23.03.2006

You're out, comrade X!

I was at an SWP forum - an open public meeting - and was just waiting for it to begin with a couple of other comrades when I was approached by the Tower Hamlets organiser. She asked for a quick word and told me that Martin Smith wanted me to call him.

I did so and he told me, oddly, that he had been waiting to speak to me after leaving a message two and a half months ago - a message I had not received. I mean, if he was waiting that long, why didn't he phone back? When I said this to him, he told me he wasn't going to waste his time chasing me up. His manner was dismissive and arrogant.

Anyway, he told me I was "out of the party". Now, I don't know when this was decided, by what party committee, what evidence was presented, or even when I ceased to be a member as far as Martin Smith was concerned - from the moment he spoke to me, or from two and a half months ago? It's crazy.

During that time I have had central office telephoning me to come to the SWP starter school, I went to the SWP PCS faction meeting in February, and they have continued taking money from my account for membership dues. Is this lack of coordination, or what?

The comrade told me that my behaviour around the time of SWP conference in January had been "terrible". He said that he knew comrades in my area for 20 years and they had been outraged.

I was baffled as to what he was talking about. Why couldn't someone come and discuss with me if my behaviour had been so bad? I didn't even attend the SWP conference. What I did at that time was this - I phoned up my local branch secretary, who was on the conference arrangements committee, to clarify how I could actually get to conference; I asked whether, if I was not elected as a delegate, I could go as an observer. I also approached a comrade from Newham who was a delegate to invite me as an observer.

Martin brought up this last point as an example of my 'crimes'. He seemed outraged that I had phoned a party member from a different borough to get an invitation as a non-voting, non-speaking observer to the conference of my own organisation! It was as if I had broken some rule - a rule that states you are not allowed to phone members in a different part of London. Is Martin Smith saying that SWPers can only phone their comrades who live within a certain geographical radius? This is just crap.

I can only guess that where all this comes from are the comments I made at a joint Newham and Tower Hamlets forum leading up to the conference. There was a general discussion on electing candidates. I suppose I did introduce a degree of controversy - most of the other contributions simply praised the work of the party.

I brought up the fact that there had been no discussion in the organisation about the religious hatred bill. I also pointed to what I saw as a growing gap between the principles in our 'What we stand for' column and our stance in Respect on issues such as immigration controls. I expressed a general worry that our interaction with Respect was pulling the party to the right.

One comrade then did try to answer my points - but starting from the presumption that I was a political naive, that I was being idealistic in a simple-minded way. Another comrade came back on this, pointed out the fact that none of my questions had been answered, then developed the theme on the religious hatred bill, backing up my observation about the lack of discussion in the party on this.

Elaine Heffernan's response on this subject was interesting. She stated that any attempt to talk to the working class about open borders would be the equivalent of us speaking to a brick wall. It was pointless talking about what we actually believe in, in other words. In Chris Nineham's summing up, he backed up this approach - he even said that going down that route would simply mean suffering the fate of the Weekly Worker and the CPGB - being in a small, isolated party, destined never to grow.

What on earth is any thinking comrade supposed to do? I thought there was debate and democracy in the party, but now I find it was an illusion all along. I was only exploring my own Marxist ideas and for this I am expelled.

I appealed about a week ago, but I haven't heard anything yet. I really am surprised to find myself in this position - I consider myself a loyal SWP member, despite my criticisms. I joined immediately after the massive Stop the War demo in 2003. I have been active at a branch level - paper sales, building Respect meetings and campaigning - in a number of different areas around the country since. I have taken a full part in the party's work - and then this happens.

I think this sort of thing - being expelled in a brief telephone call, with no documents, charges or chance to defend myself - brings discredit on the party. It is as if the comrades like Martin Smith at the top of the party are totally unaccountable to the membership, and effectively have dictatorial powers. It smacks of Stalinism. Perhaps Martin would be unleashing terror gangs on dissident leftwingers in a revolutionary situation.

If you even question aspects of how the party is operating, the guillotine comes down and you're out. I think that sends out a very negative, rather nasty message to the wider movement.

Comrade X