Scottish Socialist Party Conference 2000
At last: a socialist answer to council tax!
AROUND 150 MEMBERS were joined by many observers and fraternal visitors from other countries at the SSP’s first annual conference at the end of February.
It achieved positive press coverage and was generally seen as a success by those attending.
The SSP was founded in February 1999 in the run up to the Scottish Parliamentary Elections. Since then it has grown rapidly.
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This growth has forced a reorganisation of the structures and apparatus of the party and one of the key issues for the conference was to agree appropriate organisational structures which would allow effective organisation whilst ensuring policies were democratically agreed.
The two day conference agenda was packed with detailed policy resolutions - the conference papers ran to 121 pages covering over 30 topics excluding constitutional change. This meant that major topics such as the NHS and Housing were scheduled for 10 minutes each. Controversial issues were allocated greater time. This therefore was an unusual, perhaps a transitional conference, reflecting the growing size and influence of the SSP.
When the Scottish Socialist Alliances were formed out of the Scottish Socialist Movement, Scottish Militant and the Scottish Communist Party, two months were spent thrashing out a constitution and basic principles, which worked for an organisation of around 400.
On policy it was agreed to produce an Action Programme mixing democratic and transitional demands. The new party adopted the existing constitution of the SSA and a shortened 16 point version of the Action Programme for use in the Election Campaign.
With the massive explosion of the SSP from 400 to 2,000 members in a year, the organisation has become involved in depth with all the problems facing the working class.
With members involved in the NHS, detailed policies have been developed for trade union and political intervention. Fights against the Public Private Partnership and involvement with tenants have evolved policies for Housing. Opposing Labour’s policies on local government has led to development of alternatives to the Council Tax.
This conference was the first opportunity to endorse these more detailed policies and to present them to the wider public. The most interesting policy innovation agreed by conference was the proposal for a Scottish Service Tax.
This would replace Council Tax and is essentially a graduated top up income tax, with no payment on incomes below £10,000 and 12.6% on incomes over £80,000. This has had significant coverage by the media and will be the subject of a Bill to be introduced by Tommy Sherridan in the Scottish Parliament.
Legal advice is that such a bill will be deemed within the powers of the Parliament, which will surprise many in the SNP.
Most issues were agreed without dissent: but some controversial issues such as drugs and animal rights were remitted due to lack of time. On Europe, a holding position was adopted on our attitude to a single currency referendum, but the SSP is very likely to oppose joining.
On Ireland there was some controversy, but the adopted position "For a Socialist Ireland" criticises the Good Friday Agreement, and calls for the repeal of the PTA, release of all political prisoners, and immediate demilitarisation by the British government (aka Troops Out).
On international issues a resolution to defend Cuba against aggression and sanctions was adopted nem con. However, in the presence of an Embassy official delegates made widespread and severe criticism of the Cuban regime’s attitude to gay rights and free Trade Unions were made.
The SSP agreed to support International forums such as Sao Paulo and around the Zapatistas, to work internationally to oppose the WTO, to forge links with other organisations using the Internet, and to support and where practical participate in international initiatives against capitalist globalisation.
The conference was addressed by delegates from socialist organisations in Norway, Denmark, France, Ireland, Australia, Portugal.
Most controversy was at the end, over proposals to move to a delegate-based conference. The executive sought to have 4000 members by next year and argued that democracy required a 1 in 5 delegate conference. As there were only 150 out of 2000 at this conference, their argument was weakened, and the opposition motion to continue with all member conferences was passed.
These debates showed that there is no controlling current within the SSP, as most platforms split on these issues.
Overall the Conference highlighted the strengths of the SSP: for over half the members this was their first conference, discussions were lively, and policies reflected considerable prior debate.
There was great innovation, and a focus outwards to build on our gains. The weaknesses of the apparatus were also reflected, hence initiatives to build branches and establish organisers and party spokespersons at local and national level.
In many ways the SSP is a party with too few chiefs.