02.03.2000

Greater London Authority elections

Scargill moves to further split left

Last weekend's general meeting of the London region of the Socialist Labour Party rubber-stamped the national executive's list of 11 candidates for the proportional representation seats of the Greater London Authority for the May elections.

The list, which is published in full in the latest edition of Socialist News (February-March), the SLP's bimonthly newspaper, is headed by general secretary Arthur Scargill and consists largely of an alliance of Scargillites and close associates of Harpal Brar, editor of the ultra-Stalinite Lalkar, publication of the Indian Workers Association. In addition to comrade Brar himself, the list is graced by four of his followers, also linked to the Stalin Society (yes, there is such a body and the London region is run by its supporters): daughter Joti, editor of Women for Socialism, journal of the SLP women's section; NEC women's section representatives Amanda Rose and Ella Rule; and Hardev Dhillon, a prominent IWA activist in south London.

From Scargill's point of view, the list is disappointing in that, apart from himself, it contains not one 'big name'. Arthur had made strenuous efforts to persuade both Bob Crow, assistant general secretary of the RMT, and Dave Rix, general secretary of Aslef, to allow their names to be put forward. Not surprisingly, comrade Crow flatly turned down the proposal. He has enough on his plate without alienating those of his fellow RMT members who will be opposing the SLP list in the shape of the Campaign Against Tube Privatisation, fronted by former SLP vice-president Pat Sikorski.

Comrade Rix was also less than keen. Such influential figures in the union movement are most reluctant to commit themselves, given the fluid situation with regard to the intervention by Ken Livingstone, who can be expected to announce his own slate of candidates.

Scargill may not have been able to induce comrade Crow to stand, but he has managed to come up with what he imagines to be the next best thing - Bob's partner, Nicola Hoarau. Like Bob himself, comrade Hoarau has been notable by her absence from recent SLP events - last Saturday's London conference at Saklatvala Hall in Southall was no exception.

Another surprise on the list is Geoff Palmer, who featured on the left-liberal opposition slate in the NEC elections at Socialist Labour's November 1999 congress. He won 60 votes, as compared to 105 for the lowest successful candidate on the recommended list. In sharp contrast to the rest of the slate, comrade Palmer has a Trotskyite background. He was formerly a supporter of the Marxist Bulletin, most of whose followers left the SLP two years ago to 'rejoin' the International Bolshevik Tendency, taking their journal with them. He had previously also failed to win a seat on the London regional committee - only the two Hackney branches backed him at last September's London AGM and he finished way behind the list of candidates put together by comrade Brar.

But comrade Palmer is an RMT activist and branch officer, and is the nearest thing the SLP has to a prominent tubeworker - Livingstone's bid for the mayoralty has ensured that the underground will be the central issue in the elections and is certain to be the main plank of the SLP's campaign.

The decision to include him on the list is also in line with Scargill's move to incorporate other non-threatening individuals who have in the past voiced reservations about the party's policies and general direction. The December NEC decided to second three of these half-hearted oppositionists onto its standing committees.

The three other places on the list - the party went through the motions of inviting nominations from London CSLPs, but in reality it was drawn up by the NEC - are taken by eccentric 'independent' Stalinite Robert Siggins and two Scargillites, John Hayball and Margaret Sharkey. Comrade Sharkey has recently moved to London and was recommended by Scargill himself, while comrade Hayball has been running the region's day-to-day 'activity' since last October when Steve Cowan suddenly abandoned ship just weeks after his election as regional secretary.

Since then comrade Hayball has been cutting an increasingly forlorn figure, as he tries in vain to muster some interest in the latest demonstration, lobby or sale of Socialist News. Much to his despair, there were no nominations from branches for the secretarial vacancy and he was obliged - with the greatest reluctance - to accept the post of London secretary himself at Saturday's meeting.

Comrade Brar, as a senior NEC member, views himself as the capital's political guru, leaving organisational tasks to comrade Hayball. At the Southall meeting, attended by 26 comrades, he stressed the importance of contesting the GLA elections. While passing over the CATP in silence, he slammed the London Socialist Alliance for 'crawling before Livingstone' and stated that the only reason the "opportunists and reformists" of the LSA were standing was ... to block the SLP.

The likes of Scargill and Brar can get away with such absurd claims in view of the dismal collapse - headed by the Socialist Workers Party, and followed in rapid succession by the International Socialist Group, Socialist Party and Alliance for Workers' Liberty - of the united socialist challenge in last June's EU elections in the capital. In 1999 the left, apart from the CPGB, decided its own challenge was not "viable", compared to that of Scargill, who headed Socialist Labour's London list, just as he is heading it in 2000. No wonder Scargill and his London lieutenant dismiss the SWP et al with contempt, claiming that only the SLP candidates are legitimate, while the others are wreckers.

In reality, the LSA has been calling on the SLP to enter into talks to form a united left slate. Paul Foot privately contacted Scargill - citing past favours. But to no avail. So this time the LSA will have to fight Scargill. Quite right. It can mobilise hundreds of activists, while Socialist Labour is reduced to a couple of dozen sad individuals and the fading allure of Scargill's own name.

At the national level too, the SLP is barely functioning: the national executive last met on February 5, but the next NEC, despite the importance of the London elections, is not due until May 13 - a week after polling.

It will not be the fault of the LSA if as many as four left slates appear on the ballot paper. In addition the Morning Star is to stand Monty Goldman as an 'official' Communist Party of Britain candidate in North East London.

The SWP has a lot to answer for after last year's debacle. But in May the LSA can really put itself on the map and in the process kill off the sectarianism that has plagued our movement for too long.