12.06.2002

Executive sets ambitious timetable

The Socialist Alliance June executive committee meeting began a discussion over activities leading up to the European Union and Greater London Assembly elections in 2004. SA chair Liz Davies submitted a discussion document, The next two years, outlining our electoral timetable and suggestions for building the alliance. These included key conferences and campaigns, organisational infrastructure, fundraising tasks, press, publications and European and international relations. The document also dealt with our relationship with other left forces which was all the more relevant in light of the letter to the SA executive from the Socialist Party in England and Wales. In terms of decisions, the EC set an ambitious goal of fighting in all nine European parliamentary constituencies in England in June 2004. We are also aiming to stand in every constituency in the Greater London Assembly elections with a full London-wide list and will explore the possibility of a single mayoral candidate for the socialist left. There was no possibility that backing Ken Livingstone for another term would help spark a movement against Blair, as had seemed likely two years ago. No one seemed to dissent. Also discussed was the organisation of four important events. On June 29 there will be a Socialist Alliance conference for trade union activists. Early October will see our debate and decision on the strategically important issue of the euro and our attitude to European working class unity. At the end of November we will host a conference on the theme of 'New imperialism, new internationalism', which will seek to build on interest and momentum around the European Social Forum and our activity on campuses at the start of the academic year. Finally, our annual general meeting will be in February 2003. The executive has made the establishment of trade union networks and building for the European Social Forum all-England priorities up to the end of the year. On the first, Mark Hoskisson of Workers Power, SA trade union officer, submitted his report to the EC. In it, he covered the number of successful union fringe meetings we have held at recent conferences. Our union networks are slowly taking shape, reported comrade Hoskisson, and he urged that the SA ensure that these bodies build their infrastructure in the next period. Comrade Hoskisson outlined the political context of our work in the unions. He said that there was a "growing confidence and militancy among workers - especially in the public sector and especially over pay". Added to this were the marginal successes of the left and "an organised counteroffensive" against the SA and the wider union left carried through by both the right wing and sections of the left in the trade union leadership, backed by the Labour Party machine. The attempt to oust Mark Serwotka, a Socialist Alliance supporter, as the democratically elected general secretary of the PCSU has brought the need for the left to organise in the unions into sharp relief. This is why the SA EC has brought forward our union activists' meeting to June 29. This meeting will seek to cohere opposition to the rightwing offensive, organise our union networks and explore the role of the Socialist Alliance in the unions and the relationship to other left groups. It was agreed that union-based workshops, called to discuss the political fund campaign and the organisation of our networks, would elect convenors and/or committees to oversee work in individual unions or industries. Martin Thomas (Alliance for Workers' Liberty) is to draft a leaflet in defence of PCSU democracy, highlighting the need to mobilise the membership, no matter what the outcome of the high court action. Europe Divisions are sharpening up in the Socialist Alliance over the single currency. As yet, the Socialist Workers Party has not publicly revealed its hand, although an internal circular has gone out to branches asking them to put a motion calling for a 'no' vote to local alliances. For the Socialist Alliance, our attitude to European integration and the euro will determine one of our key areas of work for the next two years. The SA will hold a one-day conference to debate the question on either October 5 or 12. The day will be divided into two sessions. The first will be on the euro and how the Socialist Alliance should campaign in any referendum on the single currency. Motions for this conference must be in by August 31 and all amendments to motions must be submitted by September 30. The conference arrangements committee is: Alan Thornett (International Socialist Group), Marcus Ström (CPGB), Will McMahon (Hackney), Martin Thomas (AWL), Rob Hoveman (SWP) and John Rees (SWP). The second session of the conference will concern the European Social Forum, European integration and working class unity and our relationship with European political parties for the 2004 European elections. While no motions will be debated in this session, comrades will be free to submit discussion documents in the lead-up to conference. The CAC will publish a discussion bulletin. The executive discussed the timing of our anti-imperialist and anti-capitalist conference, which will be aimed at attracting students and younger activists. Initially John Rees argued for this event to take place early next year, but it was agreed to hold the conference at the end of November to take advantage of any interest generated by the European Social Forum. The proposed conference arrangements committee is: Mandy Baker, James White, Helen Salmond, Mustufal T, Paul Wilcox, Tina Becker and Rob Hoveman. The campaign to build this conference will be twinned with our building of the European Social Forum. An SA leaflet for the ESF has been prepared. I thought one of the slogans on the leaflet - 'Smash the multinationals' - was inappropriate and wrong. In an aside, though, comrade Hoskisson said he was not going to oppose one of the few healthy pieces of 'ultra-leftism' to emerge from the Socialist Alliance. Refugees action From June 15 to 22, the Socialist Alliance will be backing the week of action in support of migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers. There will be particular emphasis on mobilising for the national demonstration in London on June 22. Comrade Nick Wrack said that the executive should lead from the top on national mobilisations. He urged all representatives of supporting organisations on the executive to participate as leading members of the SA. It was agreed to prepare placards for the demonstration. We nearly moved on to the next agenda item without deciding what was to go on the placards. A discussion ensued. Our slogans are: 'Defend asylum-seekers', 'No to immigration controls' and 'Scrap detention centres'. Martin Thomas proposed the alternative, 'Open borders for people, not capital'. This received the support of two executive members. I understand where Martin was coming from on this, but counterposing freedom of movement for people as against capital could lead to the conclusion that we need tariffs and import controls - something which Marxists should oppose. Other matters A number of other matters and reports were raised. The Socialist Alliance will be attending the next meeting of the European left organised by the United Secretariat (Fourth International). Greg Tucker, Will McMahon and Rob Hoveman will represent us in Madrid on June 18 and 19. There are a number of by-elections pending. We will be contesting the mayoral ballot in Hackney and perhaps in Mansfield. Both polls are for October. June 27 will see a by-election in the Blackwall/Cubitt Town ward of the London borough of Tower Hamlets and another is due in Luton. The discussion around Liz Davies's document The next two years revealed some interesting differences. In speaking to her paper, comrade Davies suggested we needed new colours to clearly separate us from Labour on the doorstep. She suggest red and green. Alan Thornett (ISG), coopted onto the executive after Dave Packer had resigned due to ill health, said we should grab the 'red-green' colours with both hands. I was opposed to this, as was Mark Hoskisson. I joked, why stop at green? Why not purple for feminism, black for anti-racism, pink for gay liberation - why not a rainbow? One of the great benefits of the participation of the Socialist Workers Party in the SA was that it had helped to clearly establish our identity as a red alliance. Let's not water this down now. I said that the greens' attitude to environmentalism was completely different from ours. John Rees said that there was a clear basis for presenting socialist arguments for the environment. On other matters raised by the chair's paper, Martin Thomas argued that our branches needed to be built as political centres in the localities. Will McMahon said that we need "clear central campaigning priorities, while respecting the diversity of the Socialist Alliance". Comrade Rees said that our aspirations ran beyond our current means to build. Therefore we had to prioritise what we do well and build our membership at the same time. He said he thought the current "halfway house" membership arrangements were a mistake and that we should consider moving to a single structure at the earliest opportunity. Lesley Mahmood called for the development of policy forums to deepen the content of our political platform. Nick Wrack said that we needed to build an intimate relationship between the executive and the branches. Rob Hoveman added that there were now around 80 branches of the alliance. With 20 comrades on the EC, perhaps each executive member could be responsible for four branches. He said that we needed to build the alliance as hegemonic on the left; our branches must have political life. Concrete changes and suggestions for the paper will be considered by the July executive. Non-payers Tess McMahon, our national treasurer, said that finances were now on a better footing, though we had not nearly enough regular income. This needs to be overcome through building the membership, looking at fundraising and prioritising expenditure. In terms of income, of the supporting groups only the SWP and CPGB have fulfilled the pledge to donate £160 a month towards the running of the office. Workers Power has offered £250 a quarter. Martin Thomas said the AWL would "sort it out" and Alan Thornett of the ISG said they will look to making a "regular contribution", though he doubted it would be £160 a month. As the ISG is part of an 'international', I do not know why funds are not made available to it from its larger and richer comrades over the Channel. Organisations should put their money where their mouth is. It is inconsistent to agree in principle that organisations should help with running costs and not follow it through. The Socialist Solidarity Network of John Bulaitis, Phil Hearse, Mandy Baker and Sarah Parker have not proffered one red cent to the national coffers, though they do have a member on the executive. There is also the Green Left Network. Finally, on membership, Will McMahon has been doing an admirable job. Unless we have a clear picture of our membership, funds and infrastructure are almost impossible to organise. Since the February national council meeting, 800 people have joined the Socialist Alliance, yet there are irregularities between local membership and national records. Steve Godward suggested we use our membership information to build regional meetings of the Socialist Alliance. With the ambitions of a party but the organisation of a loose alliance, the SA has a lot of work to do to fulfil its promise. The timetable of activity set down by the June executive needs to be given flesh on the ground. Our national initiatives must be used to produce a living membership, and branches with a strong political life. For this to succeed the question of a national newspaper must be put at the top of the agenda. Marcus Ström executive committee member