02.07.1998

Spitting distance

Summer Offensive ’98

The two weeks remaining before the Saturday July 11 celebration meal to mark the end of the CPGB’s 15th Summer Offensive fundraising drive must be fully utilised to push the £10,516 raised so far up and over the £20,000 target.

The fight for Partyism and communist organisation against the present tide of reaction is not simply a theoretical task, but a practical one. Only communist practice can create communists and communist organisation, just as only independent money can secure the right to independent working class politics. The struggle to raise the funds necessary to arm our organisation and finance our paper is a practical test which steels both individual comrades and the organisation as a whole. It is a struggle which makes communists.

The two months of May and June have only been sufficient to reach 53% of target, but this has more to do with the ‘late start syndrome’ than our real ability to raise funds. Another £554 from commercial print jobs at the Party’s printshop in week eight was matched by £536 raised on street stalls organised by Manchester comrades. Some of our veteran fundraisers, because of other pressing political tasks, have barely got up steam yet, and left everything to do at the last minute. But do it they will, I am sure, especially given the extra two weeks’ grace. Comrades who have already fulfilled their pledges should use the time to push the collective results higher. The £20,000 will not be met unless we redouble our efforts.

New pledges of £1,500 were added this week by Party supporters joining in the campaign, and an extra £600 was promised by comrades already involved. This brings the total pledged to £16,200, putting us within spitting distance of our target.

Places at the celebration meal are £20 minimum, £50 solidarity price.

Stan Kelsey