10.02.2000

Network launched in England

Members and supporters of the Republican Communist Network met in London last weekend to discuss setting up a branch in England.

Nineteen comrades attended from a variety of groups, including the CPGB, Socialist Workers Party, Trotskyist Unity Group, Revolutionary Democratic Group, the Communist Tendency, the South London Republican Forum and the Irish in Britain Representation Group, as well as a communist member of the Green Party and non-aligned communists. Martin Thomas, representing the AWL, sent apologies in view of his late arrival as a result of attending the Chechnya demonstration.

The meeting began by electing Terry Liddle to the chair. The main source of contention was at the beginning of the meeting, sorting out what items and amendments to include in the agenda. Once this had been done, the meeting was able to make rapid progress. One comrade, however, refused to accept that the meeting had any right to take any decisions and left. With that exception the meeting agreed on what was a sensible and democratic way to proceed.

The meeting recognised the need to discuss and finalise the aims, objectives and platform of the RCN. But this would crucially depend on whether we agreed to operate as a branch of the existing all-Britain RCN. If we did then this would mean accepting its aims, platform, subscriptions and rules. If we did not then a new situation would arise. We would have to begin discussing policies and organisation from scratch. It would be as if we began with nothing. But in addition if the meeting decided to set up an independent, separate English RCN this might lead to a split. Some who had joined an All-Britain organisation were not about to leave the existing RCN and set up something different.

The meeting proper began with Steve Freeman, the RCN convenor for England, reading out a message of comradely greetings and best wishes from Mary Ward, the national secretary of the RCN. The convenor gave a brief report of the founding of the network and the decisions that had been taken on aims and platform.

The following motion was then discussed:

"1. This meeting confirms our support for the All-Britain RCN with autonomy for national and local branches.

"2. We agree to set up a branch of the (all-Britain) RCN in England."

A number of concerns came out in the discussion. It was accepted that we needed to recognise the importance of the national question. It was also agreed that this did not mean that we should have separate organisations: we would need a clearer definition of "autonomy". But at present it worked on the basis of comrades in Scotland (all of whom are members of the SSP) organising their own meetings and taking their own tactical decisions, particularly in relation to the SSP. These had of course to be compatible with the central platform.

The debate over 'international socialism' was raised. It was agreed that the inclusion of this slogan could only be decided through the central decision-making processes. Although a clear majority were in favour, the network has agreed to delay its decision on this until October. This did not prevent the RCN (England) stating its view before then. But it would only become RCN policy through the central all-Britain conference.

The motion was then put and passed unanimously.

After this the rest of the meeting progressed smoothly. The decisions of the RCN were now formally accepted. We then spent some time looking at those decisions and clarifying them. It was explained that the network was not a party or tendency. The principle of democratic centralism did not apply. We would try through the process of discussion and debate to find a greater degree of voluntary unity. Where it was possible to get a common position, as the comrades in the SSP had done, this was to be welcomed. But at the same time supporters of the network were free to put forward their own propaganda and follow the discipline of their own organisations. Unity in action was desirable, but in a network was voluntary. By contrast unity in action in a party organisation was imposed by democratic majority decision.

It was then agreed that we would elect officers. Steve Freeman was proposed as secretary and elected by 17 votes with two abstentions. Peter Manson was elected treasurer unanimously.