THE SCOTTISH Socialist Alliance (SSA) - a formation with no equivalent south of the border - held its first conference in June.
The SSA has had an impressive first year on the streets, leading campaigns against council cuts in Glasgow, including protests against school closures and the occupation of two community centres, and has campaigned against domestic violence.
Its showing at the General election was less impressive than many expected - it remains.to be seen what lessons will be learnt for the elections to the Scottish Parliament. CAMPBELL MCGREGOR reports on the debates that took place at the conference. THE ALLIANCE was formed last year by socialists from a wide range of backgrounds. Scottish Militant Labour (SML), who retained this name in Scotland are the largest component.
The Scottish Socialist Movement also played an important role in the formation of the SSA. The movement was formed in paralle with the Socialist Movement in England and Wales, but did not evolve in quite the same direction.
The SSA's politics are largely but not exclusively informed by those of Militant, which led them to overreach themselves by standing candidates in 16 seats, including all 10 Glasgow seats, although they did refrain from standing in Labour marginals.
It would be wrong to accuse the SSA of electoralism. Tommy Sheridan won I 1 per cent of the vote in Glasgow Pollock, the largest share of the vote for any candidate in Britzin nor backed be a ma anc one of the best results by a leftist candidate for many vears. But the others did not do so well, and the next best result was 3 per cent.
CCIL Last year the SSA won 19 per cent of the vote in a local by-election, but this was through activists from all over Glasgow descending to canvas the ward in a way which wasn't possible with resources spread so much more thinly. To stand 10 candidates was a tactical error.
The "Charter for Socialist Change" drawn up by the SSA's National Council is basically a left social conal council Is basically a lett social democratic document, although with large sections serious revolutionaries could support.
The National Council's document on "Campaigns and Elections" was better, with a correct emphasis on putting campaigns first and a realistic view of the SSA's electoral success.
SSA conference voted overwhelmingly for a double "Yes" vote in the referendum in September, but there was only a narrow majority in favour of participating in the campaign set up by the Labour Party, Scotland Forward"
The dissenting voices on this issue in the SSA come from two quarters. The CPGB in Dundee has an ultraleft position of calling for a government referendum on a Scottish parliament. The Republican Workers' Tendency in Edinburch cals tor a write-in campaign for a Scottish repubThe Socialist Labour Party (SLP) has not engaged the SSA in a head-on controntation but has established some niches of ts own. in Mornervel where li has a base in the RMT, and in the former coal mining area of Ayrshire and Fife. They stood three candidates. There was a tacit understandina that the SSA and the SLP would not stand against each otner.
Some activists in the SLP and the SSA are personally on reasonable terms and many would prefer a closer relationship, but SLP members feel they cannot do anything which the London leadershin would disapprove of. • Further information on these issues is available on the Internet on the SSA's home page; http://wkweb/cableinet.co.uk/diblake/=