11.09.2002
Winning arguments
Nottingham Socialist Alliance showed its relative positive side on September 2 by hosting a well attended and lively debate on the forthcoming euro referendum. Over 20 comrades attended, representing the Socialist Workers Party, the Alliance for Workers' Liberty, the CPGB and a handful of independents. For over two hours we debated the stance the Socialist Alliance should adopt nationally at its October 12 conference on Europe and the euro referendum. It was interesting to read comrade Pearson's report, 'Boycotts and abstentions' (Weekly Worker September 5), because it seems that our SWP comrades have a plan - and they mean to stick with it. Comrade Tom, something of an up-and-comer in Nottingham SWP circles spoke first. He asserted that the SA should sanction a 'no' vote in any euro referendum, offering the argument that, if the United Kingdom joined the euro, the working class would be at the mercy of a centralised bosses' Europe. As if we're not already at the mercy of the British bosses. Although he spoke well, and at times with no little passion, the comrade's line on the euro seemed to suggest that, come our integration into the eurozone, fascists would be on the march and Europe would become a fortress, ready to throw out any refugees who did not fit in. Again, surely this situation already exists? The comrade went on to say that it would be capitalist corporations who would run Europe, alongside the resurgent far right, mentioning Haider in Austria particularly. This view may fit in well with what the SWP are trying to do with this argument - ie, turn it away from any kind of struggle for an independent working class voice on this vital subject towards an anti-fascist crusade - but it is wilfully empty of any kind of serious political content, and I think the SWP know it. Speaking for the joint CPGB/AWL-sponsored active boycott camp was comrade Pete Radcliff of the AWL. He pointed out that an active boycott, far from being an excuse to ignore the whole affair, was a chance to unite the left across Europe, seek out trade union links in different European countries and try and bring together revolutionary forces under a common ideology. He pointed out that there are potentially huge forces who would back an active boycott, whether that meant writing 'For a socialist Europe' on your ballot paper or organising demonstrations and pickets. This was a chance, he said, that we had to grasp. The comrade is of course right. Why must the SA continue to practice tailism? I pointed this out to the meeting. Since the general election last year we have protested against many things together. But here is another - vital -chance to make our claim for an independent working class position. Does the SA really want to follow the left nationalism of Tony Benn and Arthur Scargill? Or do we want to reject both the 'yes' and 'no' capitalist or bosses' position in the name of working class independence? The SA should stand by our 2001 general election manifesto People before profit - neither the pound nor the euro, but working class across Europe. The euro referendum, along with the mayoral campaign in Hackney, represent great opportunities. If the SWP had its way, the SA should simply be pleased with embarrassing Blair. Which makes a mockery of what the SA should be about - being an organisation moving towards becoming a party of the working class. A lively debate ensued, at the end of which a vote was taken. The 'no' camp won by 11-9, purely on the SWP managing to rally their troops. But it was plain who had won the argument. So much so that many in the 'no' camp looked downright despondent. Sam Metcalf
Worker