Socialist Green Unity Coalition

by RESPECT Thu Feb 24, 2005 14:38

Sound familiar to anyone? much RESPECT to the socialist green alliance. I RESPECT what you are trying to do and i am very surprised that nobody has tried this before. Hopefully the voters will give you the RESPECT that you deserve and that you get more votes than Galloway's party

by Jim Monaghan Thu Feb 24, 2005 14:56

If only the alphabet soup here would start talking and achieving unity. Instead they try and convince thamselves they can do it on their own. We need an alternative to Bertie (tweedleedum) and Kenny (tweedelldee). The Labour Party and Greens are lost in their hunt for a merc from either ( I am sure Rabbitte will not turn down an offer from Bertie (Of course in the national interest). At least the current witch hunt will keep the Sinn Fein lot from doing a Rabbitte.
The far left, Seamus Healy , SP, SWP and others with some significance have a duty to work now on something that is at least the shadow of an opposition to the status quo.

by Colm Breathnach Thu Feb 24, 2005 17:37

This is a good start, hopefully it is the first step in building an open and democratic alliance of the English left firmly rooted in the struggles of the working class.

I agree with Jim that we need to work in that direction in Ireland and certainly the ISN has tried to work with all elements of the radical left to start that process. However you can't just conjure an alliance out of thin air and it has to start with small steps. There are also some problems that need to be surmounted including:

1. An acceptance of democratic and participatory ways of working together and a break with the manipulative, recruitment centred practices that have characterised the far left up til now.

2. An agreement on what we want to build, in broad brush strokes. The ISN is commited to working with others in building a new broad and democratic party of the working class not some sort of copy of the frankly awful Respect outfit in England (Awful because it is run completely undemocratically and has no real base in the working class).

by John Meehan Fri Feb 25, 2005 22:58

Working from first impressions, I do not agree with Colm.

I find it hard to see how this new group offers much (if anything) that is funadamentally different to the RESPECT organisation in England and Wales.

It looks to be a lot smaller than RESPECT.

A key question comes to mind - will this new alliance - announced probably three months before the General Election is called in Britain - end up playing the same spoiling role that Arthur Scargill's SLP did in the early days of the SSP in Scotland?

In other words - just like in the Life of Brian - when the Judean People's Liberatiion Front battled with the People's Liberation Front of Judea - or something like that - who cares if I got some of the words wrong way around!

Lots of criticisms can be directed at attempts to organise and regroup to the left of Social Democracy (Social Liberalism) in many different countries - but at least the effort has been made in Scotland (the SSP) and England (RESPECT). It has also been made in countries like Denmark, Portugal, France, and so on.

Probably left wingers in, for example, Norway, are taking pot-shots at the Red-Green Alliance in neighbouring Denmark.. And most people outside the immediate situation scratch their heads and wonder what all the fuss is about? And then wise people ask "What are you doing in Norway?".

We in Ireland are way behind developments in Scotland and England - we should be careful about taking sides in a very British ((Life of Brian) dispute, before throwing stones and taking sides.

by hs - sp Fri Feb 25, 2005 23:17

which is one reason for the socialist party's very conservative nature towards the idea of a new left alliance. Some may say too conservative, but the majority of the party agrees with the leadership that a new left party will come from class struggle rather than a re-arangeing of the far left deck chairs.
I might be more optimistic towards the idea, (but i'm optimistic anyway) but most party activists i speak too see the idea of little more than a distraction. Of course that can and hopefully will change in the future with a small upsurge in struggle and some new blood. (always the optimist!). The party conference is coming up so we'll get a clearer picture to activists attitudes towards the idea then.

by Colm Breathnach - ISN-personal capacity Fri Feb 25, 2005 23:49

While I take Johns point that we should be cautious about commenting on developments on the left in other countries, I don't think this should extend to not having an informed discussion on such developments. Its not a matter of 'taking sides' but of making an assesment based on accurate information and fundamenatal principles.

The most fundamental principle, which I know John agrees with , is that a united formation of the left must be open and democratic. It is a sad fact that RESPECT is neither. It is a plaything of the SWP and the arch opportunist ( and vicious enemy of the SSP) George Galloway. Alternative voices within RESPECT have been silenced and excluded by bureaucratic manouevre. This view is verified by statements from every other left organisation in England even those operating within RESPECT. The sad fact is that despite the many genuine and hardworking activists that are members of the SWP, any organisation dominated by that party falls far short of the basic standards of socialist democratic principles.

There is a world of a difference between the SSP and RESPECT. I am not an uncritical fan of the SSP but I do have a good knowledge of that party's workings having attended a number of its annual conferences/other events and knowing many SSP members, especially in the Glasgow area. The Party is acknowledged by all to be completely democratic, to the extent that even those who oppose the core principle of the party, an independent socialist republic, operate freely within the party. Although I do not have a detailed knowledge of the movements in Denmark etc. I suspect that in terms of internal organisation, all of these are closer to the SSP than RESPECT.

The SSP has shown itself repeatedly to be a organisation with deep roots in the working class, and not just because of its electoral acgievements (note the affiliation of the RMT union etc.). RESPECT on the other hand has no such roots. Its limited electoral appeal is largely due to communitarian appeal to a small number of Muslim communities in English cities, based to a certain extent on alliances with islamiscist organisations.

I am not being over optimistic with regards to the new coalition, I know the electoral alliance of the SP etc is just that, an electoral alliance but it does have the potential to develop into a genuine working class alliance because at least two of the organisations involved, the SP and AGS have real roots in working class communities. I think it is quite fair to make observations about the development of the left in England, as long as it is fairly well informed.

by hs - sp Sat Feb 26, 2005 01:16

interesting article on the general subject of alliances and respect in latest weekly worker

http://www.cpgb.org.uk/worker/565/cpgbschool.htm

by RESPECT SUPPORTER - RESPECT Sat Feb 26, 2005 23:05

I would like to know if Colm thinks muslims can be working class, or do they have to be white to be workers in his view.? RESPECT has the support of workers from many cultural and religious backgrounds , including white workers, and we are extremely proud of that.
Also colm obviously does not know that many branches of the RMT and the FBU have affiliated to RESPECT.
He obviously also does not know (for he could hardly be deliberately muddying the facts given his obvious concern with democracy ) that the structures of RESPECT are democratic and transparent and that its policies and structures are decided by election at national delegate conferences. Obviously Colm is also mistaken when he believes that the small number of hardcore stalinists who produce the weekly worker, the lefts equivalent of the Weekly World News or the National Enquirer, have anything like his own avowed concern with truth. I would not be surprised to learn that the ssp members whom colm has such a good relationship with were friends of his from his days as a hardcore stalinist. Colm's mishandling of the facts would not stem from his long term membership in the not too distant past of the hardcore stalinist and racketeering outfit known as the Worker's party. Colm loudly proclaims his commitment to left unity yet by not properly assesing and reporting the facts damages the prospects for the left working together.In fact his only appearances on this website seem to be to attack other left wing organisations. This would also seem to self-contradictory, no?

by Brian C. Sat Feb 26, 2005 23:32

1) Not a single branch of any trade union has affiliated to the RESPECT coalition. Not one.

A handful of branches voted to donate money to various RESPECT election campaigns, something that had also happened with Socialist Alliance campaigns. This is not the same as affiliation or even close to it.

2) RESPECT was assembled in an entirely undemocratic manner. The real decisions were made by a self-appointed committee including the SWP, Galloway and a few others and then presented to a slightly hysterical rally for acclamation.

Since then RESPECT has not developed a proper branch structure or any real way for rank and file members to influence policy. It recently had a "delegate" conference but there were few functioning branches to select delegates or give people who disagree with the leadership an ability to network and discuss other options. The SWP ruthlessly used regional selection meetings to exclude critical voices. At the conference the few dissenting delegates had vitriol and abuse heaped on them by the leadership.

3) The CPGB has an exceptionally hostile attitude towards the various Stalinist regimes. It is certainly a confused grouping but it is not Stalinist in any meaningful sense. It does not advocate Stalinist politics, like the idea of socialism in one country or the creation of a popular front.

RESPECT on the other hand does advocate a form of popular frontism. It has also gone out of the way to encourage the actual Stalinists of the CPB (note no "G") to join.

4) Colm's personal history and friendships aren't particularly the business of anonymous muckrakers, but it is common knowledge that he rejected Stalinist ideas a long time ago and that he would be sympathetic to elements of the SSP's current leadership. I don't agree with him on quite a number of things but this kind of personalised attack is quite reprehensible.

5) On a similar note, your insinuations that socialists who oppose the RESPECT project are somehow racist or bigoted against Muslims is disgusting. The problem with what RESPECT has been doing is not that it makes an appeal to Muslims. Far from it.

The problem is that it makes an appeal on religious or communal grounds rather than appealing to working class Muslims on socialist or class grounds. The leaflets which talked of how RESPECT is "the party for Muslims" and of Galloway's Palestinian wife. The running of a candidate whose only attraction was her religious conversion. The descriptions of RESPECT leaders as "fighters for Muslims" and so on are the problem, not the colour of anyone's skin.

by Are you lonesome tonight? Sat Feb 26, 2005 23:49

I think it is only fair to print the list of the elected national committee of respect. Its fairly obvious that its more broad and representative of the working class than the sad collection of embittered and defeated leftovers of the nineteen-eighties left that call themselves the Socialist Green Unity coalition.
National Council of Respect
15/11/2004

National Council elected at the 2004 Respect Conference

Sait Akgul, Kurdish activist, London
Ziad Aloul, MAB
Mobeen Azhar, European candidate for Yorks and Humber Leeds
Yunus Bakhsh, SWP, Unison national executive, personal capacity, Newcastle
Chris Bambery, editor Socialist Worker
Lynton Bennett, Respect councillor Buxton, Derbyshire
Sue Bond, SWP, vice president PCS (personal capacity)
Maxine Bowler, Sheffield SWP, Yorkshire and Humber election agent
Victoria Brittain, journalist and London Euro candidate
Rita Carter, European candidate Greenwich and Lewisham
Adrian Clark, FBU, Peterborough and Eastern region candidate
Maz Cook, student activist and Eastern Euro candidate
Ger Francis, SWP, Birmingham Stop the War (Personal capacity)
George Galloway MP
Cheryl Garvey, race and equality activist, Respect euro-candidate West Midlands
Lindsey German, SWP, convenor of the Stop the War Coalition (personal capacity)
Elaine Graham Leigh, former Green Party, Respect candidate for GLA
Ibrahim Hewitt, Assistant Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain (personal capacity)
Abdurahman Jafar, Muslim Council of Britain, personal capacity
Terry James, Wales election agent
Muktar Kabar, Sheffield, NUJ, MAB
Jazz Khan, Slough, Respect Euro candidate for South East
Michael Lavalette, SWP, Respect councillor in Preston
Zubeda Limbada, Respect election agent Bolton, former Labour party organiser
John Lister, NHS campaigner, Oxford, Socialist Resistance
Ken Loach, filmmaker
John Macdonald, RMT north west region
Ronnie Mackintosh, Respect councillor Nuneaton
Alex Jones, Merseyside Respect
Tony Mercer, Sheffield, Napo
Nur Monie, Tower Hamlets election agent
Dr Mohammed Naseem, chair Birimingham Central Mosque
Farid Noor, Islamic Community Centre, Coventry
Paddy O'Keefe, ex Labour Party and South East Euro candidate
Hannah Packham, Respect European candidate for South West Region
Berny Parkes, Dorset and South West Euro candidate, former Labour councillor
Oliur Rahman, Tower Hamlets Respect councillor
John Rees, SWP, co-founder of the Stop the War Coalition
Yvonne Ridley, journalist and Leicester South Candidate
Jeannie Robinson, Chesterfield SWP, NATFHE Union official and East Mids Euro candidate
Mike Rosen, poet, writer and broadcaster and GLA candidate
Clive Searle, Manchester Respect
Linda Smith, treasurer, London region FBU
Pete Smith, press officer Hartlepool Respect
Alan Thornett, Socialist Resistance
Nick Wrack, SWP, Respect chair
Veli Yadirgi, Day-Mer, London (personal capacity)
Salma Yaqoob, Chair of Birmingham Stop the War Coalition (personal capacity)

by Colm Breathnach-ISN personal capacity Sat Feb 26, 2005 23:56

Here we go again. 'RESPECT supporter's personal attack on me is dishonest and untrue and shows his/her lack of confidence in the points he/she makes by hiding behind anonimity. If he/she cares to repeat them under their real name I will comprehensively demolish them but I refuse to debate with cowards who hide behind false names.

One point I will make because it is a matter of deep personal commitment to me: only a spineless fool would infer or accuse me of racism or anti-islamic views. I have been commited to the cause of the Palestinian people since I first became politically active in my teens. I spent three months in occupied Palestine with the International Solidarity Movement as a human rights witness and working with Palestinian communities engaging in non-violent mass resistance. So I think I've shown in a small practical way my absolute commitment to the defense of muslim (and christain etc.) peoples rights.

So 'RESPECT supporter', if you care to crawl out from under your stone and post under your real name I will certainly answer each and every lie you've posted. No name, no debate!

by 80's communist Sun Feb 27, 2005 00:02

well that proves it, respect isn't a front, it is a broad coalition which explains why the swp sold out socialist positions such as secularism, women and gay rights and well socialism itself (for two council seats?), I hope it was worth it.

by Cyberspacer - Lonesome Lefties Sun Feb 27, 2005 00:06

Ah colm , there are no names in here, no faces, no identities, as you well know. How do we know you don't post anonymously on indymedia yourself? You can talk all you want about truth and honesty but there isn't an ounce of truth in the accusations you make about respect as you well know. As for the 'opportunist' accusation against Galloway-It is one that is often made but never proved. In fact Mr Galloway put his political future on the line by calling for British troops to be defeated in Iraq. But don't let facts get in the way of a good sectarian rant Colm. What was it like being in the Workers Party when they were printing their own money, robbing banks and post offices up and down the country, and shooting their political opponents?

by hs - sp Sun Feb 27, 2005 00:08

well swp supporters seem to again be doing their best to convince members of my party and other groups to unite with them. By anonymous insults, well done lads, sp activists will be clamouring for a united electoral list now. keep up the good work!

by Been caught Fibbing - lies and the lying lefties who tell them Sun Feb 27, 2005 00:20

This is from the repsect constitution voted on at its national conference in 2004.

RESPECT commits itself to :....

the fight against, and ultimate abolition of, racism, sexism and all forms of discrimination on grounds of religion, disability, age or sexual identity.

the ultimate abolition of all forms of economic exploitation and social oppression.

It openly and publicly commits respect to gay rights.
I seriously question the motives of those who persist like those above who persits in slandering RESPECT. Is it only because it has had some success galvanising the non-sectarian opposition I wonder. Is it because it shows up the uselessness of the sectarians?

by hs - sp Sun Feb 27, 2005 00:49

Some elements in respect (obviously not the swp or other leftists) such as the right wing MAB have very reactionary views on homosexuality and womens rights. Many have speculated that leftists within the coalition ahve papered over serious divisions to win over the mosque and rightist anti war elements. Whether this is true or not remains to be seen but there are some less than progressive elements. It wouldn't be the first time in history leftists made serious compromises on their beliefs to try to win popular support. I imagine the swp hope to take MAB members towards their point of view, but MAB probably have the same idea.
So who knows where the compromises will end.

Peter tatchell of Outrage expressed some of his owns doubhts in this article published some months ago. He critises the left in general and cannot be accused of making inter leftist sectarian attacks.

http://www.cpgb.org.uk/worker/544/tatchell.htm

For Ireland though the debate on respect isn't as relevant. There is no major religious group interested in an alliance with leftists. I would imagine if a unity coalition does take place in Ireland it would be more similar to this new red Green formation, that is an electoral list where the component parts keep their own name and support each other.
But that even seems a way off.

by respect supporter Sun Feb 27, 2005 00:50

The first delegate conference of respect passed a motion in support of a woman's right to choose. Anyone interested the decisions of the conference - rather than misinformation - go to respectcoalition.org.

by hs - sp Sun Feb 27, 2005 01:16

I looked up the site you suggested and am happy to see respect does support the right to choose. You can though understand the confusion because of George Galloway being on record (quite recently) as being opposed to abortion.
we in the the socialist party had a similar problem of an elected cllr (ex party cllr now) making such statements against party policy ., George Galloway should simply be reminded of respect party policy in the matter.

But to get back to the debate on a left coalition in Ireland, Respect doesn't seem the correct model. As I said already there is no religious group that seem to want an alliance, and I know for a fact my own party would be very unlikely to enter such an alliance. A list in Ireland would be primarly have to be made up of the hard left parties, groups and independents as there at the moment is no large left reformist group or movement .(unless you consider SF to be leftist). Therefore why would we water down our beliefs? What would the point be? I don't think we would get more support for being less socialist.

by Zeb Sun Feb 27, 2005 01:29

Below you can find the text of two leaflets issued by RESPECT and aimed at Muslim voters. One was was in support of Yvonne Ridley's candidacy in the Leicester South by-election. The latter was in support of George Galloway in London. I think readers can draw their own conclusion about the basis on which RESPECT has sought to gather votes.

vote RIDLEY

RESPECT CAN BE 'SHOCK WINNER'
WHAT ISMAIL BHAI PATEL ACTUALLY SAID

In Monday's Independent newspaper the respected local community
rights leader Ismail Patel wrote about the difficulty of winning the
Muslim vote in the constituency. Most Muslims, he said are preparing
to abandon Labour.

Speaking about the only MUSLIM candidate '....Yvonne Ridley, the journalist turned anti-war campaigner, standing for Respect - the Unity Coalition, is likely to take away a significant number of votes from both the Lib Dems and
Labour.'

He continues that Muslims will play a pivotal role in the election
and, that in the event of a low turnout, '..Leicester South may
deliver a shock winner in the form of Yvonne Ridley.'

Following a confidential survey at a public meeting organised by the
Leicester-based Friends of Al-Aqsa, attended by hundreds of people
from all backgrounds, Respect scored the highest with 40% of the
votes. (Source: Leicester Mercury)

The LibDems are trying to split the Respect vote, giving Labour a
chance to sneak in. Respect had 7,375 votes. Analysts say that 8,000 votes MAY win this by-election.

Respect hammered the Lib Dems in the European elections in Leicester
South and will do so again on Thursday. Vote for a strong candidate.
Vote for Sister Yvonne
- - - - - - - - - - -

(Note: the word "MUSLIM" is emphasised in the original text).

by The most honest ex-stalinist in the world Sun Feb 27, 2005 01:30

I dont think it would be a case of watering down our beliefs, merely of making them concretely relevant to an existing movement. You are quite right that the respect model is not relevant to Ireland.
It is perfectly possible to disagree on the nature of the USSR and other theoretical questions while working in tandem on issues such as anti-war, the bin tax, etc. We should agree a concrete programme of agitation- anti-privatisation, anti-globalisation, anti-racist, pro-democracy, pro-public service etc,
With combined resources we would obviously have a much greater impact. In fact if the genuine left united i believe we would quickly become a pole of attraction for the many who are disillusioned with then establishment and the fake left.

by Zeb Sun Feb 27, 2005 01:31

GEORGE GALLOWAY


FIGHTING FOR MUSLIM RIGHTS!
He stood up for Muslims, now it's our turn to stand up for him!
100,000 votes elects Galloway for London. Vote RESPECT June 10th.


A REFERENDUM ON BLAIR AND NEW LABOUR
Tony Blair took us to war on a lie. He wants us to ignore the fact that thousands of innocent people in Iraq were killed and billions of pounds wasted because of his false claims that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. In the last election 86% of Muslim voters gave their votes to New Labour but:

*Blair ignored us on Palestine
*Blair ignored us on Afghanistan
*Blair ignored us on Kashmir
*Blair ignored us on anti-terrorism legislation which imprisons Muslims without trial or charge
*Blair ignored us on Iraq
On 10th June don't let Blair claim that the Muslim community is happy with his policy of support for George Bush and Ariel Sharon.

Can we win? -YES we can!
It takes 100,000 votes to get an MEP elected in London. It is a London-wide constituency and is proportional representation - so every vote counts.
By voting RESPECT we don't let New Labour, the Tories or the BNP win.

How to vote and make a difference
IF YOU WANT GEORGE GALLOWAY TO REPRESENT YOU, GIVE US YOUR VOTE ON THE WHITE BALLOT PAPER FOR THE EUROPEAN ELECTIONS.
To elected RESPECT members to the Greater London Assembly vote RESPECT on the ORANGE Greater London Assembly ballot paper. This is crucial.
In all you will get three ballot papers and five votes. Vote RESPECT on all ballots.

RESPECT
RESPECT, EQUALITY, SOCIALISM, PEACE, ENVIRONMENT, COMMUNITY, TRADE UNIONISM

George Galloway - a fighter for Muslims
George Galloway has been recognised by the Muslim world for his 30 years of struggle for the people of Palestine, Iraq and Pakistan.
Married to a Palestinian doctor, he has deep religious principles, teetotal and principled in his fight against oppression. Expelled by Tony Blair because of his role in the anti-war movement, he could have apologised and stayed as a Labour MP. He refused. Our so-called Muslim MPs stayed silent or supported the war. Who do you want to be our voice?

Why Galloway for Europe?
Across Europe we need to fight against the rise in Islamophobia, the banning of the hijab, the attack on halal food, the attack on Muslim civil liberties, the support for Israel and against the Bush and Blair Wars.
Tony Blair wants to see George Galloway silenced. We, as Muslims, want to see him continue to speak out for us.

Liberal Democrats - is it a vote against Blair?
The Liberal Democrats were against the war before it began. But once it started they supported the war and occupation of Iraq. Thousands were killed during the war and since then hundreds of Iraqi men, women and children die every day - so many that Bush and Blair don't even bother to count them. British and American soldiers are routinely torturing and humiliating Iraqi prisoners.
Only RESPECT says 'No to the war, No to the Occupation, Freedom for Iraq'.
Dr Jenny Tonge MP was sacked by the Liberal Democrats because she said that it was despair that turned some Palestinians into human bombs. Yet Sarah Ludford MEP leads the Lib-Dem list on June 10 and is a proud member of Liberal Democratic Friends of Israel.
Only RESPECT says 'No to the Israeli Occupation, Freedom for Palestine'.

The Lies and the Smears
George Galloway has always been an opponent of Saddam's brutal regime. He met Saddam twice - once to try and stop UN sanctions killing 1 million Iraqi children. And once to urge Saddam that if he did have any weapons of mass destruction to destroy them and save the Iraqi people from another war.
The Christian Science Monitor have already paid substantial damages to George Galloway and have admitted that documents linking Galloway to Saddam have been forged.

RESPECT - The Party for Muslims
RESPECT emerged from the anti-war movement and includes many of its leading members.
Its candidates include Dr Anas Altikriti (ex-President of the Muslim Association of Britain), Selma Yaqoob (leader of the Birmingham Anti-War movement), Abdurahman Jafar (human rights lawyer), Oliur Rahman (Bengali trade union officer), Fayyaz Suleman (Friends of Al-Aqsa) as well as many other Muslim and non-Muslim activists.

What Can You Do?
We do not have the money or the media coverage that the big parties have. Our strength is you. We need you to contact us and take leaflets to your local mosque, study circle, community organisation etc. Take posters to put up in your house or local shops. Make sure you tell your friends and family to vote on June 10th.

What We Stand For
Action to tackle Islamophobia, racism and discrimination... End to the occupation of Iraq and Palestine... Low-cost public housing... Reliable, cheap and safe public transport for all... Against tuition fees... Pensions linked to earnings... Equal pay and employment rights for all workers... An end to the destruction of the environment...


GEORGE GALLOWAY
FIGHTING FOR MUSLIM RIGHTS

by respect supporter Sun Feb 27, 2005 01:38

Steven Brooks the councillor for Preston - Tulketh joined respect on Thursday 24 February 2005 - Respect now has 2 seats on the council.

by CGT Sun Feb 27, 2005 01:53

thats how many councillors out of thousands? The best thing about the SWP is the ability of their leaders to sow massive delusions among their members who run off and repeat them with genuine enthusism. Respect is going nowhere fast but no matter what happens they'l have a line to explain it all. its funny to to see them havin a go at their rivals in the Socialist Party (and the ISN). Its hard to say who are the real stalinists these days but they all sell the same leninist crap 'we need a revolutionary party to lead the working class...

by Zeb Sun Feb 27, 2005 01:58

Of course this is actually the second Preston Labour councillor to defect to RESPECT. The first, Elaine Abbott, had an interesting career to say the least.

At the time she was a member of the Council's ruling cabinet responsible for housing. What this means is that she had been the driving force behind Labour's attempts to privatise all of Preston's council housing. She was deselected by Labour and promptly jumped ship to RESPECT.

RESPECT welcomed her with open arms despite the fact that she never publically repudiated her involvement in the privatisation scheme. Soon after she came up for reelection and lost her seat.

by Time For Respect Sun Feb 27, 2005 01:58

Proud to have left the Labour Party"
30/09/2004


Letter to Buxton Advertiser
27th September 2004

Dear Editor,

Tom Levitt (September 23rd) can make as many playground jibes as he likes; I am proud to have left the Labour Party to sit as a Respect County Councillor. Tom need not fear - I will make sure that the people of Buxton have their say on my decision. So far the vast majority of people I have spoken with have supported my decision.

To begin with, I will be speaking at a public meeting in Buxton with Respect MP, George Galloway (date and venue to be finalised). At the meeting we will explain why we believe Buxton and the High Peak needs Respect and not the lies and betrayals of Labour and the big parties. Then I want to hear what the people of Buxton think. I would also be very happy to see Tom Levitt and representatives from other parties come along so that we can have an intelligent debate.

As for me standing down and fighting a by-election as a Respect candidate, readers may not be aware that there will be County Council elections early next May. This means that the people of Buxton will get a chance to give their verdict on me and Respect within a few short months.

As I have said before, I believe that the principles and policies I have always stood for in the Labour Party are now best served by being in Respect. This is because I share Respect’s core beliefs along with millions of disillusioned people who once relied on the Labour Party to represent them. For me, Respect’s beliefs and policies are what I call ‘True Labour’:

An end to all privatisation and the bringing back into democratic public ownership of the railways and other public services;

Improving and extending public services not sacking tens of thousands civil servants;

An end to war and occupation in Iraq, starting by bringing the troops home;

Ending low pay by massively increasing the minimum wage to the European Decency Threshold of £7.40 per hour;

An education system that is not dependent on our ability to pay – scrapping tuition fees!

A publicly owned, funded and democratically controlled NHS, free to all users;

Providing dignity and security in old age - restoring the state pension link with average earnings increases!

Taxing the rich to fund welfare and to close the gap between rich and poor

The defence of the rights of refugees and asylum seekers;

The repeal of the Tory anti-union laws – supporting the fire fighters and other workers, not attacking them!

An end to the destruction of the environment by states and corporations for whom profit is more important than our planet’s survival

Respect also has a simple and ethical solution to the Federal Mogul pension robbery, blighting so many local families – yet it is a hundred miles from anything on offer from the three major parties!

When corporations, such as Federal Mogul, rob their workers’ pension fund the Government should seize back the money and assets as they would do any other criminally acquired bootie. Unbelievably, under Labour, companies are not acting illegally by taking so called ‘pension holidays’ where they stop paying their dues to pension funds to bolster profits. This means that when employees and pensioners are left ruined by corporate greed they only face moral indignation and not the full force of the law for their daylight robbery.

I agree with Tom Levitt, £130 million is not nearly enough compensation for the Turner & Newell pension fund but why is he not moving heaven and earth to criminalise this form of corporate theft and to get the Labour government to seize back the near £1 billion stolen from thousands of families?

Lynton Bennett
Respect County Councillor, Buxton South

by Zeb Sun Feb 27, 2005 02:03

Here is the last defecting councillor in her role as privatiser-in-chief.

http://www.preston.gov.uk/News.asp?id=SX81C9-A77FA4F2

Community Gateway is a vehicle for stock transfer which seeks to involve and empower tenants fully in any new landlord body and to use the investment raised to regenerate estates for the benefit of all who live there.

This new report from the Chartered Institute of Housing recommends that the Government should develop this concept further and should also support a number of Local Councils to pilot this scheme. Councillor Elaine Abbot, Preston's Executive Member for Housing and Direct Services commented:

"We have been interested in this idea for several months now and have already made a formal request for Preston to be selected as one of the national pilot schemes for the Gateway model. Government support for the process will help us to advise and inform all of our tenants of the benefits for them of this approach.

by Respect Sun Feb 27, 2005 02:24

Local elections in Preston 2004


Ward Candidate Vote % Position

Fishwick Sabiha Vorajee 370 27% 3rd

Riversway Elaine Abbot 415 24% 2nd

St George's David Eaton 289 27% 3rd

St Matthew's Sumera Rizwan 587 34% 2nd

Town Centre Mukhtar Master 762 34% 2nd

by Joe Sun Feb 27, 2005 12:42

The anonymous sectarian bile spewed out against Colm above obviously comes from the same SWP member who whinges whenever there is the slightest criticism of the SWP on indymedia. How can you expect to have any credibility at all when you go on like this? Do you think everyone is so stupid so as to forget this sort bile when next week you choose to please instead for 'unity'?

On the issue of people using their real names. There are good reasons for people to choose to make some or all of their posts anonymously, not least that many regular posters post from work and at least two people who used their real names have had this brought to the attention of their boss. But what people can do is stick to the same alias and let it be known amongst those they work with what that is. There are plenty of people even amongst the more right wing posters who do this.

by hs - sp Sun Feb 27, 2005 14:57

If all you are after is a scattering of council seats and a parlimentary seat you'll be happy to know that there is already a socialist party in ireland with a few well known elected reps, i'll have a membership card waiting for you. : - )

by hs - sp Sun Feb 27, 2005 15:12

(from the letters page of the weekly worker, but is relevant to discussion, hs)

Left unity
The Socialist Alliance Democracy Platform met last Saturday (February 19) to finalise the details of the March 12 conference in Birmingham, ‘Build a Democratic Socialist Alliance: towards a mass workers’ party’. Comrades will be aware that the Socialist Alliance was closed down on February 5 by the sectarian and undemocratic actions of the Socialist Workers Party. The question arises as to what lessons have been learned from the Socialist Alliance experience and what those who wish to continue with the project of socialist unity do next. That discussion is what the conference is about.

The proposed agenda is in four parts. First is a discussion on the general economic and political situation, led by professor Hillel Ticktin. Second is a discussion on what we have learned from the Socialist Alliance experience, with a panel of speakers from the various sponsors of the conference. Third is a discussion and decisions on various proposals for an organisational way forward. Fourth is a discussion and decisions on plans for the future.

There is clearly a need for a mass alternative to New Labour, which looks to be heading for a third term in office despite its unpopularity. Various groups have made an attempt to build an alternative. Arthur Scargill started the Socialist Labour Party and initially brought a lot of socialists together. However, his undemocratic methods resulted in the collapse of his party. Likewise the SWP have set up Respect - but in such a sectarian and undemocratic manner that it is unlikely it will prosper. The only organisation which seems to have come out of the last eight years with any credit is the Scottish Socialist Party, where Scottish Militant Labour opened up their organisation and welcomed in independents and other groups as tendencies.

A key issue for the March 12 conference will be democracy - how to create a democratic culture out of a tradition of bureaucratic and sectarian methods on the British left. A related issue is how to bring independent socialists and the sects into one organisation. The SSP experience does seem a model to base ourselves on. Some comrades think that this is such an uphill task that it is impossible. My answer would be if we do not make a start now, who else will do it?
Dave Spencer
Coventry

by Colm Breathnach Sun Feb 27, 2005 18:45

I take, Joes point on people posting from work but the fact is that many use anonymous posts to make personal attacks. This make it impossible to reasonable debates because the anon. poster can make any outrageous claims he or she likes, while the open poster generally is constrained to something resembling the truth. This is why I usually refuse to engage with anonymous posters, though I am not completely dogmatic on this and would, for example have no problem with debating with people like hs-sp who can engage in cut and thrust debate without degenerating to personal abuse.

On the question of my membership of the WP I have repeatedly and publicly acknowledged mistakes I made in the past and the manner in which I began to doubt and challenge authoritarian and undemocratic practices, including on indymedia. I will do so again if those who make these dishonest and incorrect accusations against me do so under their own names.

If those who have made these sectarian attacks on me are members of the SWP, they might direct their queries to a certain Richard Boyd Barret, who had no problem availing of my assistance during the general election of 2002, when I personally spent a day introducing him to a number of community activists in working class areas of Dun Laoghaire who had previously been supporters of the WP there when I was a WP councillor during the early 1990s. Despite my misgivings about the SWPs politics, I believed it would be a positive development for those communities if a socialist was elected for the area. Strange approach for a 'stalinist'. I also canvassed for Clare Daly (SP) in Dublin North during that election which probably puts me in the unique position of working for both an SWP and SP candidate in the same election. Sectarian? Stalinist? My record speaks for itself.

by Jim Murphy Mon Feb 28, 2005 10:53

May god forgive ye Working for both them stalinist organisations. I thought ye were against democratic centralism? Whats the point of that if you dont agree with them?

by Colm Mon Feb 28, 2005 11:33

Can't win this one, can I Jim? Criticise another left org. and you're called sectarian, work for someone from another left org.and you're criticised for supporting stalinists!

For the record, I worked for these candidates because, despite my (different)disagreements with both the SP and SWP, I believed that in both cases it would advance the immediate interests of working people to have these people elected. If elected they were not going to impose a leninist dictatorship but they would ( and do in the case of Clare as a councillor) fight on behalf of working people in a determined and principled way.

This brings me around to how I define sectarianism: putting the interests of your own organisation first often in the belief that the interests of your group and the class are exactly the same. It also entails seeing all other left org.s as enemies all of the time. So, strongly criticising the SWP's politics and refusing to participate in their front groups is quite legitimate. Nor does this prevent ISN members from cooperating with SWP members in campaigns that the party does not control such as the Dublin Anti-Bin Tax Campaign and the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign. We even spent two years working within the IAWM until it became impossible to do so due to the way in which the SWP purged some of its opponents.

It is not sectarian is being critical of what you consider to be fundamental flaws of an organisation. If we did'nt have fundamental differences we'd all join the SWP would'nt we? For example: criticising the ISN for its internal structure (participatory democracy) or becuse you think we were wrong for leaving the IAWM etc etc is not sectarian even if I dont agree with those criticisms. On the other hand attacking individual members of the ISN personally and falsely claiming they are stalinists or were involved in paramilitary activity is clearly the result of a sectarian mindset.

by Davy Carlin Mon Feb 28, 2005 11:50 carlindavid at hotmail dot com

HS - SP interesting site.

Could you elabotare on the issue of Respect.

I read from various quarters of it having no base in the working class and of being undemocratic and sectarian as you say so yourself. Is this solely because of the SWP as you point out?

What is ' your' evidence for this?.

On the new allaince - I believe while it is important getting the already established left parties together within such an alliance - it though should not be the primary role.

Who else from the various movements are involved - does those already involved have support - or have they built up local support within their areas?

PS Note - As I have stated before my e-mail as above, for quite a long time has and is monitored by several 'comrade' organisations amongst others.

I have another email that has been used for that similar time for engagement and can be supplied by giving me a buzz

All the Best.

by hs - sp Mon Feb 28, 2005 18:55

The letter was a reproint from the weekly worker, www.cpgb.org.uk , not my own personal views. but the views an element of what was the socialist alliance.

My point on respect was not that it is undemocratic and not based in the working class or sectarian , (you could be confusing me with colms post), I have serious reservations but not enough to publicly accuse it of anything. But there has been widespread reports from differing groups on the swp's railroad tactics with democratic centralism. Perfectly legal and within the party constitution i'm sure but railroading none the less. I would personally feel alot more comfortable with a federal structure.

My own point on respect was that it came from an alliance of leftists and religious on the anti war ticket and is not a good example for ireland as there is no mass religious groups interested in such an alliance, and if there were it's very unlikely (very, very) the socialist party would take part in such an alliance.

I don't know excatly what the movements are, the anachist inspired groups such as grassroots aren't really interested in elections (we are talking of an electoral alliance) and anti war activists are not necesarily leftist. Possibly if the service charges could throw up something. But really at the moment all we are talking about is existing left groups. And the two main ones being the swp and the sp, The sp's leadership believes there isn't enough of a new movement to justify a new party.

But for my own personal reservations on the broad party, is I want a political party that represents those of us in the wharehouses and factories and every other mindnumbing oppressive labour out there whether it be call centres or whatever. I don't want some sort of watered down liberal lefty party that won't come out solidly on our side. I want a tough hardnosed party willing to stand up to bosses. At the moment we have a very small party, but it does stand up uncompremisingly for our interests. I don't want to trade that in for a broader party softer party that won't.

by John Meehan Mon Feb 28, 2005 23:26

Colm - I do not agree with your take on this.

Nothing I have seen here removes my first impression that the newly announced left coalition is likely to play a spoiler role in the upcoming British General Election - similar to Scargill's SLP during the early days of the SSP.

I understand your anger over the anonymistas/psuedonymista comments - but again advise - like a broken record - that the best policy is to ignore them.

by hs - sp Tue Mar 01, 2005 00:06

couple of quick things, weren't the slp there before the SSP. And as you know the socialist party in england have been taking part in elections for more than 20 years. So you hardly expect them to bow out for another party. It will only be a spoiler if the socialist green coalition run spoilers against respect candidates. But as both coalitions are only running 30 or so candidates each I don't imagine that will be a problem.

It would be like the swp and others making a coalition and us not standing our candidates because of it. Obviously not going to happen.
I wouldn't take sides in respect versus green socialist, but I would be very suprised if the sp in england didn't stand. Especially in places where they have councillers.

by . Tue Mar 01, 2005 00:56

is respect socialist?

by D Tue Mar 01, 2005 15:27

A reprint from weekly worker - ok

So it is the SWP that is sectarian and undemocratic - not Respect -although there are widespread 'reports' of rail roading and the SWP stlye of DC - {which I have to admitt caused me great problems}

So that sorts that out -as I had just wanted your thoughts on those points.


The points on Movements and Alliances {electoral} and otherwise, I will deal with in relation to the Political, tactical and strategical etc.

I will though detail this in a more lengthy article for Indymedia in the time ahead as I will need to go into detail and have limited time presently. I also have a few other articles of length pencilled in to write. D

by hs - sp Wed Mar 02, 2005 00:21

I don't know if i did say the swp are sectarian, I don't like using that word because to be frank it has lost all meaning, it's no more than a term of abuse, especially on certain websites :- ) , I do try to chose my words carefully.

I think you may have misunderstood my fears on the idea of a coalition with the swp. It was one (although not such a problem in ireland as the swp aren't so big), was some worrying reports of policies being railroaded without real debate or representation. Of course these are reports and I wasn't there, but I can still worry about it.

And two, that the socialist party would be replaced by a soft party which wouldn't defend us muppets in the factories properly, but would go all wishy washy and liberal and want to listen to the bosses side. Opportunism would probably be a better word than sectarian.
Why would I trade in a good party with acouple of cllrs and 1 or 2 tds, for a not so great party with maybe an extra cllr or two. It doesn't make sense. (we are still talking electoral alliance here)

Although many could suspect a new grouping could simply be a recruiting front for the swp, . (and that would be sectarian!!! in the real sense of the word).
I don't think the swp are that stupid.

I look forward to reading your piece on the movement, throw on indymedia when you get done, later hs

by Anon Wed Mar 02, 2005 13:48

Sorry John but for work reasons I'm going anon. I know you won't reply but sure there we go.

1. You claim that the new alliance is a spoiler (similar to SLP) but what about the fact that RESPECT was a spoiler to the Socialist Alliance. The SWP couldn't control the SA in the same way it could it's new formulation RESPECT. So I think you are wrong on that.

2. You say that "we in Ireland are way behind developments in Scotland and England - we should be careful about taking sides in a very British ((Life of Brian) dispute, before throwing stones and taking sides".

Socialists should always take sides. Who says we are miles behind England. You can only say that if you think RESPECT is a positive development. If it's not, then your claim to being behind England is wrong. It is my belief that anybody in Ireland who has worked with the SWP in campaigns can have opinions about what they think the SWP project RESPECT is likely to be like. Unless of course you happen to think there is a fundamental difference between the Irish SWP and the UK SWP?