27.02.1997

SLP branch reports

Wirral South

As we go to press, the SLP’s campaign in the Wirral South election is coming to an end. Although everyone is cautious about forecasting a good result after the disappointment in Barnsley East, there is general agreement that candidate Mick Cullen’s campaign has met with a good response, encountering absolutely no hostility from voters in working class areas.

Members and supporters from the whole of Merseyside have helped in the canvassing, as have Mick’s comrades from amongst the sacked dockers. Comrades have come from as far as Yorkshire and London to assist.

Contrary to what he told a London meeting this week, Arthur Scargill implied at the rally in the Wirral that there were a number of ‘left’ Labour MPs that the SLP would not oppose in the 1997 general election. His Morning Star announcement that Ken Livingstone’s seat would not be contested was greeted with some concern by several members, disturbed by the apparent line change. Comrade Scargill’s role was summed up by one activist as “both our greatest asset and our greatest liability”.

Knowsley North

The small but active constituency SLP has selected Chris Jones, a former firefighters’ leader, as its candidate in this safest of Labour seats.

The decision was taken after Jimmy Nolan, the most prominent figure in the dockers’ dispute, reluctantly declined the nomination after consulting the other sacked workers.

Jimmy felt that putting his time and energy into contesting the seat could be interpreted by some as turning his back on the dockers. Seeking to compartmentalise industrial and electoral struggles is profoundly mistaken. In fact for socialists, who are engaged in a political struggle against the state itself, they are part of the same fight.

A vigorous election campaign pursued by such a respected leader would provide an excellent opportunity to publicise the dockers’ cause, while linking it to the working class political alternative - the only way for a dockers’ victory to be secured.