19.12.1996

Fighting fund

Linda Addison reports on the Weekly Worker fighting fund

Once again, as a holiday season encompasses the whole of politics in Britain, the Communist Party and its supporters use the valuable time off to maximum advantage in the struggle for Party.

As readers and comrades close to the Party will know, this has been a particularly busy year for the CPGB. The fluidity opened up in British politics by the formation of the SLP has brought exacting tasks, as well as explosive potential for all those committed to reforging a revolutionary Party of the class in this country.

The Weekly Worker has been able to take this struggle into the heart of the SLP and through openly publishing the debates inside the SLP and workers’ movement as a whole has made clear that the Party question must be one for the whole class.

A reforged Communist Party will not come through back-room deals, witch hunting and private debate. It will come through openness and through the whole class, and initially through the advanced section taking up the theory and practice necessary to put workers back onto the offensive and forge us into a hegemonic class.

Fundraising has slipped off the agenda of many comrades. This is understandable, as they are engrossed in the central tasks necessary to produce and distribute the paper and carry out the practical work essential to take the fight for Party into the movement. But, if the paper is able to continue and expand its role, comrades’ political tasks in the coming year must include the vital element of winning the necessary finance.

Christmas holidays, like all holidays, are an important time for our comrades to turn their attention to fundraising. This year it is as essential as ever to find the time in the run up to the festivities, and the recovery time afterwards, for fundraising.

Comrades have used many different means during the Christmas period to raise money. It is a good time to approach friends and readers of the Weekly Worker for their financial support. It is also a good time to sell Party literature or even to employ more mainstream techniques, such as jumble sales and sponsored pub crawls.

Supporters can ask their local Party contact about getting involved in fundraising. Most importantly we need the help of all readers.

Readership of the paper has expanded since our open coverage of the SLP, which in one way or another affects all revolutionaries in Britain. To ensure this is able to continue we need your help. Rush cheques in over Christmas and, better still, make a regular contribution by taking out a standing order for the paper.

Linda Addison