30.11.2000

SA roundup

East London Cutting edge

On November 23, East London Socialist Alliance (Elsa) selected its candidate to run for the parliamentary constituency of Dagenham at the general election. Comrade Berlyne (Bill) Hamilton was elected unanimously, although the result was a forgone conclusion, as no other individual put themselves forward.

This is not to take anything away from comrade Hamilton. As a militant trade unionist and shop steward at Ford Dagenham, the comrade has been on the cutting edge in defence of workers' rights against attacks by the giant transnational. As he says in his written statement, he has come to recognise "the harsh reality" that New Labour is not "concerned about ordinary working people and their families". The comrade believes in a "fair and just society, which is based on opportunity, choice and freedom of movement without any prejudice, racism or victimisation of any kind".

Comrade Hamilton's selection speech understandably dealt mainly with Ford's attacks on its workers. He also spoke of the need for hospital staff in Newham, East London to fight back to safeguard their wages and conditions. It was only when questioned by the audience that he gave his perspective on broader, political issues: eg, asylum-seekers, Scottish self-determination and gay equality.

Bob Paul of the CPGB spoke from the floor on the need to address all issues, political and economic. He stated that, with comrade Hamilton's selection, Elsa is likely to have a head start in Dagenham, given the current issues affecting the Ford plant. However, this should not mean that our political platform would have to be based only on wages and cutbacks. Although these are vitally important issues, Elsa should be in a position to have answers on a broad number of questions, as should the Socialist Alliance generally. And, whatever issue Blair and the ruling class are raising, we must provide our own solutions.

There was some debate about how the profile of Elsa should be raised. A comrade from the Alliance for Workers' Liberty spoke of the need for hard grassroots work; this was echoed by supporters of the SWP. Comrade Paul, whilst agreeing with this approach, also emphasised the need for the Socialist Alliance to take a global view. This was supported by Greg Tucker, who spoke as a representative of the London Socialist Alliance steering committee.

Comrade Tucker stated that programmatic questions were still being debated amongst the components of the SA and that there would be an ongoing discussion.

Bob Paul

Birmingham
Good start made

About 100 attended the first public meeting of Birmingham Socialist Alliance on November 21, which for Birmingham is a good turnout. The meeting was lively, with speakers John Rothery (Walsall Democratic Labour Party), John Denham (Socialist Party) and Theresa Bennett - whose affiliation (SWP) was not even mentioned. Also present were the Alliance for Workers' Liberty, Workers Power and the still existing and active S26 group, as well as people from the Dudley Hospital struggle, Direct Action Network and Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. Indeed one person even turned up because of the British National Party leafleting in the city centre.

A couple of matters seemed to run against the general tenor of the meeting. Firstly, SWP comrades speaking from the platform and the floor kept quiet on their SWP membership - strange, considering the stress put by the speakers on 'not hiding disagreements' but 'learning from each other'. Secondly, contrary to the circular letter sent out to BSA members, which said groups were welcome to bring their stalls, a comrade from the AWL protested that political groups' stalls had in fact been banned from the meeting. But not the Campaign Against Euro-Federalism, whose stall was openly displaying copies of the Revolutionary Communist Party of Britain (Marxist-Leninist)'s Workers' Weekly for sale - fine, but why should other groups not have the same right?

However, debates were free flowing and several comrades from the SP and WP made the point that we actually need a revolution to change things. All in all, a good start.

For more information about the BSA, ring 0121 680 4259.

Steven Davies

Scottish Socialist Party
Anti-nationalist tendency launched

On November 26 a small number of Scottish Socialist Party members, meeting in Glasgow, launched the SSP Workers' Unity tendency, based upon the following:

• We are committed to building a united socialist fightback throughout Britain to the pro-capitalist policies of New Labour and the other parties of big business.
• We seek to promote a united British working class fightback against New Labour's attack on the working class, democratic rights and welfare state by participating in Britain-wide campaigns in defence of working class interests - eg, for the repeal of the anti-trade union laws.
• We do not believe that Scotland is an oppressed nation. We do support the right of self-determination of the Scottish people, but we oppose the demand for independence.
• We reject the dead end of Scottish nationalism and any attempt to divide the British working class along nationalist lines. We call for a British Socialist Party.
• The SSP should support the creation of a united socialist challenge throughout Britain at the next general election and should call for socialists in Britain to come together around a common platform in order to more effectively challenge New Labour and the other pro-capitalist parties and thus aid the promotion of working class unity, self-activity and the cause of socialism.

Any SSP member interested in finding out more about the Workers' Unity tendency can contact me at: td954905@ student.paisley.ac.uk

Tom Delargy

SA meetings

Greater Manchester
Candidate selection for Withington constituency
Thursday December 7, 8pm
Community Centre, Burton Road, Withington (next to baths)

Hackney
Candidate selection meeting for the Hackney South and Shoreditch seat
Wednesday December 13, 7.30pm - 9.30pm
Queensbridge Community Centre, 30 Holly Street, Dalston