Socialist Platform meeting – Saturday September 14, 1pm. The Meeting Place, 2 Langley Lane, London SW8.
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Apologies for the tardy reply , Edmund. I thought others would have appraised you of further developments.Both Adam and myself wrote to WEEKLY WORKER as individuals but now our EC, in the name of the party, has formally issued a statement inviting unity discussions. Message from the Assistant Secretary (3 September) re Left Unity:Left Unity is a new political party. Three competing platforms have been drafted and circulated in advance of its founding conference, scheduled for 30 November 2013. Of particular interest to us is the so-called “Socialist Platform". Participants of our Party’s web forum and spintcom have observed that this platform has many similarities to our own Object and Declaration of Principles, and there has been discussion about whether or not we should officially approach Left Unity to propose a meeting to discuss their statement and ours. Cde Buick has drafted a letter which the EC may wish to consider:"We have read your Statement of Aims and Principles for the proposed “Left Unity Party” and have noticed many similarities with our Object and Declaration of Principles and the positions we have developed and propagated over the years. We have in mind in particular the need for a principled, explicitly socialist party that concentrates on campaigning for socialism as “capitalism does not and cannot be made to work in the interests of the majority” and which holds that “the socialist transformation of society. . . can only be accomplished by the working class itself acting democratically as the majority in society” using “both parliamentary and extra-parliamentary means”. As there can be no point in two socialist parties in one country we should like to propose a meeting to discuss the principle of a single socialist party, based on sound socialist principles, as opposed to forming yet another leftwing reformist party. It was generally agreed to send a letter to the "Socialist Platform". Cde Cox suggested if they turn us down, we can send an open letter.Motion 30 – Shannon and Cragg moved the Party sends a letter to Socialist Platform proposing a meeting to discuss the principle of a single socialist party. Carried (5-0-0) As you can see we do not seek to have talks with the various other platforms who we recognise have irreconcilable differences with our position, and you may also be aware of our critical attitude to the CPGB amendments to the original Socialist Platform statement. As posted on our blog, Unity based on the principles of socialism and achieved, through free discussion will be the goal of the Socialist Party. We need unity but do not fear dissension. The Socialist Party does not shy away from mergers with groups where there is a common identity of interests. The aim must be to effect a genuine unification on a firm and long-lasting basis. We, for our part, believe that unity would be a good thing if it is firmly based and leads to the strengthening of the socialist movement. On the other hand, a unification followed by sharp factional fights and another split would be highly injurious to the movement. We must all ask ourselves when is it sectarianism and when is it political principle? We cannot accept the “lowest common denominator” approach. A socialist movement which places greater value on tactics of political expediency than on principle has abandoned the policy of the class struggle for one of class collaboration. I suggest rather than engage in debate here, it will be more fruitful to contact our General Secretary to establish a means where we can engage in an exchange of information with the signatories of the Socialist Platform and how we can move forward to discussing the Socialist Platform and our own Declaration of Principles in the hope of reaching an agreed position.
ALB wrote:alanjjohnstone wrote:Gnome asks why would they want to infiltrate us? What would be in it, literally, for them?I can think of two reasons , the control of a healthy bank balance and prestigious premises.That wasn't what I had in mind. They may be (are, in fact) unscrupulous political operators but they are not common crooks (besides, they seem to have plenty of money of their own, from their leaders' private fortunes). I was thinking more of a political raid to see if they could pick up some of our then members who might have doubts about our policy, say, on parliament or reforms.
One wonders, however, if the five EC members who agreed to send a letter to the 'Socialist Platform' outfit proposing "a meeting to discuss the principle of a single socialist party, based on sound socialist principles, as opposed to forming yet another left-wing reformist party" considered these and other potential ramifications of such an invitation?
alanjjohnstone wrote:The Socialist Party does not shy away from mergers with groups where there is a common identity of interests.No doubt this is true in the abstract (though it has never happened of course and it is not immediately clear what "a common identity of interests" might mean, i.e a common aim and set of principles) but a 'merger" is not what the EC;s letter proposes or has in mind. It is merely proposing a meeting to discuss the principle that in any one country there can only be one socialist party. As it concludes:
Quote:As there can be no point in two socialist parties in one country we should like to propose a meeting to discuss the principle of a single socialist party, based on sound socialist principles, as opposed to forming yet another leftwing reformist party.In other words, to draw their attention to the fact such a socialist party already exists. A meeting would also be an opportunity to discuss differences, especially their clause 8 which says that a socialist party should have a reform programme.
The Weekly Worker have announced their "Communist Platform" within "Left Unity"http://cpgb.org.uk/home/weekly-worker/981/left-unity-communist-platform-formeddetailed herehttp://cpgb.org.uk/home/weekly-worker/981/communist-platformI can't see this going anywhere, as signatories to the "Socialist Platform" may no longer trust them. Effectively "Communist Platform" may consist of their groups members alone.
It will be interesting to see which platform gets the less votes at the founding Conference of the new reformist party on 30 November: the "CPGB" one or the one presented by "Workers Power"?
edmundpotts wrote:Hello all,I'm a member of the steering committee of the Socialist Platform within Left Unity. I noticed the letters written into the CPGB's Weekly Worker by Adam Buick and Alan Johnstone, which seem to express interest in a discussion about similarities between our projects. I'd be more than happy for either Adam or Alan [or any other SPGB member] to email me as the point of contact for such discussions. My address is edmundpotts gmail comFor the record, here's Edmund Potts observations on the founding conference of "Left Unity" and how he sees the future of those who initiated the "Socialist Platform".http://www.independentsocialistnetwork.org/?p=2644
It seems unity is still on the ISN agenda…just that the prospective partners have shifted to the more libertarian sector …unwelcome advances and a rough wooing, just courting being spurned…?…and it is now called a regroupment.http://libcom.org/forums/general/isns-regroupment-project-iww-afed-12122013 I had never heard of the Plan C group.
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