THE SOCIALIST Workers Party is undergoing one of its periodic sharp political lurches.
Recent internal documents and keynote articles in the SWP press illustrate a growing belief that the organisation -already the largest on the far left - is on the verge of qualitative transformation as stands at "beginning of a path towards revolution' However, its 1992 con. ference report argues that there is one major obstacle to seizing the time: "the way the party presently operates® Scarred "Only a minority of the party is responsible for the sucrecruiting, selling more papers etc. Many of this minonty are themselves very recent recruits to the party.
"Many more experienced scarred by the 1980s, dominate the branch meetings, where they act as a conservative block to shifting the party.
The SWP claims its membership has grown to 7,500, with 2,500 joining in the last three months of 1992 alone. But membership now means a very low level of commitment, and does not entail finandal support or even attending meetings:
"Every new period, and the change in the party's tasks which it brings, requires a redefinition of membership Today a member of the party is someone who sells Socialist Worker and is prepared to defend the politics it contains."
New members, we are told, "need to be given their head" Meanwhile, there are indications of a backlash against the party conservatives, with pulsions of key cadre in Glas8017 A significant minority of the SWP's ruling central committee is belleved to have opposed the party's general strike now' line in the pit closure crisis. But the body's deliberations remain hidden even from the membership. SWP's growing delusions of grandeur is the interview with Its leader Tony Chiff, , published in last week's Socialist Worker. "Imagine if we had 15,000 members of the SWP and 30,000 supporters: the 21 October miners' demonstration could have been different "Instead of marching round Hyde Park, socialists have taken 40 or 50,000 people to parliament.
that had happened, the Tory wouldn't have dared to vote with Michael Heseltine. The covernment would have collapsed. This prospect is not unrealistic or romantic."
Visions It is, in fact, both. It ob Viously takes far more thana peaceful march past Big Ben to topple the Tories. Perhaps Cliff has visions of storming the Winter Palace? Needless to say, the SWP did not raise the question on the day.
All socialists should be heartened by recent signs of political radicalisation in Britain, seen on issues from the pits crisis to the spread of antiRoyal feeling The SWP's enviable ability to attract new support in the present period proves that its propaganda does strike a hord, especially among stu lents and white-collar trade 4808888
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