11.08.2004

Loyal opposition

Phil Hamilton reviews the website of the Socialist Unity Network

There’s no denying that left unity is the flavour of the month, with the recent emergence of several groups with this as their raison d’être. We have the verbose Campaign for a Mass Party of the Working Class, Socialist Alliance Democracy Platform, the newly-formed Red Party and the Socialist Unity Network. That four groups working for the same end exist is disappointing, reflecting the chronic divisions that still plague socialists. So how does SUN (aside from the unfortunate initials) stand out from this milieu?

Navigating the website with its clunky appearance, the visitor comes across the ‘Who we are’ section. This locates SUN’s origins as a loyal-oppositionist platform within the defunct Socialist Alliance, made up of comrades “from different, long-standing traditions”. It goes on to welcome the development of Respect, heralding it as an opportunity “to unite with individuals and groups who are not part of the SA”, echoing the roundabout logic that the SA was not sufficiently broad enough. It goes on to position themselves as “an open, collaborative socialist current” fighting for socialist policy positions within Respect, as part of a contribution to a leftwing challenge to New Labour.

Obvious comparisons will be made between SUN and the SADP, not least because of their common origins and similar problematics. However, of the two websites the former operates a wider remit. For example, half of the home page is given over to ‘News’ and ‘Reports’, a selection of labour information and other items of interest from a variety of sources. This is complemented by a bigger archive of press clippings from both the left and bourgeois sources. In contrast, the SADP site only carries the top five headlines from Labourstart, suggesting of a more introspective attitude.

The ‘Activate’ section of the website is where current developments on the left are discussed in depth. The first of these articles looks toward the two-day conference in October recently announced by Respect. The author, Jim Jepps, welcomes the fact that it will occupy a weekend, as opposed to the pinched five or six hours that was the norm for the SA - he hopes ample time will be given to “put flesh on the bones of policy, structure and democracy”. Comrade Jepps goes on to suggest that the unity coalition needs to “lead with its left foot” on what are awkward issues for Respect - such as abortion, LGBT rights, etc, as well as looking to work with other left groups and progressive organisations. Unfortunately, the comrade fails to comment on the structure this conference will take. The relevant press release states that it will be a delegated affair, with one delegate per 10 members. These delegates in turn will be selected by “area meetings”. The phrase ‘exclusion of minorities’ springs to mind.

The ‘Moving forward’ piece, entitled ‘Developing Respect’, is penned by the SWP-friendly Will McMahon. In the nicest sounding language possible, the comrade implies that SUN will not stick with Respect if “campaigning élan” and a “transparent democratic internal life” are not “taken for granted by all, as the formal structures are decided upon at the conference …” He goes on to recognise that not all socialists are convinced by Respect, but instead of casting them to the outer darkness of his mind, McMahon calls on other initiatives to avoid sectarianism. SUN for its part will work for cooperation between these and Respect.

The comrade also takes the opportunity to offer the website as a space where socialists can submit articles and contribute to debates in “a comradely, straightforward fashion”. To this end, a number of uncontroversial guidelines have been helpfully provided (and, to be honest, it would not be a bad thing if contributors to leftist e-lists read this before posting their pearls).

‘Myths of the movement’ is an interesting addition. Taking time out from running a battlefield canteen during the 30 years war, Mother Courage has apparently elected to “examine the myths being promoted by the left, both in published and internal sources, and compare them with reality”. Among the myths addressed are the arguments justifying the poisonous atmosphere that often characterises relations between pro- and anti-Respect socialists, the mini-furore around the disappearance of the SA website, the changing name of the SWP’s Marxist Forums, and others beside. More serious discussion pieces are included in ‘Voices’ and, somewhat rarely for leftist sites, a touch of verse makes an appearance in ‘Counterblasts’.