17.04.1997

Campaign for SLP democracy

Last weekend Socialist Labour’s Vauxhall branch hosted a meeting to campaign for democracy in the SLP. Following his attack on another London branch, Brent, Arthur Scargill had derecognised Vauxhall and effectively expelled all its members. Ian Driver, SLP candidate for Vauxhall, is still formally recognised by the SLP leadership. Nevertheless he continues to defend the Vauxhall branch against the witch hunt and has produced this open letter to SLP members asking for their support

Apart from major political disagreements, one of the reasons why I quit New Labour after 15 years of membership and joined the SLP was my growing revulsion with the internal regime of the party. Ordinary members had less and less say in policy making. The democratic structures of the party had been destroyed. Decisions were made and implemented by leadership dictat without the wider involvement of the membership, and anyone who argued against these decisions faced draconian disciplinary action.

I thought that the SLP would be different. I thought the SLP would be a rallying point for socialists from different backgrounds and traditions, and that we could engage in free and open democratic debate. Sadly one year later I have come to the conclusion that the SLP is every bit as bureaucratic and undemocratic as Tony Blair’s New Labour. If something is not done to halt this trend I fear our party may turn into a sterile sect rather than the vibrant, open, democratic socialist organisation I hoped for.

The main problem is the lack of any appeals procedure for individuals and party branches who may be expelled or suspended by our National Executive. In Vauxhall, where I am the SLP parliamentary candidate, one of our leading members, Barry Biddulph, was expelled for allegedly breaching the party constitution. Barry was never provided with the evidence against him and he has not been given the opportunity to defend himself. The Vauxhall branch has now been informed that unless they agree to a ‘loyalty oath’ and accept Barry’s expulsion, they too will be expelled. The expulsion of Barry and the closure of the Vauxhall branch in the middle of the election period has seriously undermined our efforts to launch an effective campaign.

Worse still the NEC appears to lend its support to some of the nastiest elements and bad practices to impose its will. I have personally been to meetings where leading members of our party have deliberately disrupted proceedings in a foul-mouthed, aggressive way. I have seen blatant homophobes being defended by our leadership because they support the NEC, and on two occasions I have witnessed an SLP member attempt to assault other members. These people have not been punished. No disciplinary action has been taken against them, despite numerous complaints to the NEC. Yet when a branch like Vauxhall stands up for democratic rights, it is closed down and its members expelled. This cannot be right.

It is my belief that the undemocratic way in which the NEC expels members, closes branches and ignores intimidation, homophobia and violence is because they fear open and free debate. The NEC wants to create a Labour Party mark II, with a docile, subservient membership who are happy to accept orders from above, rather than a truly democratic organisation where ideas and policies come from the rank and file. Anyone who challenges this concept, or dares to speak out faces being expelled with no right of appeal.

This is why Vauxhall called an open meeting for all SLP members and expelled members on April 13. To begin a campaign to democratise the SLP. We have drawn up a petition calling for the establishment of a genuine appeals mechanism in our party, applicable to all members (whether or not it is claimed they falsified their application form) and all party branches. I call on anyone in the SLP who believes in socialist democracy to sign this petition and return it to me. If we do not collectively act now, who will be expelled next?

In closing I would like to make it clear that I am not a member of any ‘grouping’. I do not have a hidden agenda. I am just an ordinary member of the SLP who is growing more and more concerned about the internal regime of our party. The SLP is a unique development in the recent history of the British socialist movement. It offers great potential and unique opportunities. However, unless we have an open and democratic regime, these possibilities will be destroyed and a great opportunity squandered.

Petition to the SLP National Executive Committee

We, the undersigned, call on the NEC of the SLP to:

1. set up a democratic party appeals procedure, including an appeals panel made up of democratically elected lay members, for all disputes, including those over the validity of applications for membership;
2. reinstate the Vauxhall CSLP, pending an appeal under the above procedure;
3. reinstate all comrades whose membership has been voided or terminated, pending an appeal under the above procedure;
4. arrange for a full discussion of the constitution, and all disputes surrounding it, at the conference in October;
5. establish an internal discussion bulletin at the earliest opportunity after the election.

We believe these measures are important for the future of the party, and we will be campaigning for them within the party.

Stand up and be counted, get the petition from Ian Driver or the Weekly Worker.