10.02.2000

GLA news in brief

Brent and Harrow

The LSA election campaign in the Brent and Harrow constituency took its first step on February 3 when local representatives of three of the participating organisations - SWP, ISG, and CPGB - got the ball rolling by electing Brian Butterworth (SWP) election agent and campaign convenor, Niamh O'Toole (SWP) publicity officer, and Adam Hartman (ISG) treasurer.

All positions are provisional, pending the involvement of wider forces, and the meeting accepted that the alliance of different socialist organisations working together should be reflected in the distribution of posts. As SWPer Sarah Cox put it, "We don't want to dominate". Coming from the organisation which has the numbers to get its own way if it chooses, this healthy attitude is vital to allow the various left groups to take a full part.

The same approach must be applied to the selection of constituency candidates, and it was good that the SWP's west London organiser, Susan Jeffrey, was ready at the start of the meeting to nominate the CPGB's Anne Murphy. However, she has a place on the LSA's London-wide PR list, and the CPGB nomination for Brent and Harrow will be Stan Kelsey.

Local activists will know that comrade Kelsey has a long history of trade union and political activity in the area. He was well known in Harrow Nalgo during the 70s and Brent Nalgo throughout the 80s, where he was elected to the full-time post of branch education officer, as well as serving on Brent trades council. He stood as a candidate for both parliamentary and local elections on a number of occasions in the 90s.

It would be wrong to treat the various constituencies separately, without regard for the London-wide picture. The SWP could, of course, choose its own candidates everywhere, given its greater number of activists. But that would rob the alliance of its most valuable quality - socialists of various persuasions, while not hiding their differences, working together.

Long plot

In a foolish bid to bring the LSA into disrepute Nick Long - convenor of Greenwich and Lewisham Socialist Alliance and leading figure in the Socialist Democracy Group - has decided to launch another witch hunt against the CPGB and the Weekly Worker. The next meeting of the Greenwich and Lewisham SA on February 14 will be presented with an "emergency resolution" on David Irving.

Our gallant comrade is not proposing to launch a pre-emptive raid on the high court in order to conclude the Irving-Lipstadt holocaust trial with a swift act of popular justice. No, comrade Long wants to put the Weekly Worker in the dock. The offence? Carrying a polemic by Eddie Ford against the SWP (February 3). In the course of this short article the comrade steadfastly defended free speech - as demanded by our communist programme - even for the likes of Irving against those who would censor his views.

In tandem with comrade Toby Abse, the Lewisham and Greenwich convenor has been attempting to generate as much irrational heat around the issue as possible. Jewish organisations have been asked to protest against the Weekly Worker and the matter is to be taken to the Network of Socialist Alliances which meets in Leicester on March 25.

Unless the Weekly Worker carries a retraction not only is the CPGB to be condemned, but so too is the whole LSA project - guilty by association. The plot is clear. Comrade Long - a close ally of the Socialist Party in England and Wales - is determined to find an alibi for their break with the LSA - which he sneeringly writes of in inverted commas - and the decision to back the Campaign Against Tube Privatisation slate for PR candidates in the GLA elections.

CATP purge

Having ditched the LSA and the fight for a united left slate in the GLA elections, the Socialist Party in England and Wales has fully committed itself to the Campaign Against Tube Privatisation. A change of direction dictated in part by a hatred of the SWP epitomised by SPEW industrial organiser Harry Mullins. Last year he circulated a secret factional document insisting on no cooperation with the SWP. General secretary Peter Taaffe fell in line with Mullins rather than risk yet another damaging split. Dave Nellist - leader of the Network of Socialist Alliances - is said to be "hurt" and "embarrassed".

Now SPEW is putting its stamp on CATP. The last all-London meeting agreed a motion which states that only RMT members can be selected for the 11-strong PR slate.

This is undoubtedly a victory for comrade Mullins's economism and a setback for Patrick Sikorski and the Fourth International Supporters Caucus. They were planning to field his former spouse Carolyn and banked on winning 'big names'. Hillary Wainwright - editor of Red Pepper - had been touted.

Comrades from SPEW were delighted. Privately they proclaimed their motion as a purge of the "petty bourgeois elements".