05.12.2002

Cover-up allegation denied

Tribune, the left Labour weekly, has lept on the unprincipled resignation of Liz Davis as chair of the Socialist Alliance. In preparation for what is expected to be a hatchet job, a series of written question were submitted to the Socialist Alliance national executive. We reproduce Tribune's questions and the answers provided by a "spokesperson" of the Socialist Alliance

Ms Davies alleged that she resigned after discovering financial malpractice in the alliance. Does the SA accept this occurred? It was agreed by everyone on the national executive, including Liz Davies, that, although proper procedures had not been followed in the issuing of seven cheques, the expenditure concerned was legitimate and no person nor organisation had gained financially from it. Additional procedures have been put in place by the national executive to safeguard against any chance of repetition of the problem that occurred. Ms Davies says that she suffered bullying and intimidation and was told to cover up the financial malpractice. Is this correct? There is no evidence of any bullying or intimidation of Liz Davies. No charges of bullying have ever been raised by Liz with the national executive nor have they ever been specified in any form. As such it is impossible for the national executive to comment on them further. The national executive did not at any time attempt to cover this matter up - instead it initiated an inquiry as soon as we were able to have a full national executive meeting. The final report from the inquiry was agreed unanimously by the national executive at its November 16 meeting. The executive have been conducting an investigation into Ms Davies's remarks, but the person conducting the inquiry has published his findings before reporting to the national council. Is this correct? The findings of the inquiry were not published by anyone before a report was made to the national executive on November 16. We have a national council meeting of delegates from every local Socialist Alliance on December 14 that will receive a full report from the national executive. The Socialist Alliance only campaigns effectively on issues of importance to the SWP. Is this a fair assessment? The Socialist Alliance is currently campaigning, amongst other things, against the impending war on Iraq, in support of the firefighters, for the democratisation of trade union political funds, for enormously improved childcare, against the privatisation of council housing and against the closure of old people's homes. These are issues which concern millions of working people. Of the 18 members of the national executive of the Socialist Alliance, which helps to determine these priorities, just three are members of the SWP.