Outlook ISM are falsely accused of abandoning the struggle for Trotskyism (and no, it's not THAT Militant!)
what he was seeking to do, I took quickly which was to retrench and took the build the SP and the CWI. He created a false debate, accusing the ISM being organised as a Marxist current inside the SSP when they clearly are. Neither side in the debate seem very clear about the At the political character of the SSP or its programme at this stage of its development. It was however TO work enough that the formation of the SSP was a major advance for the left in Scotland, and was a model which could be followed in England and Wales. line, Taffe's dogmatic and sectarian retrenchment policy set the SP against this development and sent it into a crisis from which it shows no signs of recovery. In fact the split with the ISM is likely to deepen the crisis and possibly spin it out of control. Alliances This has been all too evident in the role of the SP in Well the the Socialist Alliances - currently developing in impressive way in England. The SP's view (developed during its leftist lurch whilst breaking from entryism) that Labour is now a straightforOutlook The working class is the backbone of unity among all the exploited and oppressed. The work- autonomy. ing class and its allies must uncompromisingly fight against capitalism and for a clear programme of action in order to gradually acquire the experience and consciousness needed to defeat capitalism at the decisive The movements of women, lesbians and gay men, and black people to fight their particular forms of oppression make an es- In Torea ward capitalist party, no dif ferent to the other capitalist parties, leads it into the sectarian stance of standing of not against left Labour candidates in the forthcoming election. Fortunately the Alliances have been able to separate themselves from this. Mass party The Socialist Party have continued to call for a new clear mass party, whilst at the same time denouncing the Socialist Alliances (the best development yet towards a new party, although not a mass one) as being 'too centralised', and too much like a party! They continue to be a disruptive force inside the Alliances, insisting on its own fiefdoms and spheres of influence, and the right to impose candidates in selected constituencies irrespective of the views of other activists involved. In Taaffe's attacks on the comrades of the ISM he accuses them of using the an methods of the right wing. But he should take care in pursuing this line: it is his OWn methods in this developing situation that would bear closer re-examination. sential contribution to the struggle for a different society. They are organised around the principle "None so fit to break the chains as those who wear them". The whole working class needs to fully commit itself to these struggles. Furthermore we fight for a strategic alliance between workers and these organisations -an alliance which respects their legitimate By building simultaneously revolutionary organisations in each country and a revolutionary International, we air to guide and encompass the global interests of the workers and oppressed.
By building a united struggle against exploitation and oppression we aim to ensure the survival of the human race. If you think this is worth fighting for, and you like what you read in Socialist Outlook, why not join us? Drop a line to us at PO Box 1109, London N4 2UU, and we'll be