Many independent socialists in Lewisham can clearly understand why the overwhelming majority of the long-standing members of the Leeds Left Alliance have felt it necessary to defend their organisation. The SWP has a long and ruthless history of dealing with dissent and opposition within its own organisation. exclusion and expulsion. I am sure now that the LLA has defined its boundaries and space it will play a full and active role in working with other socialists with clearly defined political profiles and different origins both in Leeds and the SA framework. The recent rapid development of the SA is to be welcomed, but only if that growth is built on partnership and trust and assists in broadening the political forces involved with the SA. Our experience in Lewisham with many comrades joining our Alliance from the SWP has been far removed from this. SWP members have turned up at meetings in some force and have sought through sheer weight of numbers to take control, repeatedly refusing to accept a cooperative, consensual and partnership approach. Our GLA campaign in support of lan Page was in reality two campaigns. The SP and independents working in harmony to support lan, the SWP and those on the ultra revolutionary left doing their own thing, distributing their own literature, often duplicating areas already delivered. Consequently we failed to maximise the socialist vote in Lewisham and Greenwich. The same pattern has repeated itself in the recent Pepys by-election.
The moves towards centralisation arising out of Coventry, made it more difficult to win forces to the SA project. The Green Socialist Network at its AGM narrowly voted against affiliation. The reluctance of the Preston socialist counsellors to describe themselves as SA counsellors suggests this also. Clearly the SWP in Leeds, despite proposals of a compromise put forward by the LLA executive and SP were intent on taking control of the LLA. In Hull the SWP were willing to agree a compromise where the balance of forces were more equal.
The struggles in Leeds and Lewisham are clearly reflective of two very different approaches to building the SA and what we want to see the SA become.
The majority of those who have been working to build the SA for some time want to build a broad federal structure, hopefully becoming a broad inclusive socialist party along the lines of the Scottish Socialist Party. And those who are seeking to build a centralised and directed political organisation which can become a larger united revolutionary Leninist party.
The SSP approach has a realistic prospect of success -uniting many of those breaking from Labour and becoming involved in struggles to defend services. An enlarged SWP will simply be an enlarged SWP, bigger but still on the came DOliCs.
The ISG appears clearly drawn to playing a minor role in a united revolutionary party, rather than leading role in a broad socialist party which can be at the centre of left poliTINC In particular it the leit Blairism. to defend the in Leeds. them from (SO39). describes the and Mandelson rightly be the whole of left.
Democracy
optional tumonary nothing. nownere Nick ble in Leeds. Nick Long - Lewisham
CAMPAIGN AGAINST TUBE PRIVATISATION Outlook