Build a class based socialist party
The successful launch meeting of Solidarity - SSM,
at which hundreds joined the new movement, is an indication of the potential to
rebuild the socialist movement in
However, Solidarity - SSM needs to be clearly
seen to take up the immediate issues affecting workers and working class communities
in
One of the fundamental reasons for the crisis
and now disintegration of the SSP was the leadership's turn away from
consistent socialist and working class policies.
As well as their conduct over Tommy Sheridan's
resignation and subsequent court action against the NotW,
this was also seen by the SSP leaderships turn to left nationalism. The SSP
leadership promoted support for Scottish independence on a capitalist basis. If
the Scottish people were in favour of independence socialists would support
that as a democratic right, but we would also consistently explain the need to
fight to end capitalism, which is the only way out of poverty, low pay and
inequality in
It was the International Socialists who opposed
this move away from the SSP's founding policy which
was for an independent socialist
This false idea, that independence on its own
would offer a route out of continued attacks on working class people's rights
and living standards, which is the norm under capitalism - led the SSP to
propose the launch of the cross-party Independence Convention with the pro-
capitalist SNP. It may also lead to the
SSP advocating a vote for the SNP at next year's Scottish elections in the
seats the SSP does not contest
It is vital that while fighting for the
democratic rights of the Scottish people this new movement for socialism
maintains its complete political independence from the pro-market establishment
and fights to build a mass working class party on clear socialist principals.
There will be important discussions taking place
in the new party over what type of party is needed at this time. The Socialist
Workers Party want Solidarity - SSM to adopt the political approach of Respect
in England, which has failed to emerge as a genuine left or socialist
alternative for working class people because it has based its appeal on only
one section of the population.
At the Solidarity - SSM rally the SWP speakers
argued that for the left it should be the war that was "the mothership that needed to be touched regularly for
refuelling" In other words it is the war that was the central issue and
the new movement should base itself on this.
They argued that Solidarity - SSM should be a
new "left" party - most SWP members refused to call for a socialist
party - that would base itself on mainly campaigning around the Muslim
community, asylum seekers and the anti-war movement. This is not the view of
the majority of those forces who have initially launched the new party out of
the SSP.
It is clear that opposition to imperialist war, Islamophobia, racism and defence of the right to asylum are
vital issues for socialists to fight on. But it would be a serious mistake to
restrict Solidarity - SSM to these questions only. If it is to make an impact
as a class based socialist party, it will need to sink its roots in working
class communities by fighting on NHS cuts, poverty, low pay, the effects of
privatisation and supporting workers and communities in struggle - as well as
war and racism. Otherwise, it will narrow the impact and appeal of the new
movement.
The International Socialists will work to build
Solidarity as a fighting socialist party relevant to the working class in