17.05.2000

Build the Socialist Alliance

Prepare for all-UK challenge

The hugely successful London Socialist Alliance intervention in the Greater London Assembly election is bound to have repercussions throughout working class politics in Britain.

It is in response to this prospect that the Greater Manchester Socialist Alliance has called a public meeting on Saturday May 20, on the theme, 'Should socialists work together in electoral alliances?' This is a welcome development. Nevertheless, readers will recall that, against vigorous resistance led by the CPGB - that GMSA convenor John Nicholson has, from the outset, steered the socialist alliance project in Manchester away from the model of an inclusive alliance towards that of an exclusivist sect, based upon agreement with his reformist, environmentalist agenda.

At successive annual general meetings of the GMSA, Nicholson won a formal majority, first for the exclusion of the CPGB, and then for the removal of revolutionary organisations from their delegate seats on the 'steering committee'. Since the 1999 AGM, GMSA has been an individual membership organisation, with a constitutional 'black-balling' process for new and renewed membership applicants.

Needless to say, it is encouraging that the spirit of inclusivity which has characterised the LSA - boosted by the participation of the Socialist Workers Party - has made itself felt in Manchester. The SWP did, briefly, participate in the North West Socialist Alliance, when it seemed possible that there would be a united left electoral challenge in the 1999 EU elections, but the temporary victory of the conservatives on its central committee brought its withdrawal. However, though it has never worked within the GMSA it does maintain an enduring modus vivendi with Nicholson himself. This predates the formation of the GMSA and arose from an unrequited courtship of Nicholson by the SWP from the time that it became publicly clear that the former (then a 'left' deputy leader of Manchester city council) was on an exit trajectory from the Labour Party. Since acquiring the title of convenor of the GMSA, Nicholson has been a regular face on the platform of SWP-initiated events in Manchester.

On April 13 1999 he joined SWP and CND speakers at the inaugural public meeting of Manchester Against War in the Balkans and subsequently became a committee member of the campaign. But Nicholson refused to fight for the GMSA's formal position on Kosovar self determination.

More recently, he again occupied the podium when the SWP's national secretary, Chris Bambery, addressed a 200-strong SWP public meeting on the theme of 'Break with New Labour'. Nicholson's contribution was a rather peculiar one, concentrating on denouncing Ken Livingstone's corruption and denying his own interest in ever becoming mayor of Manchester.

Against this background then, it is interesting that this month's issue of the GMSA bulletin carries an article by Mark Krantz, on behalf of the SWP's Manchester district, entitled, 'Building the socialist alternative'. Comrade Krantz opens by asserting that, "It is an exciting time for socialists. Opposition to capitalism is growing, and the New Labour Party is in crisis to its very core."

The election of Ken Livingstone as mayor of London has deepened Blair's crisis and the support won by the London Socialist Alliance has shown that workers are prepared to vote for socialist candidates, the comrade continues. Setting the scene for the May 20 GMSA meeting, at which the SWP has been invited to speak, comrade Krantz concludes: "We face opportunities to build a New Left. But to limit our vision to familiar faces from the past would be a serious mistake ... as Marxists we put forward working class self-emancipation and genuine internationalism as the best guide to action."

The comment relating to the error of "limiting our vision to familiar faces from the past" is a particularly interesting one. The formal reason given by the SWP when it withdrew from the European parliament slate in the North West was that neither the Liverpool dockers' leaders nor any other working class figures of similar stature could be won to head the list. At the same time of course, the SWP remained involved in the Socialist Alliance slate in the West Midlands, where SPEW's number one English celebrity, Dave Nellist, took the premier place. As well as the SWP speaker, the London Socialist Alliance and the Green Party have been invited to speak at Saturday's meeting.

There is no doubt that the Nicholson clique are attempting to 'ride the tiger' in the aftermath of London. They recognise that there is going to be a left challenge in Manchester constituencies in the next general election, and are bidding to retain influence for their project of a red-green alliance. This political dead-end will have to be vigorously contested by Marxists in favour of independent working class politics.

A new chapter is about to open in socialist politics in this crucial working class conurbation. The model of the London Socialist Alliance must be spread. The Greater Manchester Socialist Alliance must be rebuilt as an inclusive alliance of organisations, with a 'one organisation, one vote' delegate committee; unity in action with the right to criticise; and a culture of open and exhaustive debate.