trying to over come left sectarianism

international | anti-capitalism | news report Friday July 11, 2008 14:06 by john throne - labors militant voice loughfinn at aol dot com

Conference discusses overcoming left working together.

Over the past few years i have raised in indymedia the damage done to the working class movement by left sectarianism and advocated that attempts be made by left groups and left activists to work together much more. For this I have been attacked and slandered by the leadership of the old organization of which I was a part, the Socialist Party in Ireland. I am very glad to see that the Socialist party in Britain now appears to be taking steps in the direction of trying to work together with other groups on the left. I hope when I raise this again i will not be treated as some sort of heretic. Comradely, John Throne.

Comrades

As you will know from previous correspondence, the Socialist Alliance decided in May to call a meeting of all the main socialist and green socialist unity projects and organisations. The meeting was borne out of our frustration that there are so many left organisations and so-called unity projects - eight different ones had met within 8 days of each other last November to talk about much the same thing, with similar outcomes, but in different venues.

We were unsure how many orgaisations would attend the meeting, which was called to explore ways we could all work together more effectively. The meeting was arranged for last Saturday, July 5th. We invited all the left and green left groups from around the country.

The result was staggering. As you will see from the report below, twelve different socialist organisations sent representatives. That is an achievement in itself. This included most of the major players - the Socialist Party, Respect (Galloway), Labour Representation Committee, Left Alternative (formerly Left List for the GLA and other recent elections - largely SWP), Green Left, AGS, tUSP, RDG, CPGB, AWL and the Democratic Labour Party, as well as the SA.

Not only did all these organisations discuss left unity together, they also agreed to meet again and, in the interim, discuss internally their positions on co-operation with other groups, including what barriers there might be, and to report that back. It was agreed this was a necessary part of understanding where we are at before we move forwards - it was generally agreed that there was a need for working class political representation now that Labour was dead and buried, and that a new left/green-left party needed to be built. At the next meeting, which has been arranged for October 11th, it was agreed to discuss the statements each group makes on their attitude towards working with others - and to discuss becoming some sort of Left liaison committee to continue the dialogue on how we move forwards.

Now I would say all this is something of an achievement, especially as it followed the very successful conference of the CNWP six days earlier which I have previously reported. Serious moves towards building a new left party have clearly been made, and the next few months could well see some real developments towards our common goal. I have not felt so optimistic for years, but......... (!). Let us hope there is no 'but'!

In Unity - report from the meeting below

Pete McLaren
SA National Secretary

REPORT FROM THE LEFT UNITY MEETING SAT JULY 5th

ORGANISATIONS PRESENT - The Socialist Party; Alliance for Green Socialism; Walsall Democratic Labour Party; Socialist Alliance; Labour Representation Committee; Green Left; Revolutionary Democratic Group; the United Socialist Party; Alliance for Workers Liberty; Respect; CPGB (observers); Left Alternative (observers)

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS – Pete McLaren, Nat Sec of the SA which had called the meeting, welcomed comrades to the meeting and thanked them for attending, outlining how this meeting was almost certainly historic in that never before had 12 different left groups/unity projects met together to discuss ways of working together more effectively. That was an achievement in itself. He added that it was essential that something tangible came out of the meeting to take us forward towards the long term goal of a new left party.

INITIAL DISCUSSION – After everyone had introduced themselves, Gerry Byrne (SA) took the chair, and began by asking that those who had submitted Papers speak briefly to them. There then followed a wide ranging discussion where each group present explained where they were at in terms of the need for left unity, what the barriers to unity might be, and how they thought we might be able to work together more effectively. There was general agreement about the need for working class political representation now that Labour was finished, and that a new left / green-left party therefore needed to be built.

PROPOSALS FOR ACTION
After a short break, the following proposals were put forward:
Intervene at the Manchester Convention of the Left
Produce a Joint Statement in support of the public sector strikes
All organisations (except LRC and GL) agree to avoid electoral clashes
Ask the LRC and the GL to consider whether there might be some way they could contribute to a clash avoidance agreement
An accounting function – each organisation to submit a brief statement about where it stood on working with others, and on the question of a united left party - and what problems or issues it could foresee. A draft would be produced from contributions which would be circulated.
We form a Left liaison Committee to have dialogue on the process as it unfolds

Groups commented on these proposals.

THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS WERE AGREED:
i) Production of a Joint Statement in support of the public sector strikes – Gerry Byrne (SA) to initiate and circulate
ii) Each organisation to discuss internally, in the light of this meeting, its position on cooperation and unity with other groups, including what barriers there might be. Organisations were invited to send in written statements on this – to Pete McLaren, at pete.mclaren@virgin.net before the next meeting.
iii) That we discuss becoming a sort of liaison committee to have dialogue on the process as it unfolds – the next meeting on October 11th to consider this, and to see where we all stand as agreed in ii) above

It was agreed that this next meeting on Saturday October 11th, would be at 1pm at the Lucas Arms. The timing would enable discussion to take place after the Labour Party and TUC Conferences, and the Manchester Convention of the Left

Pete McLaren 08/07/08