22.01.1998

New lurch to nationalism

Scottish Militant Labour takes another step towards separatism

A preliminary proposal to commit the Scottish Socialist Alliance to an “independent socialist Scotland” was placed before the January meeting of the SSA’s National Council.

Alan McCombes, SSA campaigns coordinator and leading member of Scottish Militant Labour, presented a discussion paper in which he outlines the need for a political programme directed specifically at the new Scottish parliament. This would supplement the SSA’s Charter for socialist change. He argues that there should be two components to this:

• a 10-point manifesto that the SSA would fight for a Scottish parliament to deliver;
•  “a clear policy on the national question [in Scotland - NC] expressed in a form which can be easily and immediately understood”.

The 10-point programme will be based on key demands that are within the policy areas covered in the limited powers of New Labour’s Scottish parliament. These areas would include local government, education, housing, a civil rights bill, etc. The meeting agreed to this in principle, although the content and number of demands will be open to debate by the SSA’s membership between now and the next national conference in the summer. Inevitably debate will centre around the content of these demands. As with all minimum demands, it is vital that socialists and communists put forward and fight for what workers need to live full life under capitalism - whether it is a decent minimum wage; free, good quality education; or the utmost extension of democracy and democratic rights.

The second part of the proposal, for “a clear policy on the national question”, is elaborated by comrade McCombes in this way: “I would therefore suggest that a separate but simultaneous debate takes place within the Alliance and its constituent parts around the question of whether or not the Alliance should now explicitly champion the cause of an independent socialist Scotland which would take a lead in the international struggle against global multinational capitalism.”

This is indicative of the growing view amongst increasing numbers of SSA members that, now a Scottish parliament with limited powers has been created, the SSA should move to a position of demanding ‘socialist’ separation from England and Wales - what we have termed ‘national socialism’.

The meeting was unanimous in welcoming the opportunity for the membership to fully debate the issue, culminating in a decision at the national conference in the summer. It is important however that all members have an opportunity to consider in an informed way the variety of views that exist within the SSA. It is not enough to argue against caricatures of opinions. There is a real need for all of us to develop our understanding of this question to follow the correct socialist method. The forthcoming CPGB school on the national question, being held in Dundee, will be an important contribution to this process.

Several comrades outlined their attitude to the idea of separation. Mary Ward restated the CPGB’s opposition to nationalism and a commitment to a federal republic in order to provide the best conditions for the maximum unity of the working class throughout Britain. Allan Green said that for some time now he had favoured an independent Scotland with a federal/confederal relationship with the rest of Britain and Europe.

Comrade McCombes’ proposals reflect the current debate on the national question within Scottish Militant Labour, the outcome of which will be decided at its own conference. In the spirit of openness a commitment has been given that a substantial document prepared by McCombes, for SML, will be available to other comrades outside that organisation. Allan Armstrong of Edinburgh SSA and the Republican Worker Tendency suggested that SML’s internal discussions should be out in the open too. However, it is unclear whether the debate (rather than merely the final outcome) will take this form. It will be interesting to see if it finds its way into the pages of SML’s own publication, Scottish Socialist Voice, or the Socialist Party’s Socialism Today. Sadly on past experience this seems unlikely. Once again we urge SML to recognise the importance of conducting such debates in front of the working class.

The National Council also heard a report from Martin Wicks (ex-SLP) on the SLP national congress. Comrade Wicks was in Scotland to talk to SLP members and presumably to persuade them to leave the SLP to join his new grouping, Socialist Perspectives. He indicated his support for alliances throughout Britain.

Nick Clarke