18.12.1997

Scargill constitution enshrined

SLP general secretary Arthur Scargill secured congress endorsement of the imposition of his constitution, giving it at least a modecum of legitimacy. Scargill, and his predecessor Patrick Sikorski, had previously falsely asserted that the SLP’s inaugural congress, in May 1996, had adopted his draft constitution, (see Weekly Worker November 28 1996).

On the first day, this line was eschewed in favour of an argument that a metaphysician would have been proud of. Settling once and for all the question, ‘What comes first, the party or the constitution?’, comrade Scargill demonstrated that the party adopts the constitution made by its creator through the aggregated individual covenants of membership applicants, who sign a pledge to “agree to abide by its rules and constitution” Congress’s acceptance of the proposed order of business would show agreement with that philosophy, the general secretary insisted. A congress, where the majority apparently feels the party can only be held together under his unquestioned leadership, voted to accept the order of business.

Scargill also carefully explained that such a vote would mean that all challenges to his ruling ‘out of order’ the overwhelming majority of branches’ motions to amend the constitution would fall, and that those few amendments that were to be accepted for discussion would require a two-thirds majority vote.

Several non-controversial amendments, (and one extremely controversial one, deleting the party’s black section), were duly carried by the requisite majority. Then came a conundrum. Any two-thirds majority would necessarily include the block vote, (3,000 Lancs NUM plus it is thought 30 or 50 for a Sheffield Uccat branch), of a trade union affiliate. So a constitution that can only be adopted by individual members signing application forms can then only be amended by ‘affiliate members’ who have definitely not signed application or any such forms. Immaculate.

Although the Scargill constitution is now to all intents and purposes the constitution of the SLP, it remains Arthur’s plaything, to be selectively applied, ignored, or even negated as he sees fit. Clause VI, sections (2) (b) and (c), prescribes that seven of the members of the national executive committee shall be nominated and elected by affiliated trade unions, and another seven shall be nominated and elected by constituency parties.

Yet the declared election results show that the trade union block vote - ie, three people - decided constituency section elections. As a result, some of the candidates declared elected would have been defeated, had the constitutional prescription been obeyed.

John Pearson