comrades, we have demonstrated that we singly can leave our mark; jointly we will boost the results for socialist ideas and policies. We have the opportunity - are you bold enough to take it? We appeal again to the NEC to agree to meet with us to discuss a joint approach.

Mike Waddington
national secretary