Independent Left joins SWP

by Michael Gallagher Mon Oct 15, 2007 13:39

I am not sure how to take this news, I have just read it.
This move warrants serious discussions by all on the left. If it's possible, could a spokesperson from both sides (CIL and SWP) make a contribution here and put us in the picture with all the facts?
As is pointed out above, if the conditions for a new appetite for creating a revolutionary mindset in people is imminent -and it seems more than likely to happen sooner than we expected- well isn't this the time that ALL the left got together and prepare for the inevitable.

It should no longer be the call of certain individuals in certain parties/groups to dictate the pace and the development and coming together of all the left parties/groupings and individuals.
Yes, we know there are differences, but if the revolutionary left is serious about their poliltics, well then shouldn't the differences be put aside for the moment at least? Isn't it in all our interests to at least call a conference with left unity being at the top of the agenda?
And by a conference I dont mean a two hour slagging match or digging up of old wounds about the shortcomings of certain people. I also don't mean a conference to highlight comparisons of achievments -or lack of- in the past. Although mistakes have been made by all sides, isn't it time to learn from these? The biggest mistake I think is us not making a serious effort to bring the left together once and for all.

Can you all put your differences aside and get together for one big conference?

If the efforts by all parties/groupings where put into this as much as they put into their own conferences, well the least it would do is guarentee a full attendance.
The prize for unity is huge...it will pull together all the genuine left in this country, something that hasn't been seen for a long time, which in turn will be in a position to recruit, teach and prepare workers for the battles ahead - AS ONE POWERFUL UNIT!

Otherwise, what we will have is a scattering of activists of all parties/groupings and individuals, overworked and lacking real leadership, picking up the odd new member here and there -as is the case now. But the big difference is there will be a lot more opportunities about for new people to get involved, but without the co-ordination, organisation and unification to achieve that to it's full potential.

It's long past time for the juvenile pettyness and cheap point scoring to stop. We are all facing towards the same goal, isn't it time we started to play as a team?

Good preparation is the food of victory!

by entrypoint Mon Oct 15, 2007 14:56

"lacked the credibility of the Socialist Party’s campaign based on years of hard work on the ground."

Credibility didn't get JH elected though did it?

by ReSect Watch Mon Oct 15, 2007 14:58

In the UK the wheels are fast coming off the wagon that is RESPECT. The SWP mothership is now going through a left turn. How long before we see the same in Ireland? How long does PBP have?

by leftie Mon Oct 15, 2007 15:00

Who are we talking about here? If Joan Collins and co. haven't committed, you're only talking about three independent Trotskyists: Young, Meehan, Derwin. I doubt if Seamus Healy in Tipp is interested and the ISN ditched the Campaign for an Independent Left ages ago.

So, the 'gain' for the SWP is a phantom branch of PBPA with three members.

Am I wrong?

by Robert Ching - Minions of Midas Mon Oct 15, 2007 15:21 Luna City

I doubt very much if any of the three you mentioned would touch an SWP front like the PBPA. They have all had their fingers burned by the SWP both in the recent past and over the decades. God knows how many fake TU campaigns were set up by the SWP not to mention that broad left alliance that the SWP set up and then cynically dropped around 2000.

Who if anyone other than the SWP is in the "PBPA" branch then? Based on the evidence so far it looks like yet another SWP phantom creation.

by pat c Tue Oct 16, 2007 10:37

Stories like this appear cause a lot of heat but light when the main protagonists do not comment. The story is here and there will probably be a lot of guesswork comments until and unless someone from either the SWP or the CIL posts a comment.

This is not a case of feeding the trolls, the story is up and it looks as if its staying up so informed comments would really help.

by aristotle Tue Oct 16, 2007 11:02

Before we all get carried away, can someone calculate what percentage of the electorate is represented by this grand alliance and how many Dail seats it will translate into?

by analyst Tue Oct 16, 2007 19:45

Less than 1% and None

by Left Eye Lopez Wed Oct 17, 2007 11:49

Leftie mentioned some individuals, and Robert Ching said that they wouldn't touch PBP.
On the contrary - at least two of them are centrally involved in organising this latest move.

by leftie Wed Oct 17, 2007 15:20

Left-Eye Lopez tells us that two of the three individuals I mentioned are involved in this venture. These three generally act together, so they are probably all involved. This, of course, just underlines what I said in the first place: this story is hyperbole.

Particularly after their split from Red Banner (now kept going by those who remained), the three lads were at a loose end. They had tried to tie themselves in with the Collins/Connolly crew but weren't seen as the movers and shakers they'd like to be. Joan Collins and Dermot Connolly don't NEED them.

If anybody bothered to follow the political meanderings of Young/Meehan/Derwin, it was obvious they would end up in the SWP front PBP, as they clearly have.

However, this story remains hyperbole because these three have nobody around them. They represent nothing beyond themselves. The acquisition of three talkative Trotskyists is hardly a major gain for PBP and the SWP.

Meanwhile, it is clear that CIL has finally faded from existence. Requiescat in pace.

by Left Eye Lopez Sun Oct 21, 2007 12:26

Joan Collins has been persuaded to speak at the Teachers Club meeting. The SWP/PBP speaker will be Richard Boyd Barrett. The fact that the PBP speaker is not from Dublin Central, but is instead the best TD Dun Laoghaire never had (!) underlines that the SWP see this initiative as having more than just local implications, whatever the CIL people think about it. The SWP see Collins' involvement in the meeting as a sign that they have finally won over the CIL - which may prove to be over-optimistic as far as the Collins faction is concerned.

Soon after this metting at least one CIL person will be appointed to the National Committee of PBP. But to maintain the impression of the CIL still existing, he (or possibly they) will sit on the committee 'in a personal capacity'.

by cropbeye - Ethical Developbent in Action Sun Oct 28, 2007 14:13 cropbeye at yahoo dot com Cork City (Northside)

Another way around the situation is if the likes of Irish Republican Socialist Party, Eirigi and Irish Socialist Network

were to join the P.B.P along with the number of Independant Left mentioned they could out flank the Socialist Workers

so that the Socialist Workers in their new minority position will be put in the postion that they will have to have a

change of heart and start to operate in a maner of partnership and open democratic accountability or else they

will have to create a crises and then walk away as the have walked away from a lot of other campagains and

organisations.

by Chubs Tue Nov 06, 2007 23:47

It’s amazing that Joan Collins would pick a time like this to join PBP. http://www.indymedia.ie/article/84810
With all the hassle with Respect in England showing the SWP at their worst it’s a poor reflection on someone I would have respect for http://www.indymedia.ie/article/84921
The other gobshites like Meehan and Conlan wouldn’t care once they are getting some attention but I would expect more from Collins and even Connolly. Even with all the history of the SWP trying to leech off campaigns like the IAWM, the bin tax, GR etc… some people are either too desperate or stupid to learn the lessons.

by Galway Girl Wed Nov 07, 2007 10:44

"but I would expect more from Collins and even Connolly."

Please!

Connolly is an opportunist who would still be in the Labour Party had she been nominated ahead of Michael D in the last GE. She is perfect for the SWP. A controlling harpy with a superiority complex to boot.

by me Wed Nov 07, 2007 11:37

I can see why you thought of her, but I think the reference above was, in fact, to the bould Dermot Connolly, a man you'd expect to have more sense than to entangle himself with this latest SWP front.