70 delegates attended the ‘Blair’s Bubble Bursts’ meeting in Walsall on November 29. The delegates from a wide range of socialist and green organisations in England, Scotland and Wales exchanged opinions and experiences about their activities and hopes for wider co-operation amongst socialists.
There were sharp disagreements over electoral activity and attitudes to the Labour Party and Labour Left. These, however, did not detract from the comradely spirit of the meeting ; nor the concerns that existed for developing co-operation and the creation of Socialist Alliances in more towns across Britain.
A small minority felt it was possible to rush towards the creation of a new socialist party and have large scale anti-labour electoral campaign in the May 1998 local elections.
Nobody disagreed about the need for a new, strong party fighting for working class interests. Most, however, had a more sober appreciation of the immense tasks facing socialists in ringing this about.
The strength of the Labour Party within working class politics was under-rated by many. Some delegates’ pre-occupation with elections led them away from the central task of fighting for working class unity – a unity vital to confront the bourgeois offensive currently being led by Blair’s policy on Europe.
The decision to send comradely greetings to the Socialist Campaign Group AGM in Leeds on December 6 was not universally popular – a hint of sectarianism that hopefully will not grow.
As at previous Socialist Alliance meetings the federal nature of the relationship between national alliances in England, Scotland and Wales was recognised. Speakers from the Scottish and Welsh Alliances expressed their pleasure at attending the meeting and explained the distinction of the political situation in their countries.
In a subtle dig at New Labour, delegates rounded off the day with beer and sandwiches in a wine bar owned by a Walsall Democratic Labour Party member.
Delegates took away a wide range of ideas for future activities and agreed to reconvene in June to review progress. A small liaison group will continue to facilitate exchanges between groups and the development of new contacts.