19.06.1997

More Scargill threats

Correspondence between the SLP’s acting general secretary and Southwark councillor Ian Driver

To Ian Driver
June 9 1997
Dear Ian

I acknowledge receipt of your letter dated June 4 1997 and note that despite two requests from me you have refused to deny that you are a “sponsor” of a conference scheduled for June 14 1997.

In these circumstances I can only conclude that you are a “sponsor” of the conference - if not, all you have to do is to write to me and confirm you are not.

Correspondence sent out by the general secretary to regions, Constituency Socialist Labour Parties and individual members should not be circulated to anyone without my authority.

Yours fraternally
Arthur Scargill
general secretary

To Ian Driver
June 9 1997
Dear Ian

I am once again forced to write to you and ask if you are the author of the enclosed ‘Open letter to all members’.

You will be aware that the issuing of this type of leaflet brings the party into disrepute, particularly when it makes statements that one of our leading members was “expelled for allegedly breaching the party constitution”, a statement that is completely untrue.

The Socialist Labour Party has not expelled or suspended any member. For example, are you really saying that even if a person has falsified an application form they should still have the right of appeal against exclusion from membership when it is patently obvious that the form which they have completed, signed and submitted is false?

Unless I hear to the contrary I will assume that you are the author of this ‘Open letter’. On the other hand if that is not the case then no doubt you will let me know as soon as possible.

Yours fraternally
Arthur Scargill
general secretary

To Arthur Scargill
June 16 1997
Dear comrade Arthur

I am in receipt of your two letters to me dated June 9 and the ‘Message to members from the NEC’ which was distributed by NEC members outside Conway Hall on Saturday June 14.

I must say I am appalled by the contents of these communications. They are nothing less than a ‘gagging order’ on members which prohibits the free and open exchange of ideas in the party and prevents members from working together to bring about democratic change in our policies and our constitution.

I find it ironic that someone such as yourself, who championed free debate and democracy in the Labour Party and who opposed witch hunts and victimisation, now makes a 360-degree turn and imposes a regime more draconian than even Tony Blair could contemplate on the SLP. I am sure that when members see copies of the NEC statement they will be rightly outraged and more determined than ever to campaign for democracy in the SLP irrespective of your authoritarian edict.

The lesson of history is quite clear - socialism without democracy will never succeed. Unless this lesson is learned I fear that the SLP will rapidly become an ossified sect, rather than the vibrant, dynamic force I originally, and mistakenly, thought I had joined. I will continue to fight for democracy in the SLP and sincerely hope that our leadership will take account of what I and a growing number of comrades are saying.

Yours sincerely
Councillor Ian Driver