LETTERS
Harry Sloan Is on hollday: last seen somewhere in the vicinity of Baghdad the masses in general leads through the Labour by Party.
Yet, like supporters of "Economism" in Russia at the tum of the century, our present-day says: proponents of this doctrine shrink from the formidable Labour movement for socialism.
In order to justify what is effectively a withdrawal from politics, they have invented the "theory" that support of the mass political party for socialist policies can somehow be won outside that party, or alternatively, by setting up a halfway house on that party's periphery, by building, to quote Jane Wells again "on the experiences working people face every day". (ie. the economic struggles of the working class).
Organisations with imaginary high political potential are being set up - outside the real political mass organisation of the working class. Behind an elaborate structure of self-deception, pseudo-political activities - such as the concentration on producing innumerable weeklies, fortnightlies, monthlies, quarterlies or the holding of innumerable meetings and conferences -are being passed off as "campaigning", and being substituted for involvement in the arena in which political class struggle is being forced out: the Labour Party.
Like their Russian predecessors the advocates of the current version of "Economism" leave politics to those intent on preserving capitalist society.
Jane Wells disregards 70 years of failed attempts to create an effective socialist force outside the Labour Party. Mimiltant workers and non-Labour socialists will not be convinced of the need to join the Labour Party by building castles in the air - such as the "campaigning" of the Socialist Movement - but only when the Labour left is successful. This was demonstrated during the years of the Bevanite advance and more recently when significant gains were achieved both on 'issues such as nuclear disarmament and public ownership, and during the struggles for mandatory reselection and wider franchise for the lection of the Leader and Deputy Leader, These victories were not won persistent and systematic efforts of socialists within it.
To whom is Jane Wells referring when she
"It is a serious mistake ... to argue (as some political task of winning the mass do) that ... you lay the groundwork for leftwing policies not by campaigning for socialist politics now, but by refining party procedures to make sure the structures for accountability are there ready for when the Left is on the up again".
It can only be CLPD. Yet this is not CLPD's position. CLPD does not separate campaigning for socialist policies from campaigning for Party democracy in the way Jane Wells suggests, for in its view the two go together and cannot be separated.
This year one of CLPD's model resolutions demands the reduction of defence expenditure - not exactly a demand to refine party proce dures.
The fact that CLPD is prioritising constitutional issues (as well as the cuts in defence expenditure) is above all because of the dire results for the Party if the present leadership succeeds in pushing through the changes outlined above. These changes would allow the leadership, and a future labour govemment, to be immune to rank and file pressure.
It is a pity that the Left's limited resources are being dispersed in all directions at this time, when repelling the attack on what remains of the democratic gains of 1979-81 is an absolute priority.
Vladimir Derer
London
(This letter was cut from 2,300 words: Ed.)
We welcome letters on any subject: but please keep them brief! Letters over 400 words will be cut.
Send to Socialist Outlook,
PO Box 1109, London N4
Campaign Against War in the Gulf is open to affiliation from all organisations and holds regular open meetings. The basis of the Campaign is No War in the Gulf! and
Our organisation would like to affiliate to/ would like more information about CAWG.
Return to: CAWG, 7e Cumberland Park, London W3 6SY
Sponsors: Bernie Grant MP; Alice Mahon MP; Eric Heffer MP; Tony Benn MP; Jeremy Corbyn MP: Women for Socialism; Campaign for Non-Alignment; Socialist Worker's Party: Socialist Society; London NUS; Labour
Party Socialists; Labour Briefing; Socialist Organiser; Socialist Outlook; Jim Brann, Secretary, London Region
CND; Isabelle McMillan, Chair, London Region CND; Jim Addington, CND National Council; Walter Wolfgang,
Chair Labour CND; Nicholas Russell, Secretary, London Labour CND; Narendra Makanji, International Officer,
READ SOCIALIST OUTLOOK EVERY MONTH.
1 years subscription (ten issues) for £10 inland, € 12.50 Europe, £17.50 outside Europe (surface), €20 outside Europe (airmail) Multi-reader institutions £20 inland, €35 overseas.
Return to Socialist Outlook, PO Box 1109, London N4 2UU
US & British Troops Out of the Gulf!.
Organisation
Address.
Contact Name/ Phone number.
Affiliation fee enclosed
(Please delete as appropriate)
LP Black Sections; Emma Colyer, National Secretary NUS.
All individuals in a personal capacity
Name...
Address..
Subscription to start from Number......