Socialist Action opens conference discussion With all the razamataz of launching a new soap powder, last month saw the formation of the Social Democratic Party.
The twelve Labour MPs who split in March have been joined by nineteen peers and one Tory MP. While most will consider this to be a good riddance, many are still concerned at the damage that might result to Labour in the next election.
The SDP are projecting a confident image. They claim that - if they can come to a pact with the Liberals - they will win over 40% of the votes.
CAMPAIGN The capitalist press has boosted the Social Democrats. Shirley Williams and Bill Rodgers, hardly known for their socialist views, are portrayed as "moderates" resisting the "extremism" ol the Labour lell.
This press campaign is, of course, predictable. After Thatcher's disastrous term in office - in which even Tory economists are slating her policies -the media recognise that tne Labour Party could be returned with a landslide victory at the next election.
After all, up to a few months ago, the polls showed Labour with a 24% ON March 17, Socialist Action opened its pre-conference discussion period.
Lasting a full three months, it will afford all members time tor serious discussion on the major tasks facing socialists in the period ahead.
The climax will be a two-day conference at the end of June - attended by members nationally - to concretely work out our orientation over the next yeal. supporters are aiso encourageu to attend, and there will be a special session where they can find out more about our ideas and activities and ask cuestions.
The conference this year will be a vital AS LIC Class struggle intensifies - both in Britain and international scats gave mon opportunities to advance their ideas.
Two key issues, which will occupy the pre-conference discussion stand out. sick that, under pressure from a leftward moving membership, a future Labour government could no longer be relied on to do their dirty work, like a Wilson or Callaghan.
This is why the press is backing the SDP-Liberal alliance. They hope that if the Tory vote is drastically reduced, they can prevent Labour gaining control by splitting the vote. After all, the SDP hopes to catch most of its support from discontented Labour voters CLASS BASE In reality, there is little chance of Labour losing out in the long term. As the recession deepens, workers will be forced more and more towards Labour as a party to fight for their class interests.
It should not be forgotten that the shift left in the party results mainly from growing discontent in the unions and not - as the media like to portray it - from the CLPs alone. Workers are looking for solutions to the problems they face and they naturally turn to the party they built: the Labour Party.
This explains the radical stance taken by recent conferences on nuclear disarmament, women's rights and unemployment - and the growing tendThe first is the growing radicalisation in une abour movement vocialst ac tion members will be concentrating on what concrete steps are needed today to build, in the unions and Labour Party, a class-struggle left-wing that will champion the demands of all the oppressed and exploited.
A kev aspect of this will be our orientation towards the unions - particularly the industrial unions which are the backbone of the fight against the Tory govCLASS-STRUGGLE The conference will, of course, be taking up a number of other issues within this framework - the struggle for women's rights. against Black oppression.
etc - which Socialist Action members nave been active in.
The central task of the conference, however, will be to see how these struggles - which have often been councils to resist the Tory cuts need class solutions to their problems.
ency for Labour to lead mass action in the streets against the Tories.
ANSWER that lost radour me tastelecuo, -have no answer to the problems facing working people.
Representing a last-ditch attempt to cling to the "middle ground" of class waged outside the labour movement -can become part of the fight in the unions and Labour Party for a fighting lett-wing, that only by winning the ranks of the labour movement - particularly the industrial sections — can the rights and gains of any sector of the oppressed be defended.
INTERNATIONAL gle. Unlike many insular political groups in Britain, Socialist Action doesn't believe that the struggle in our class around the world.
ary struggles in Central America - in El Salvador, Grenada, Nicaragua and Cuba - which are in the front line of The SDP - representing the policies just and equal society.
It is becoming more and more evident for them.
PARTY-BUILDING Ism The second major issue will be our response to the international class struggle Britain is separate from the struggles of A major part of the conference will therefore be devoted to the revolutioninto a fortnightly. compromise at a time when class polarisation is deepening, they are looking for a social base that no longer exists.
Cials This does not mean, however, that thev cannot - in the short term - get enough support to endanger Labour's electoral chances next time around.
Beating off this threat will nor be achieved by expressing "regret" at the departure of renegade MPs, as Labour the fight against imperialism and for a Socialist Action supporters will be discussing the concrete steps needed to publicise these struggles in the British labour movement and win support It is under these two flags - the neec to turn to industry and international— inal ine socialist Acion conicI' ence this year will take place.
Being able to implement such positions will mean, of course, strengthening sociansi Achon as a current buni around clear policies and extending our influence in the months ahead. A whole session of the conference will be devoted to this task and turning our paper - which is at present a monthly -The conference, while being an important time tol soclaust achion: occur if Labour moves boldly out as a party which champions the rights of working people and their allies Only by showing that the Labour Party is willing to fight for the unemployed, women, Blacks and other oppressed layers will Labour be able to reauce tne social Democrats to tre rump they in reality are.
STRUGGLE Such a perspective will also mean fighting off attempts by right-wingers in the party - such as Hattersley - to overturn the democratic gains of the last conference.
The "Labour Solidarity Committee", set up by a wide number of Labour MPs, share the same ideas as the Social Democrats but lack their courage in "going it alone". If they succeed in imposing their policies on the party -and overturning the democratic gains of Wembley - they will kill the party's chances in isolating the Social DemoSocialists in the Labour Party have tO ment Toot and nal to ensure loa the gains won are not clawed back. They have to fight to root the party more and more among working people and get it to adopt policies in their class interests.
will also afford some time for comrades to relax and discuss informally.
DEMOCRACY During the pre-conference period -and at conference itself - all members of Socialist Action will be free to write and argue ior whatever positions ther feel are best-suited for carrying the orcanisanon lorwardma tae benoo adeao.
Socialist Action places great store on such internal democracy.
At the same time, supporters of the paper are encouraged to attend the pre-conterence discussion sessions -and the conference - in order to get a more rounded view or tne postuons o.
sociansi Achon and tne lasks lacing revolutionaries both in Britain and internationally For further information about the Socialist Action conference, write to: National Secretary, Socialist Action, P.O.
Box 65, London, SW16 INN.
who have equally shown a dislike for the
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Shirley Williams and David Owen (above) may be courted by the capitalist press at present. But they are unlikely to cut much ice with working people who