Conference 2018 Final Agenda
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The Final Agenda for the 114th Annual Conference of
The Socialist Party of Great Britain at
52 Clapham High Street London SW4 7UN on
Saturday April 21st 2018: 10.30 to 5pm
Sunday April 22nd 2018: 10.30 to 5pm
Items and Order of Business
A Election of the Chair, the Deputy Chair, Tellers and minute takers by the delegates.
B Permission of Branches with late forms ‘C’ to sit.
C Fraternal Greetings from members, branches, companion parties.
D Arrangement by delegates of the order for taking the items of business.
E The 2017 EC and Party Officers’ Report to Conference 2018.
F Motions for resolution.
G Items for discussion.
H Any other business.
Please note: Indicative votes of delegates at Conference will be recorded for all instructed resolutions and amendments. (Conference 2013 resolution)
The suggested order of taking the items:
1. General Secretary post vacant.
2. Report of Assistant General Secretary
3. Report of Central Organiser
4. Master Form C for 2018
5. The Member’s Survey by the Ad Hoc Committee on the Organisational Structure of the Party.
6. MOTION West London Branch
“That Conference discuss the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Organisational Structure of the Party with a view to holding an indicative vote on each of its recommendations.”
Amendment 1 West London Branch
Add "a comma after ‘recommendations’ and add: ‘for example
a) that e-mail lists of local members be distributed to enable discussion of activity;
b) that a ‘buddy’ system for new members be created; and
c) that e-mail be the default means by which individual members are sent Conference and ADM material and other internal business.’”
Amendment 2 West Midlands Regional Branch
Add "One suggestion is that branch secretaries should ensure that they have e-mail addresses for branch members and, where appropriate, local Central Branch members and sympathisers, and that e-mail is used to promote and discuss branch activity. Branch members without access to e-mail for party business should also be kept informed and encouraged to participate in branch activity"
Amendment 3 West Midlands Regional Branch
Add "One suggestion is that guidance, a workshop or tutorial on designing promotional material is arranged and offered to members"
Amendment 4 West Midlands Regional Branch
Add "The report suggests we could raise awareness among members of how the party functions. So, copies of the revised New Members Handbook should be sent to all members"
7. MOTION South Wales Branch
“This Conference notes there has been a visible decline in party activity and socialist activity.* To ensure that this lack of activity is corrected and suitable administrative support provided for a wide range of party activity and socialist activity this Conference favours the party employing a full-time paid General Secretary.”
Amendment (i) North London Branch
“Delete ‘full-time.'”
Amendment (ii) Lancaster Branch
Delete all after '…and socialist activity this Conference ' and insert
'instructs the EC to employ a part-time General Secretary'.
Amendment (iii) West London Branch
“Delete ‘a full-time paid General Secretary’ and replace with ‘a paid part-time Head Office Organiser’.”
8. MOTION Kent and Sussex Regional Branch
“The EC should make determined efforts to ensure that as much as is practical, Central Branch members are organised and able to participate within the Party.”
Lunch break 1.00 pm to 2.15pm.
9. Advertising Report
10. Enquiries Report
11. Media Report No report
12. Report of the Treasurer
13. Report of the Assistant Treasurer
14. Auditors’ Report
15. Investment Committee Report
16. MOTION South Wales Branch
“This Conference notes the workload of the Party Treasurer in respect of many factors (tax issues; legacies and the associated complexity of administration; the increase in party funds; the use of PayPal for dues and donations; the annual revaluation of HO and its contents for insurance purposes; the opening of an investment trust account; the financial obligations of the Electoral Commission; the processing of Standing Order payments; the administration of the party’s finances and the yearly financial statement; and the expected legislation on Anti-money laundering) has in effect meant the post should no longer be considered a ‘volunteer post’ consisting of a few hours work per month.
Due to this extra workload Conference is in favour of the designation becoming a part-time paid post.”
Amendment Lancaster Branch
Delete all after 'Due to this extra workload Conference' and insert
'instructs the EC to employ a part-time Party Treasurer'.
17. MOTION Lancaster Branch
“This Conference instructs the EC to establish an annual bursary of at least £2,000 for the purposes of helping members of limited means to attend Party general meetings, the dispensation of which should be worked out, overseen and administered by the EC.”
Conference adjourns resumes Sunday at 10.30am
18. Membership Applications Report
19. MOTION South Wales Branch
“This Conference notes that with the increase in membership applications being made online this has led to the following developments:
An increase in the diversification of the membership over a wide geographical area. New members becoming isolated from Branch, Party and socialist activity. Due to a lack of Branch contact the Party are unaware of new members’ skill sets, experience and preferences for becoming an active member. These adverse developments are impacting on the party’s organisation and structure and having a pronounced effect on how new members become engaged with the socialist case. In order to correct this development Conference instructs the EC to create and develop a members profile on the membership data base and that this information is initially captured by the Membership Application Committee once the EC have approved the membership application.”
20. Internet Committee Report
21. MOTION Lancaster Branch “That the EC ensure that ADM 2018 is open to non-attendees via Teamspeak.”
Amendment Kent & Sussex Regional Branch
“Delete “Teamspeak” and insert “suitable electronic means, following consultation with the Internet Committee”.
22. Item for Discussion Kent & Sussex Regional Branch
“Should the Party, nationally and locally, be producing Podcasts?”
23. Audio-Visual Committee no report
24. Blog Committee Report
25. Campaigns /Summer School Report
26. Item for Discussion Kent & Sussex Regional Branch
“Should the Party revise its position on activism and protesting reformist decisions made by either Government or local authorities that are harmful to the working class. Do we think that protesting things that are harmful to the working class is an act of reformism in itself.”
27. Socialist Standard Production Committee Report
28. MOTION Lancaster Branch
“This Conference instructs the EC and all relevant Party offices including the Socialist Standard to amend the final clause of the Declaration of Principles, deleting the phrase ‘wage war against’ and replacing with ‘oppose’, so that it shall henceforth read: The Socialist Party of Great Britain therefore enters the field of political action determined to oppose all other political parties…” etc.
29. Publications Committee Report
30. Ballot Committee Report
31. Item for Discussion Lancaster Branch
“That a Party Poll being now effectively equivalent to a Conference resolution, the one can no longer be said to overrule the other.”
32. Election Committee Report
33. MOTION Lancaster Branch
“This Conference approves the use of the phrases ‘New Abolitionists’ or ‘New Abolitionist Movement’ to be appended to Party descriptions and electoral forms where deemed suitable and appropriate.”
34. Archives No report
35. Library No report
36. Item for Discussion North London Branch
“How would a Special Conference under Rule 23 work?”
37. Head Office Organiser post vacant 2017
38. Premises Committee No report
39. Universities and Colleges
40. Standing Orders
41. Adoption of the EC and Party Officers’ Report to Conference 2018
We call for nominations for Chair and vice-Chair. We also ask for volunteers to take the Minutes at Conference.
Standing Orders. 15TH MARCH 2018
SUPPORTING STATEMENTS
Item 6 Motion West London Branch
“That Conference discuss the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Organisational Structure of the Party with a view to holding an indicative vote on each of its recommendations.”
Last year Conference voted to set up a committee to look at possible changes to the Party’s organisational structure and procedures with a view to increased membership participation in the formulation and implementation of socialist activity. The committee has begun its work with a survey of members’ views. The second part of their work – to propose any changes – will not be done in time for branches to submit motions supporting or opposing what the committee might propose, since items for the preliminary agenda had to be in by 26 January.
However, as the committee intends to report to the February EC, their findings will be in time for branches to propose amendments to any motions on the matter on the preliminary agenda (the closing date for amendments being 9 March). If this year’s Conference does not give some indication of what it thinks of any proposals, this would have to be postponed to 2019 and the momentum risks being lost.
Our motion seeks to provide an opportunity for branches to vote on any proposals. This cannot be a binding vote but there is now provision for delegates to pass non-binding indicative resolutions and for branch delegates to be mandated on these. This will at least give an indication of the way a majority of Party members want to go – or don’t want to go.
There are Four Amendments to the Motion (Item 6):
Amendment 1 West London Branch
“Add a comma after ‘recommendations’ and add: ‘for example a) that e-mail lists of local members be distributed to enable discussion of activity; b) that a ‘buddy’ system for new members be created; and c) that e-mail be the default means by which individual members are sent Conference and ADM material and other internal business.
Our intention is that the discussion on the Members Survey should not just be a general exchange of views but that there should be some practical outcome. We could not put the three ideas floated in the Survey in our original motion as the Survey had not been published by the closing date for motions to go on the preliminary agenda. We would like branches to discuss these three specific points and instruct their delegates on what to say and/or how to vote on them at Conference. This would be an indicative vote and not one which would also go to the whole membership with the Conference ballot but would still give some guidance to the EC and its subcommittees.
Amendment 2: West Midlands Regional Branch
Add "One suggestion is that branch secretaries should ensure that they have e-mail addresses for branch members and, where appropriate, local Central Branch members and sympathisers, and that e-mail is used to promote and discuss branch activity. Branch members without access to e-mail for party business should also be kept informed and encouraged to participate in branch activity"
Hopefully this is something which branches are doing already, although maybe more could be done to promote public meetings, for example, to nearby Central branch members and sympathisers, Head office could assist with compiling e-mail distribution lists. This proposal comes from the section on pages 14 and 15 of the Committee on the Organisation Structure of the Party regarding electronic methods of engaging with the party: Members were asked if they have access to the internet and e-mails for party business (e.g. for online meetings, receiving updates etc.), and 84% do. (76 said yes, 15 said no). Of the 25 respondents from Central branch, 18 (72%) have access to e-mails and the internet, a slightly lower proportion than in the party at large. Those who answered ‘yes’ to the above question were asked if they would participate in an e-mail distribution list of local Socialist Party members to discuss activity. 80% of respondents said they would (59 said yes, 15 said no). Of the 14 respondents from Central branch, 10 (71.4%) would participate, a lower proportion than in the party at large. These figures suggest that more use could be made of electronic means of communication, as the majority of respondents have access to it. Other means of sharing information should remain, so that no-one is excluded from relevant information.
Amendment 3 West Midlands Regional Branch
Add "One suggestion is that guidance, a workshop or tutorial on designing promotional material is arranged and offered to members"
The members' survey said that this was the workshop which most people said they wanted (page 11: "The most popular potential workshop – to improve skills in design – was wanted by 8 respondents. In this instance, any training arranged might have to be through the internet as those interested all live in different parts of the country and may not all be able to travel to a workshop, but do have access to e-mails.").
Amendment 4 West Midlands Regional Branch
Add "The report suggests we could raise awareness among members of how the party functions. So, copies of the revised New Members Handbook should be sent to all members"
This refers to the section on page 13 of the Committee report: "The party may … benefit from promoting points of contact to ask about procedures, whether this is within a branch or centrally. Overall, there was reasonable agreement with the statement "I feel confident in knowing how to propose an item for discussion at conference or ADM", quite strong agreement with the statement "I understand what the role of the Executive Committee is" and fairly strong agreement with the statement "I know who to contact if I have a question about party procedures". However, with 36 negative responses to the first question and others, this suggests a significant number are isolated from party procedures. These figures could imply a lack of interest in party procedure, or a lack of confidence in knowing who to ask or where to find the information". Sending all members copies of the revised New Members Handbook should help improve awareness.
Item 7 Motion South Wales Branch
“This Conference notes there has been a visible decline in party activity and socialist activity.* To ensure that this lack of activity is corrected and suitable administrative support provided for a wide range of party activity and socialist activity this Conference favours the party employing a full-time paid General Secretary.”
The aim of this resolution is to put our house in order by favouring the creation of an Administration Section under the oversight of a full-time paid General Secretary so all the tasks associated with providing administrative support for the party are included in their remit/ToR.
Besides this oversight of an Administration Section the duties of the General Secretary shall be extended** so they include coordination with the Central Organiser to facilitate internal party activity and external socialist activity through: an extensive use of the membership data base and the creation of members profiles so that isolated members and non-active members are provided with a bespoke range of activities which fits their preferences, skill sets and experience; the creation of a Buddy System*** which includes new members and also members who have become inactive; the setting up of Teamspeak meetings for internal discussion and brainstorming sessions; facilitating the use of Skype for EC meetings; creating podcasts of EC meetings and public meetings; direct contact with members who have been flagged up as “lack of contact”; the repair or procurement of IT hardware, software applications, computers, laptops and printers and other consumables within the provisions of a budget decided by the EC; setting up email lists for small groups of active members; becoming acquainted with accountancy software; facilitating the video streaming of Conference and ADM; the publication of a monthly Newsletter; providing a monthly update to the EC which pinpoints our strengths and weaknesses; arranging catering at Conference and ADM; redrafting the New Members Handbook; and reviewing the Welcome Pack and advising the EC on the necessary changes required to bring it up-to- date.
The advantages of having a full-time paid General Secretary are manifold and include not just the above. For instance, the flow of all information and making the essential connections will be integral to the designation and HO will be open tomembers and visitors 9 to 5 five days a week, excluding bank holidays.
*This is making a distinction between internal party activity and external socialist activity. **The present ToR for the General Secretary consists of: taking the minutes of EC meetings, Conference and ADM and their distribution; setting the agenda for EC meetings; arranging Conference and ADM; corresponding with external agencies; ensuring the membership data base is up-to- date via forms A&F; publication of new Rule Books and distribution to the membership.
*** A Buddy System consists of matching a long standing member with a new member so they are informally familiarised with party procedure and encouraged to become engaged with socialist activity.
There are three Amendments to the Motion (Item 7) Amendment (i) North London Branch
“Delete ‘full-time.’” This amendment deemed to be self-explanatory.
Amendment (ii) Lancaster Branch
“Delete all after '…and socialist activity this Conference' and insert
'instructs the EC to employ a part-time General Secretary'.”
The original phrasing 'Conference is in favour' expresses an opinion only and does not tell anyone to do anything. There is no point in motions like this, therefore we suggest a new wording which if passed commits the EC to action. We also don't believe the long wish-list of potential Gen Sec duties is feasible, likely or even necessarily desirable in the short-term, whereas the need for at least a part-time post doing basic duties is genuine and urgent and should be prioritised over speculative long-term aims. We recognise that the Party has no real experience in employing people, however we understand that small charities often outsource the administration of staff employment, wages, tax & National Insurance and so forth, and that we could easily do the same, so this would not be the insurmountable obstacle that some members think.
Amendment (iii) West London Branch Delete ‘a full-time paid General Secretary’ and replace with ‘a paid part-time Head Office Organiser’.
We agree with the preamble to the South Wales motion but not with the proposed solution. We accept the need for the Party to employ someone, but not that this should be the General Secretary (as this is an elected post) nor that a full-timer is (yet) required.
Item 8 Motion Kent & Sussex Regional Branch
“The EC should make determined efforts to ensure that as much as is practical, Central Branch members are organised and able to Participate within the Party.”
One thing the Party cannot waste is any potential for useful activity. Partly or wholly due to having no appointed Secretary, nothing in particular appears to have been done for some years to encourage Central Branch members to be active in the Party. This is a potential wasted opportunity, particularly as new members continue to be allocated to Central Branch, but receive little or no encouragement, other than the welcome letter on joining, and the usual Conference and ballot mail-shots.
Some may say why don’t they do something themselves to change this. Well most of us lead busy lives, things can drift and circumstances change. A little encouragement can sometimes go a long way, especially for newer members. Surely we can all think of examples.
This is a perfect time to act, as the recent survey of members has hopefully provided an up to date picture of what (some of) these members may be willing to do, and how best to communicate with them. At the very least, a web forum and/or a social media group could be established, both to allow discussion (perhaps even leading to Central Branch taking up its right to participate at Conference) and encourage activity. Our Branch is experimenting with free software that should enable members with internet access to take part in teleconference meetings.
The EC does have a nominee for Central Branch Secretary this year. However, they may need additional support and encouragement to help realise the potential of the Branch, and the EC should do all it can to help make sure that support is there. Whatever the outcome of the review of the Party structure, there will remain a group of members unable to attend face-to-face meetings, so we may as well start finding better ways to involve them (including those overseas).
Item 16 Motion South Wales Branch
“This Conference notes the workload of the Party Treasurer in respect of many factors (tax issues; legacies and the associated complexity of administration; the increase in party funds; the use of PayPal for dues and donations; the annual revaluation of HO and its contents for insurance purposes; the opening of an investment trust account; the financial obligations of the Electoral Commission; the processing of Standing Order payments; the administration of the party’s finances and the yearly financial statement; and the expected legislation on Anti-money laundering) has in effect meant the post should no longer be considered a ‘volunteer post’ consisting of a few hours work per month.
Due to this extra workload Conference is in favour of the designation becoming a part-time paid post.”
The days of the Party Treasurer only being concerned about keeping track of our outgoings and income and producing an annual financial statement are long past. Indeed, the extra workload means that the post is currently over and above what is considered to be a “volunteer post”. This resolution is an acknowledgement of how the situation has changed over the years and requires rectifying.
Amendment to the Motion (Item 14) Lancaster Branch
Delete all after 'Due to this extra workload Conference' and insert 'instructs the EC to employ a part-time Party Treasurer'. As with the above amendment [Item 7], this is just a small change to ensure something happens and prevent this from becoming another pious resolution.
Item 17 Motion Lancaster Branch
“This Conference instructs the EC to establish an annual bursary of at least £2,000 for the purposes of helping members of limited means to attend Party general meetings, the dispensation of which should be worked out, overseen and administered by the EC.”
This relates to Motion 4 of Jan 2018 EC minutes, where a member requested financial support to attend Conference as a non-delegate. The 2017 EC had chosen to grant this request the previous year, despite there being no precedent for doing so. The 2018 EC chose not to follow this ad-hoc arrangement and instead preferred to look at other options. Lancaster suggests that a bursary would be a reasonable and fair solution. If the Party is willing to subsidise the annual Fircroft weekend of talks and discussion, it ought to be equally willing to subsidise the process of democratic debate and decision-making too.
Item 19 Motion South Wales Branch
“This Conference notes that with the increase in membership applications being made online this has led to the following developments:
An increase in the diversification of the membership over a wide geographical area. New members becoming isolated from Branch, Party and socialist activity. Due to a lack of Branch contact the Party are unaware of new members’ skill sets, experience and preferences for becoming an active member. These adverse developments are impacting on the party’s organisation and structure and having a pronounced effect on how new members become engaged with the socialist case.
In order to correct this development Conference instructs the EC to create and develop a members profile on the membership data base and that this information is initially captured by the Membership Application Committee once the EC have approved the membership application.”
Before the introduction of the internet most applications for membership were undertaken at the Branch level and ensured the new members was given every opportunity to become involved and engaged with party and socialist activity. However, a trend is now developing where it is very likely that more applications for membership will be online via the party web site. At first sight this trend is encouraging. However it can if not fully addressed have serious consequences and implications for the future of the party as bullet pointed in the resolution. This resolution partially addresses these concerns by making a member’s profile part of a process for engaging with all new members. And it is the initial stage in a process where more proactive measures are taken by party officers so this trend has a positive outcome.
Item 21 Motion Lancaster Branch
“That the EC ensure that ADM 2018 is open to non-attendees via Teamspeak.”
There is really no excuse, late in the second decade of the 21st century, why our general meetings continue to be restricted to those few who have the mobility, the freedom and the money to attend London meetings in person. Most active members will certainly have a home computer today, so all they need is a cheap microphone headset (around £6.99) and with the free Teamspeak software they can take part through a Chair just as if they’re in the Conference hall. This suggestion has been made before, but since it seems that nothing gets done in the Party unless Conference insists on it, we now propose this resolution.
Amendment to the Motion (Item 21) Kent & Sussex Regional Branch
“Delete “Teamspeak” and insert “suitable electronic means, following consultation with the Internet Committee”.
Using audio-visual technology to enable more members to participate in Party meetings is a great idea, which we fully support. Our Branch is currently running a trial of systems to do just that.
However, we suggest it may be a mistake to commit the Party to any one particular software solution. The use of such systems may be dependent on the various operating systems and internet browsers which members use, including particular versions and plug-ins, and even future development of the software solution itself. While Lancaster no doubt has good reasons for suggesting Teamspeak, there are even now several other free systems available, without the need to install software, such as Jitsi Meet, Google Hangouts and of course Skype. Our amendment does not remove the option of using Teamspeak, but provides a more flexible approach. In addition, consultation with the Internet Committee will provide additional assurance and possibly encourage further technological innovations.
Item 22 Item for Discussion Kent & Sussex Regional Branch
“Should the Party, nationally and locally, be producing Podcasts?”
A podcast is an audio recording of a program (as in music or talk), similar to a talk radio show. The program may be streamed live but is more commonly pre-recorded and perhaps even edited before being published on the internet. It is then available for anyone to listen to at their leisure. Just as a blog is an article published online, a podcast is a radio show published online. Podcasts can be recorded in many formats, such as a lecture, debate, or interview. Party members could act as host and guest and then record their program on a prearranged topic. They are generally about an hour long, but may be shorter or longer.
The popularity of podcasts has risen dramatically over the last ten years. This is due mainly to the ease of access because of the widespread use of iPhones (podcast is a portmanteau of iPod and broadcast) although podcasts are available through most devices such as computers and other makes of Smartphone. It is estimated that in the UK four million people download podcasts every day. Podcasts can be easily and cheaply produced and could be produced either by the Party in general or by individual branches. It is not uncommon that individuals produce their own podcast content on a regular basis. Think of podcasts, as the talk radio of social media.
The potential benefits of podcasts include:
• Engagement. Forming part of our wider propaganda portfolio.
• Education. Podcasts are a great platform to disseminate thought-provoking information to the general public and our own members.
• Member Inclusion. Enabling and encouraging members to take part in producing podcasts builds morale and can be done completely online, mitigating the problems of geography.
• Most importantly, we believe that this project will be fun!
Kent & Sussex Branch would like to propose that:
• Training be provided to interested members and branches.
• Equipment made available if required.
• Assistance in publishing and advertising be provided where required.
• Suggested topics or material can be provided to spark creativity.
KSRB can provide further specific details regarding the producing of podcasts, if required.
Item 26 Item for Discussion Kent & Sussex Regional Branch
“Should the Party revise its position on activism and protesting reformist decisions made by either Government or local authorities that are harmful to the working class. Do we think that protesting things that are harmful to the working class is an act of reformism in itself.”
We take the view that we can and should attend protests, strikes, May Day rallies and other demonstrations of activism. These demonstrations can be a great place for the SPGB to educate those who are angry at the current political climate about an alternative to capitalism. Take, for example, the recent march for the NHS. We could have attended that march with our banners, flags and leaflets representing the SPGB, but instead of supporting the stance of wanting more funding for the NHS, we could have used our collective voice to educate people on the SPGB's view that capitalism can never truly support the notion of free healthcare and well being for all. We could use our leaflets that read something along the lines of, 'The problem isn't the Tories, the problem is Capitalism', so that we could be a voice that fights against government policies that cause immediate harm and distress to the working class and vulnerable members of society, yet still be a clear opposition to the other political parties at the rallies. It is all about being explicit in our intentions, that we feel the pain and anger of those at the protest, but show them that reforming capitalism is not the way forward.
If it was a rally specifically for capitalist reformation, such as a protest in support for a 'living wage', then the SPGB could either choose not to attend, or attend as an alternative/counter voice with picket signs that read, "Abolish Wage Slavery" with leaflets on the replacement of money with mutual aid instead. This could perhaps be a matter that is voted on by the branch that is most local to where the protest event is held?
We point to a quote by Karl Marx, "To be radical is to grasp things by the root." If the workers are to rid themselves of future cuts/closures or re-organisations in the future, then they must rid themselves of capitalism. The alternative that the SPGB has is to not allow ourselves to be sweetened by temporary compromises from government, councils nor workplace management, since these reforms cannot last forever in a capitalist economy that relies upon boom/bust and bubble/burst cycles. If re-organisations and cuts/closures can be bad for some workers, then they can be bad for any worker – solidarity amongst all workers is key. So, to show our solidarity and to enact real radical change, we must use protests and activism to voice against the root cause of these problems, using democratic tools and education to revolt against capitalism.
To clarify, if the SPGB was to attend any protests through a collective voice, it should do so with the intention of expressing Party views. That most, if not all, problems that affect vulnerable members of society and the world around us are inevitable in a global economy that is driven by profit, illegitimate hierarchy, wage slavery and exploitation. Protesting the flaws of capitalism is one thing, but suggesting a resolution to the problem all together is another – in other words, although we are marching alongside the opposition to fight against a common problem, we do not share their message in how to resolve said problem. Which is similar to the Party's policy that if we were elected to parliament before there is socialism, we would not simply abstain on every issue. Fighting immediate issues should not diminish our ultimate goal of achieving socialism, which also goes hand-in-hand with the Party's stance on trade unionism.
Item 28 Motion Lancaster Branch
“This Conference instructs the EC and all relevant Party offices including the Socialist Standard to amend the final clause of the Declaration of Principles, deleting the phrase ‘wage war against’ and replacing with ‘oppose’, so that it shall henceforth read: The Socialist Party of Great Britain therefore enters the field of political action determined to oppose all other political parties…” etc.
Lancaster Branch thinks that the proposed change more accurately reflects what the World Socialist Movement stands for. The original was drawn up in 1904 after a vote at the founding meeting between the "wage war" wording and the "oppose" wording. However, in 2018, "wage war" has lost its figurative sense and now is very likely to be misunderstood. What 143 people decided in June 1904 was not set in tablets of stone like some religious belief. We do not propose to establish a world socialist system by literally waging war on everybody, so our Principles ought to be worded accordingly.
Item 31 Item for Discussion Lancaster Branch
“That a Party Poll being now effectively equivalent to a Conference resolution, the one can no longer be said to overrule the other.”
Despite the fact that our one-member-one-vote Conference system is now decades old, some members continue to fetishise our one-member-one-vote Party Poll procedure as the top trump in the decision-making pack, even going so far as to argue that the decision of a Party Poll, even if years old and out-of-date, cannot be overturned by a new Conference vote. To allow the present to be held hostage to the past in this way is not only undemocratic, we think it’s downright silly. To change the situation would require a change of rule, however we thought on this occasion we’d ask the question first and shoot later.
Item 33 Motion Lancaster Branch
“This Conference approves the use of the phrases ‘New Abolitionists’ or ‘New Abolitionist Movement’ to be appended to Party descriptions and electoral forms where deemed suitable and appropriate.”
This is our creative response to the Kent & Sussex ADM 2017 Item 31 ‘Learning to live with the S word’ in which they requested a suitable tag which would help people understand the unique standpoint of the Party. Historically the Abolitionist movement is associated with one specific aim, the abolition of slavery. Since we stand for the abolition of wage-slavery and by extension capitalist property relations, we can justifiably represent ourselves in terms of a general application of the same principle. We think that a revival of this famous term is long overdue, and could serve as a rallying point for all those sympathisers, fellow-travellers and anti-capitalists who are currently baffled by the plethora of so-called socialist groups and feel they have no banner to muster under.
Item 36 Item for Discussion North London Branch
“How would a Special Conference under Rule 23 work?”
Rule 23 provides for six branches to be able to call a special conference. There is no provision in rule for how that conference could be conducted. Rule 21 describes how annual conference must be organised. The timetable for annual conference is so long, it effectively means if we followed those procedures, that a special conference is pointless, and instead Annual Conference or ADM could be used instead. Or a party poll. Rule 23 does not describe how motions should be put to such a conference, nor how they should be voted upon.
Earlier this year, the party was faced with the near prospect of being without a functioning EC, and in recent years we have had occasions where an urgent democratic decision was required, but nothing laid out in rule allowed for a swift response. Rule 23 is a dead letter, and should be changed.
In the interim, since the details of the rule do not provide a description of how a special conference should be run, as a matter of urgency, the current EC should be invited to draw up guidelines for the operation of a special conference, including How motions are raised and How voting will be conducted. We think, further, that rule 23 should be amended at conference next year to reflect such guidelines, and to lower the number of branches that are needed to call a special conference.
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