01.08.2001
East London
AGM agrees to disband Elsa
At its annual general meeting last week, members of the East London Socialist Alliance (Elsa) voted to disband the organisation and replace it with three, borough-based Socialist Alliances. In his motion, Elsa officer and SWP member Paul McGarr proposed the formation of Tower Hamlets, Newham, and Barking and Dagenham SAs, arguing that these organisations would be in a better position to respond to local demands, as opposed to the current structure, which had to cover the ?enormous area? of east London.
Although not objecting to the development of the new alliances, Elsa officer and CPGB member Bob Paul proposed an amendment to the motion and argued that the new structures should not be counterposed to Elsa, whose officers should continue to meet on a monthly basis. This would provide a forum for discussion across the whole of the East End, ensuring debate on any matter would not remain within the confines of the new alliances, where - for example in Barking and Dagenham - membership numbers were likely to be small. He argued that more voices would produce a greater input, which would be more constructive.
Although there was some sympathy with the amendment, unfortunately there was little by way of hard support. SWP supporters in particular stated that comrade McGarr?s motion allowed for officers from each borough to meet, so cross-borough coordination would not be a problem. Comrade Paul agreed that to a degree this was correct. But he pointed out that, according to the motion, these meetings would only take place ?where needed?. There would therefore be no formal obligation to meet. Out of the 30 members present, only two people voted in favour of the amendment. The substantive motion was passed unanimously.
Taking place less than a week after the anti-capitalist demonstration in Italy, it was fitting that the other topic which dominated the AGM was Genoa. Two comrades, Martin Empson (Globalise Resistance and SWP) and Sandra Griffiths (Workers Power) gave their perspective of the events.
Comrade Griffiths explained why it was important to challenge the self-proclaimed leadership of the anarchists within the anti-capitalist movement and replace it with genuine ?revolutionary leadership?. She made no criticism of the tactics used by some anarchists at Genoa (presumably in line with the WP motion carried without debate at the Socialist Alliance Liaison Committee last weekend, which refused to ?condemn the protesters in any way whatsoever?). Nevertheless the comrade stated the importance of the left needing to lead the anti-capitalist movement and called for a ?red bloc? based on the Socialist Alliance to take the fight forward.
Bob Paul spoke of the need to democratise the anti-capitalist movement and of the importance to distinguish our (communist) strategy from that of the anarchists. He stated that the direct action of the ANC, for example, to end apartheid in South Africa or the direct action of the millions who took part in the general strike in this country 75 years ago was something that we should aspire to. Destroying cash point machines, for example, and engaging in activities which were not integral to a wider working class strategy was not the way forward.
Bob Paul