24.10.2001

Greater Manchester

Northwest repeats Coalition pattern

The development of the Stop the War Coalition in Greater Manchester has followed the pattern set elsewhere, as shown in Weekly Worker?s coverage.

The September 27 meeting was organised by the Socialist Workers party in conjunction with the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. Some 250 people heard the speeches of the SWP?s Chris Bambery, Rae Street of CND and two trade union speakers, Bob Oram, Unison?s north west regional chair and Anizas Mahil, national president of the Medical Practitioners Union. Socialist Alliance member, John Nicholson, chaired the rally at the invitation of the organisers. Some useful, although unremarkable, points were made in the contributions from the platform and, refreshingly, some 45 minutes were dedicated to speakers from the floor.

The event and the method of its organisation, however, displayed some of the weaknesses of the left in Britain today. Firstly, whilst a huge step forward has been made in the creation of the Socialist Alliance - the first substantial regroupment in Britain for many years - it is undoubtedly a setback when it is not that organisation but its largest component, the SWP, which initiates the response to a declaration of war by the prime minister.

Secondly, the passivity and backwardness of our trade unions was amply demonstrated in the speeches of brothers Oram and Mahil. Whilst the latter was interesting, it was a purely propagandistic survey of the contemporary misery of humanity, primarily focused on Palestine. Brother Oram, whose speech very much reflected his Communist Party of Britain affiliation, did try to recommend a model resolution for trade union anti-war work. He circulated a declaration passed by Unison?s north west regional council. This condemned both the terrorist attacks in the United States and the war-mongering threats of Bush and Blair, but concluded by urging the Blair government to pursue the road of diplomacy rather than military action. Completely absent was any call for action by his own members or the broader trade union movement.

The rally ended without any decisions being made. Two organising meetings have since taken place, however. The first, on October 11, having been called by comrade John Baxter in his capacity of convenor of Greater Manchester Socialist Alliance. These have been attended by 60 and 40 people respectively. It has been agreed that fortnightly open meetings of this type will be the organising body of the Stop the War Coalition. Four functional officer positions were created at the first meeting, all filled unopposed. Norma Wilson of CND and Hussein Al Alak of the Coalition Against Sanctions and War on Iraq are joint convenors, comrade Nicholson is press officer, Richard Searle of the SWP is membership secretary and Mark Krantz, also of the SWP is treasurer. Following an objection by two anarchist comrades at what they saw as the creation of ?hierarchical structures?, several speakers explained the concepts of accountability and instant recall, which it was agreed will be exercised over these officers by the general meetings.

The coalition is feeling its way forward at the moment. Although socialists and indeed, Socialist Alliance members, are undoubtedly in a majority in the assemblies so far, the ?no socialism here? cry of the peacenik elements has already been heard. The SWP, as the largest single grouping, has appeared inclined to bow to this pressure. Its presence has been very restrained, with no Socialist Worker sellers positioned on the door of the last meeting on October 23, for instance. SWP thinking seems to be, let the coalition organise demonstrations and other events, which will themselves become the solid foundation for high profile SWP intervention and recruitment. Our first demonstration has been called for Saturday, November 3 and widespread optimism was apparent in the organising meeting at the prospects for turnout on this event and on numbers which can be mobilised from Manchester for the next national demonstration, on November 18.

What is urgently needed now in Manchester is work by the Socialist Alliance in forging a socialist component of the anti-war movement in the region, which will overcome the separatist tendencies apparent in the SWP.

John Pearson