30.07.2003

SSP equivalent in Wales

John Marek's remarks in Red Pepper (July)

My experience of winning the Wrexham seat in the Welsh assembly as an independent socialist contains lessons for the debate opened up by Hilary [Wainright] in the last issue of Red Pepper.

A sizeable part of my vote came from disillusioned Labour voters and trade unionists who were unhappy with Labour moving to the right or who felt unable to vote for a party that started the Iraq war.

They and many young, first-time voters want to see a credible, left-of-centre party. Wrexham was the only Welsh constituency with an increased turnout in May. I believe this happened because there was a credible radical alternative to the mainstream parties.

Some of us are looking north of the border to the Scottish Socialist Party (SSP) for a lead as to how to make progress in Wales. On a recent visit, we were impressed with the unity and tolerance of different views shown by delegates at the SSP’s national council. We believe there is a case for forming an equivalent party in Wales - a nascent Welsh socialist party providing a credible alternative to Labour, which has turned its back on working people.

That party would have a mix of principled and practical left policies. It would defend public services, be against the private finance initiative, work for a publicly owned railway, repeal anti-trade-union laws and be anti-racist and anti-militarist. We would also look at what makes us different from Scotland, such as the significance of the Welsh language or the fact that the Welsh assembly doesn’t have primary powers - something that we would work to change.

We have been delighted with the support from local trade unionists - especially the firefighters. We have worked closely with anti-incinerator, environmental campaigners and community activists, and I’ve been actively supporting the anti-war movement. A conference on August 9 will bring many of these people together.

Wales has not seen the same cohesion on the left that there has been in Scotland. Any initiative to form a Welsh socialist party would have to involve other socialist groups - still small and disorganised - so as to develop a common platform and agree priorities for Wales and for Europe. We will also talk to the Greens and Plaid Cymru about campaigns and issues that unite us; there will be mutual respect.

Without unification of left views the possibility for socialists to be represented and have influence will continue to be diminished. It is still early days, but we hope to come to a definite conclusion by the autumn and have a party before the new year. Our aim is that in eight years’ time we will have a truly left government.