02.10.1997

Intolerant regime

Leading democracy campaigner Ian Driver has resigned from the SLP. Here is his resignation letter

Dear Arthur Scargill

After much thought I am writing to inform you that I will not be renewing my subs and am resigning from the Socialist Labour Party.

Like many other people who joined the SLP, I had great expectations of the party. I naively believed that the SLP would break the mould of leftwing politics in this country and provide a unique and much needed opportunity to regroup socialists on a non-sectarian basis. I thought the SLP would become a vibrant, broad-based organisation that would welcome socialists from different traditions and provide a forum for the discussion of new ideas and opportunities to influence the struggle for freedom, justice and equality.

Unfortunately, none of this happened. Instead the SLP has become just another ossified leftwing sect with all the negative characteristics of the SWP, the WRP, etc. In particular I am sickened by the lack of internal democracy within the SLP. My experience has been that political debate is actively stifled and, where members do succeed in discussing politics, any ideas expressed contrary to those of the leadership are stamped on. I also object to the way in which you are ruthlessly suppressing the rights of members to work together to democratically change the constitution and policies of the party. Your endless letters to myself and others demanding explanations for statements we may have made or signed and threatening disciplinary action are pathetic examples of your authoritarian intolerance. The way in which you are expelling members under the guise that they were never members of the party in the first place and denying these people access to any evidence against them and any right of appeal is further evidence of your total disregard for democratic rights. Finally, and equally as appalling, whilst you are actively suppressing those people you feel are a threat to your position and ideas, you are happy to jump into bed with some of the most disreputable low life I have ever encountered in the socialist movement. People who have resorted to violence against party members. People who publicly espouse rabid homophobic views. Why have you not taken action against these scum?

The collapse of the Soviet Union and eastern bloc countries shows that socialism without democracy rapidly becomes corrupt and will ultimately fail. This is the crucial lesson we should all learn if the left is to make progress. Unfortunately it is clear to me that your project is to revive a grotesque caricature of neo-Stalinist despotism. Like all those who have gone down this road before you, you too will soon become corrupt and you too will fail.

I find it ironic that one of the reasons I left the Labour Party to join the SLP was the lack of democracy and the growing authoritarian tendencies in New Labour. I think it would be fair comment to say that the tables have now been turned and that in comparison to the SLP New Labour is a doyen of democracy.

The only saving grace of my time in the SLP are the many excellent democratic socialists I have met through the party. Unlike me, they have decided to stay in the SLP and fight against your rotten and corrupt regime. I admire their courage and wish them every success. I am heartened that despite your efforts to suppress these people they are gaining more and more support and hopefully will rid the SLP of its corrupt, anti-democratic practices and those who advocate such methods.

Yours sincerely,

Councillor Ian Driver
London Borough of Southwark