28.04.2004

Dead in the water

Socialist Alliance Executive

A rump Socialist Alliance executive committee met on Saturday April 24 in Birmingham. There were just eight of the original 36 NEC members present - I myself decided my time would be better employed at the CPGB aggregate in London rather than spending a day travelling for a two-hour meeting. With the SWP-led majority effectively closing the alliance down at the March special conference, there was not a lot of business to attend to.

The meeting heard a report from Nick Wrack, chair of both the SA and Respect, on the election campaign. Following my resignation as nominations officer at the March conference, comrade Wrack was selected as my replacement. He will not be overly busy in that post, as the executive confirmed the decision of conference not to contest any elections on June 10 - or any by-elections in the run-up to ‘super Thursday’.

The meeting heard that a number of branches had asked to stand Respect candidates in the local elections. Such requests have been passed on to the Respect office. Will McMahon, SA office worker, has been seconded to work for the Respect campaign for the duration of the election period.

A vote of thanks was given to Shelley Margetson, who has resigned as treasurer to take up a job overseas. Heather Cox was elected to replace her. There was no other business.

In times past, I have prioritised attending the SA executive over CPGB internal meetings, where there was a clash. However, with the SA now effectively dead, my priorities have changed accordingly. Reflecting the fact that the focus for leftwing politics outside the Labour Party has moved to Respect, the CPGB will no longer maintain its monthly donation to the Socialist Alliance. We are paid up to the end of June.