Dave Packer, London Socialist Alliance.
Today the mood for co-operation among the socialist left by its various component parts is unmistakable. This manifests itself in numerous ways, including on the electoral terrain.
It is therefore a tragedy that the Socialist Labour Party (SLP) and its leader Arthur Scargill, have so far remained silent on all appeals and letters for a united platform in the up-coming European Elections in June.
The political basis of unity of course needs discussion, but we see no grounds for pessimism on this score. We in the Socialist Alliance, which includes a number of far-left organisations, have managed to develop in a comradely manner a joint anti-capitalist election programme and other publicity material and agreed on a broad outline of a campaign.
In the present right-wing political climate it is essential that the old sectarian reflexes are dumped
Much more work still needs to be done, included raising money, but we are all agreed that division on the left only helps our enemies, weakens our cause, empties our pockets and divides our vote.
We consider that in the present right-wing political climate it is essential that the old sectarian reflexes are dumped and that we build constructively on the new mood that exists.
This does not mean abandoning principled debate in a comradely manner or in the appropriate place, on the contrary, we need to raise the level of discussion to meet the challenges before us. But it is essential that the British left – notorious throughout Europe for its sectarianism – begins to seriously address this historic problem.
Today we must not only build broad based united front campaigns in action, but we need to construct united electoral alliances that can have an impact, raise the banner of socialism and offer a real political alterative to the working class and its allies to the capitalist offensive continued by this "New Labour" government.
Trade unionists, young people the excluded and the doubly oppressed, i.e., the working class, still need an independent voice to represent their interests.
Tony Blair’s agenda does not meet the needs of the working class. It combines modernisation of the capitalist state (mainly in the interests of capitalism) with a reactionary social attack and erosion of the historic gains of the working class both here and in Europe.
When combined with the imposition of a bureaucratic internal regime inside the Labour Party, which has effectively evacuated party democracy and accountability, many party members and other socialists in the unions and among the existing far-left, have begun to seriously consider the task of building a new mass workers party.
There are many ideas and strategies to discuss and test out, and even greater objective difficulties to overcome before such a mass workers party can be built. Nonetheless, the new mood of co-operation on the left, and the practical emergence of several networks and campaigning alliances – not to be confused with single issue campaigns and movements – have been established, and have taken the discussion forward on both a political and organisational level. (see progress report on the London manifesto for the European Elections in June, in Socialist Outlook no 20, Dec.1998).
At the national level, Socialist Alliances recently held their founding national conference in Birmingham, which adopted a set of political aims and a national constitution.
This followed-on from a series of well attended preparatory national meetings, all of which involved representatives from local groups, individuals and other socialist organisations.
We are still at a very early stage, but reports from the regions showed that some local Alliances are beginning to do serious campaigning activities, as well as emulating the London Socialist Alliance election initiative.
This latter has, over the past several months, been establishing itself in order to stand in London in the European Elections. A successful launch meeting was held in Friends Meeting House at the beginning of the year.
London Socialist Alliance has the support and sponsorship of many experienced trade unionists, campaigners, socialist comedians, media people and film makers such as Ken Loach. More recently in the West Midlands a similar process has been repeated with a slate headed by Dave Nellist of the Socialist Party.
These developments represent an unprecedented co-operation between left organisations and groups, and are living examples of the mood among activists as a whole.
Unfortunately, despite appeals and letters for unity to the SLP, they have so far refused to be part of any electoral front – or to give any political reasons for their isolationist stance.
One can only draw the conclusion that, as on other occasions, Scargill and the leadership of the SLP reject such collaboration on principle, even though the benefits for developing class struggle and rebuilding the left are obvious.
A platform obtaining 8% of the vote in London could win a seat
This year’s European election will be the first in England and Wales (though one system will already have been used in the Scottish Assembly elections) to be fought under a system of proportional representation.
This provides an opportunity for socialists. A platform obtaining around 8% of the vote in the new London wide constituency could win a seat. This is certainly excluded now and in the future if the left remains divided.
We have responded to this opportunity by establishing an unprecedented alliance which includes the Independent Labour Network, Socialist Workers Party, Socialist Party, International Socialist Group, Alliance for Workers Liberty and the Communist Party of Great Britain.
This alliance should include the SLP. London Socialist Alliance appeals to the SLP to answer our letters and clear the way to a common, united socialist slate for London.
All enquiries about LSA, sponsorships and donations to:
Socialist Alliance, PO BOX 23323, London, SE16 1YR.
OR Telephone; 0171 582 9373, 0171231 0415, 0171 358 0419 or 0958 520430.