Rees and Germain resign ?

[Fisher_Gate]

It is correct that John Rees and Lindsey German have resigned from the Officers group and National Council of the Left Alternative. I was a little surprised.

Why were you surprised?

The SWP decide who is in charge in Left Alternative - not the members like you!

Rees and German took the Left Alternative (aka Left List) to a truly dreadful set of election results - worse than the much derided Socialist Alliance achieved in the GLA List vote in 2000 for example (SA 2000 27,073 1.6%; LL 2008 22,583 0.94%). With two minor exceptions, the Left List results in the council elections were just as dismal.

Yet Rees argued there was nothing wrong and it was business as usual.

The SWP are rapidly downgrading the Left Alternative and electoral work and Rees pretending that LA was the continuity of Respect and was getting back on course, was just getting in the way. So he was sacked and replaced, not by the members of Left Alternative, or even by the members of the SWP who had cheered him on in the split only in January of this year. German appears to have resigned in some kind of 'solidarity' though the writing was clearly on the wall for her too.

The CC has now spoken: Left Alternative is now to be "reduced to minimal, but still existing, role". "bruising election contests" shall be avoided (like there are election contests that are not???).

So where does that leave those who went with the SWP from Respect into Left Alternative, like yourself?

Well, to be frank, up the creek without a paddle!

If you want to get reinvolved in fighting elections and trying to create a genuine left alternative, you would be better off rejoining Respect - it is not necessary to worship the ground on which George Galloway walks any more, we had quite enough of that nonsense from Rees in the past. Even the SP's CNWP has more life and future in it than the moribund Left Alternative you cling to.

Which way are you going to jump?

 

[osterberg]

If you want to get reinvolved in fighting elections and trying to create a genuine left alternative, you would be better off rejoining Respect - it is not necessary to worship the ground on which George Galloway walks any more....

Anyone told George this?

 

[Fisher_Gate]

Anyone told George this?

Yes, many times.

For example:

"There are also issues on which we would go much further than George does in his letter"
John Lister and Alan Thornett, George Galloway's letter where we stand, Sept 2007
http://www.isg-fi.org.uk/spip.php?article584

"The upshot is a situation which is discrediting to George Galloway and discrediting to Respect"
Socialist Resistance statement on George Galloway's appearance on Big Brother, Jan 2006
http://www.isg-fi.org.uk/spip.php?article384

"Galloway must show members some respect"

"The problem was that the process of building any political coherence has never even started. In fact it has been strongly opposed at each stage by George Galloway and the SWP,- who both want a loose structure for their own (slightly different) reasons.

After George Galloway won Bethnal Green and Bow last May, which was - a tremendous achievement - things got worse.

He has become increasing unaccountable. His personal "Audience with George Galloway" tour was an example of this. He was famously in Ireland at one of these when New Labour survived by a majority of one on a key vote on the "anti-terror" measures. Respect was damaged as a result.

What was developing was precisely the wrong relationship between a party and its only MP and only nationally known figure. When accountability * and there can be no democracy without accountability came up at the Respect conference last November, Galloway’s approach was defended by the main component in Respect, the SWP: "Don’t worry George it’s only a coalition" was the message!"

...

"We are very much against a split with George Galloway over this, if it can be avoided. His reputation can be rebuilt if he goes about it the right way. Publicly this means accepting that Big Brother was a serious error of judgement. In Respect it means accepting that he was wrong to take that decision unilaterally * and that he will do things differently in the future.

There has to be a principled basis for a continuing relationship. Otherwise Respect is providing foot soldiers for an unaccountable MP.

Respect was to be a different kind of organisation: more democratic, more accountable, less media spin and more rooted in the movement. To ensure it has a future, it must live up to this."
Socialist Resistance, Editorial Feb 2006
http://www.isg-fi.org.uk/spip.php?article382


"Britain’s Blairite Labour government is proposing to introduce what they call the Incitement to Religious and Racial Hatred Bill, allegedly to protect Muslims against Islamophobia. Alan Thornett, a leading member of the ISG and member of Respect’s leadership argues that it will do quite the opposite; in fact it will extend Britain’s already existing and archaic blasphemy laws and threaten free speech. George Galloway has already voted for this Bill during its current progress through Parliament and a majority on the Respect National Council appear to find no problem with it. Thornett argues that this is a big mistake."
Racial and Religious Hatred Bill - a serious threat to free speech
http://www.internationalviewpoint.org/spip.php?article903

 

[osterberg]

Yeah, you can tell him but he won't listen.
You going to hold him to account for calling women on Big Brother "whores"?
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/commen...-mikey-you-did-scotland-proud-86908-20728349/
It was a big problem that he was the only significant figure to break with Labour at the setting up of Respect but that's how it goes sometimes.
These days I'm beyond caring about Respect.It was worth making the effort but it's done and dusted and time to move on .
I hope Fisher Gate and George will be happy together.

 

[osterberg]

And Fisher, has RR reached its goal of 10000 members yet? I think that was the target announced at last year's "conference".
I don't think either side can gloat.

 

[mk12]

Why have they resigned? Are they still in the SWP?

 

[Fisher_Gate]

...but it's done and dusted and time to move on .
...

It makes a refreshing change for you to admit you've thrown in the towel. Presumably this was after a detailed discussion by the membership and a shared collective experience being used to endorse a common political position? I hope you'll all enthousiastically pay up the levy to the CC to get rid of the massive debts that 'Left List' built up in the fiasco of a GLA campaign that you all went along with?

But it's a shame you had to make up such a song and dance 12 months ago about pretending to want to carry on in Respect, rather than just admit that your plan all along was to sabotage and destroy it when you had the chance.

Oh, and any chance of having the bank account and website back for those who do support continuing Respect?

And good luck with your future endeavours - I am sure you will find plenty of labour movement activists who will think your behaviour throughout this farago has shown how honest you are, and how open you are to working with others. I'll happily donate a magnifying glass for you to find them.

 

[Fisher_Gate]

Why have they resigned? Are they still in the SWP?

Rees resigned because it was the "Party line" as endorsed by the Central Committee that he should be replaced. He knows that, as with Nick Wrack, Rob Hoveman and Kevin Ovenden he would be expelled if he did not go along with it.

So he has resigned as National Secretary in order to stay in the SWP.

German appears to have resigned from the National Council in solidarity with her partner Rees. Whether that was the CC line remains to be seen. I presume they've quietly accepted it, otherwise she would have been expelled by now.

Of course the membership of Left Alternative have not asked for their resignation. They do not figure in the deliberations of the SWP CC.

Why the SWP CC asked Rees to resign now, rather than wait until the 'conference' in November and quietly replace them then, is the more interesting question.

 

[Fisher_Gate]

And Fisher, has RR reached its goal of 10000 members yet? I think that was the target announced at last year's "conference".
I don't think either side can gloat.

The goal to raise £100,000 and 10,000 members by the general election, likely to be May 2010. Rest assured there will be a full and honest membership progress report for the actual conference in October 2008.

And we won't be counting students who signed a sheet indicating interest at Freshers' Fairs.

 

[Nigel]

Don't buy that at all. We're all responsible for our own activity, the SWP don't stop other left groups succeeding with better ideas, that's on their (our) own heads. Slightly larger groups that we disagree with shouldn't be an excuse for the failure of everyone else (but I've seen them used as such time and again)

They do a lot to sabotage any decent initiative, opportunistically to recruit to their festering & slowly dieing cult.

 

[Nigel]

Hack or Sycophant

Yes, I have absolutely no principles . I joined the SWP to spread evil and to worship the Dark Lord Rees .

Look,mate , the vast majority of people who join a socialist party like the SWP do so because they want to overthrow capitalism and replace it with a democratic socialist society free of exploitation. If you want to want to advance any business interests or try to pursue a lucrative political career you join New Labour,the Tories or the Lib Dems.

Anyway I must go,I have a chicken to sacrifice.

]
Yes but most either leave within the first year or two when they realise how the SWP operate and the cultish nature of their oversimplified politics, or either keep their head down and just try and get on with political work, dodging the twenty year old or so full timer whose just done a humanities/social science degree, and so knows everythin about everything (even though their contact with shopfloors, workplaces & working class in general is minimal), or the paternal robot who runs the local branch.

SWP has as much to do about socialism as a polar bear has to the Sahara!

 

[butchersapron]

Yes, I have absolutely no principles . I joined the SWP to spread evil and to worship the Dark Lord Rees .

Look,mate , the vast majority of people who join a socialist party like the SWP do so because they want to overthrow capitalism and replace it with a democratic socialist society free of exploitation. If you want to want to advance any business interests or try to pursue a lucrative political career you join New Labour,the Tories or the Lib Dems.

Anyway I must go,I have a chicken to sacrifice.

What is it about the peformance of the SWP over the last three years that attracted you enough to join up?

 

[cutandsplice]

What is it about the peformance of the SWP over the last three years that attracted you enough to join up?

Lindsey German's food diary?

 

[sabatical]

Yes, I have absolutely no principles . I joined the SWP to spread evil and to worship the Dark Lord Rees ..

No principles, politically speaking, is not the same as dishonesty, so we can all thank you for being frank about your motives, a rare emotion for a member of SWP.
Your religiosity becomes you.

Look,mate , the vast majority of people who join a socialist party like the SWP do so because they want to overthrow capitalism and replace it with a democratic socialist society free of exploitation.
If you want to want to advance any business interests or try to pursue a lucrative political career you join New Labour,the Tories or the Lib Dems..

To 'overthrow capitalism and so on, you could just as easy join the cliff Richards fan club, for all your organization has achieved.
So if that's the position of the majority, the ones who have no say in what the SWP do, what in real terms is the position of the minority, the ones who control it ?
'Are not the congregation led by the priesthood' ?

Quote --''''Since then the Left Alternative has fared disastrously. Gaining just 0.68% across London in the mayoral election in May, since then one of their councillors has joined the Conservatives, three have joined the Labour Party, and one of their GLA list candidates has joined the Lib Dems.'''
How backward can they be, by any standards that's a description of reactionaries. - end.

All the above councilors first joined the SWP led 'left [alleged] alternative', then after training, they joined other parties.
So yes I think we are in agreement, the SWP is reactionary.

'''''want to overthrow capitalism and replace it with a democratic socialist society ''''
Do they, how nice.
If the socialist movement doesn't lead to a communal society, communist society, then its not socialist. The stand point of scientific socialists.

There is no such thing as 'national socialism' its conservatism in disguise, ''a democratic socialist society' is not a communist society.
Stalin in 1935 openly stated that they had achieved communism, they then had to go forward to socialism, he was completely backward, as is the SWP, from your admission.
The left opposition stated that the Stalinist policies would lead back to capitalism, as does the politics of the SWP, judging from the councilors.

Socialism is only a bridge to a communist society, not an end in itself.
Whether its 'socialism in one country, as in Russia, or national socialism as in Germany, whether its dictatorial or democratic, its not a communist society, if it is the end that is aimed for.

Anyway I must go,I have a chicken to sacrifice.

Good to see you attend to your religious devotion, one can understand as to how you all manage to get on so well with the religious sectarians that falsely call themselves Muslims, which certainly is not what the real Muslims call them.
The Catholic period of European history is classified by the scientific socialists as a petite bourgeois period, the middle classes are also called by the same term, but so also are members of other religions that though they stay within their old groups have taken on bourgeois ideological positions.
'Are not the congregation led by the priesthood' ?

 

[barney_pig]

the well earned sense of schardenfreude that I should be feeling at the ousting of mr and mrs reese is somewhat spoilt by the news that it was apparently orchestrated by the swappies very own bargain bucket stalin- martin smith.
smith has it seems for years modelled his political existance on trotsky's famous desciption of stalin, as nothing more than a grey blur.

 

[poster342002]

I can't the the point of bigging up Respect Renewal, either. They can bog off, too. A plague on all their houses - Respect Renewal, The Left List, The SWP ... all rubbish from the same overflowing dustbin. Time the dust-lorry emptied them into the dump for good.

 

[The39thStep]

Lindsey German's food diary?

Those extracts from her diary were brilliant.

Food now arrives in industrial quantities _ samosas from the cafe round the corner, pakora made by one of our supporters, M&Ms bought by my agent Abdurahman, chocolates, cakes and pastries brought by helpers from west London, big bags of popcorn. Delicious but not exactly a balanced diet.

From then on it was a short bus ride to Southwark where there were people of many colours on the bus gaily chatting in contrast to the sullen shaven haired youth who glared out of the window. The bus driver , a pleasant young man form Poland told me in his best English that he had in fact two degrees and at home was a brain surgeon but was forced to come here just to earn enough to keep his family fed. We alighted from the bus and had to get a cab to Southwark as the council had not changed all direction signs into languages that everyone could understand.

An elderly pensioner asked me about refuse collections and I assured them that not only under my candidacy would bins be emptied weekly but that tipping would be introduced and travelling tarmacers given the right to perform their trade in a manner culturally acceptable to them. She said that she would not be voting for Blair in the next election and eagerly took some Respect flyers which she left next to her bin for neighbours.

Today we visited a Bangladeshi woman who wants to help us. More food _ grapes and shortbread _ and a great discussion. Sinead is leaving us today to go back to university. We will all miss her but she's back on polling day.

I am not normally keen on chorizo but it was hard to say no when Miguel and his moustached men brought the sizzling sausage with oven roasted vegetables to the table at the Clapham Latin American resource centre. Miguel and I conversed about the Zapatistas and the incredibly high rates of VAT that ethnic business people struggle with before leaving some Respect flyers for customers.

My food intake consists of half a smoked salmon sandwich made by Ghada, a bag of crisps, a lovely bowl of dessert made with rice flour and spices. All the food is bought or provided by someone else. The other day I had rabbit stew (cold) which Sinead brought in and a lentil and feta cheese salad made by Andy. It's rather an odd feeling to be fed like this. I keep promising myself that will buy some food and organise my sandwiches but I don't suppose anyone is relying on that.

At the Kurdish Centre the caretaker is so keen to vote for Respect that he forgoes his Welsh Rarebit and Leek flan during his lunch break in order to get to the polling station. Whilst canvassing in Gateshead Sinead is requested several times to 'get her tits out' by a group of white males clearly working their ticket. I stick to the guacamole and the guacamole sticks to me.

It isn't all politics in the Stop the War office. Our biggest disputes are about chocolate and who is going to unload the van. There are a couple of people in our office (men I might add) who love chocolate although they're quite fussy about what sort. We get squabbles over the Green and Black's (which isn't easily available here in King's Cross) plus it is now obligatory whenever anyone goes abroad to stock up in the duty free. So we've had recently Lindt dark chocolate from Istanbul, Neuhaus from Frankfurt and chocolate from Venezuela so hard you had to cut it with a knife.

Just as well there's an international movement to keep us stocked up.

At the meeting in Islington tonight several members of the audience vow to set up letter chains to urge their childminders and cleaners to vote Respect. Leaving the hall, Bartholmew strained his back , in what could have been a nasty incident , slipping on a chickpea. In the evening I write to the TGWU to remind them that many people are concerned that they are not using Fairtrade coffee on the picket line at Gate Gourmet.

spent a very busy day beforehand, meeting people, going to our press conference, doing an interview with The World at One, and meeting a wonderful group of Afro Caribbeans who are voting Respect, having earlier taken a decision (as long term Labour voters) that they will never vote Labour again.

In Havering I am stopped by two off duty Police Officers who ask me if when elected would Respect repeal the legislation that prevents them from striking.I tell them that although this would be their democratic right that they would in fact be replaced by workers militia in the event of Respect winning the next general election.They smile.

Further North , we buy fish and chips in Morecambe and say prayers to the cockle pickers.

Respect is attracting votes from the widest quarters. An entire house of Poles pledged support for us in Peterborough and supplied us with fresh rye bread and kabanas as we canvassed. Prisoners at Rampton Hospital have told local Respect members that Respect would get all their postal votes.

 

[mk12]

I love the fact she had to tell people what nationality/race/ethnicity the people who she met were.

 

[barney_pig]

Prisoners at Rampton Hospital have told local Respect members that Respect would get all their postal votes.

says it all, really

 

[osterberg]

It makes a refreshing change for you to admit you've thrown in the towel. Presumably this was after a detailed discussion by the membership and a shared collective experience being used to endorse a common political position? I hope you'll all enthousiastically pay up the levy to the CC to get rid of the massive debts that 'Left List' built up in the fiasco of a GLA campaign that you all went along with?

But it's a shame you had to make up such a song and dance 12 months ago about pretending to want to carry on in Respect, rather than just admit that your plan all along was to sabotage and destroy it when you had the chance.

Oh, and any chance of having the bank account and website back for those who do support continuing Respect?

And good luck with your future endeavours - I am sure you will find plenty of labour movement activists who will think your behaviour throughout this farago has shown how honest you are, and how open you are to working with others. I'll happily donate a magnifying glass for you to find them.

God you're funny.
You know fuck all about me. Or about my "future endeavours".

 

[TremulousTetra]

Don't buy that at all. We're all responsible for our own activity, the SWP don't stop other left groups succeeding with better ideas, that's on their (our) own heads. Slightly larger groups that we disagree with shouldn't be an excuse for the failure of everyone else (but I've seen them used as such time and again)

OH, what a refreshing breeze!

 

[TremulousTetra]

I can see your point but what the SWP have done is infiltrate groups and political currents and then hollow them out or use them for their own devices groups such as Respect, UAF, ANL, Globalise Resistance etc etc. This has made them more influential than there paper membership would suggest. Add in all those who have been politically educated in those groups then went on to influential public sector jobs and you have a situation where the swaps punch above their weight, not always to the benefit of the average person.

Agreed that we are all responsible for our own actions and efforts but when centralising authoritiarians from the swaps become council officers etc then you have a situation where swap derived attitudes and contacts plus self interest conspires to strangle grass roots groups.

Shouldn't this be in the conspiracy theories forum!

 

[TremulousTetra]

fuck off, there red fascists just the same as the right fascists they would kill the likes of me and you i could tell you, Russia 1917 and the white army? read Emma Goldman living my life, best account i have read on the red fascists and it comes direct from Emma Goldman a lady i admire a grate deal..

I cannot wait to read later on how Napleon etc pick up on this political bollocks.

 

[TremulousTetra]

Yes, it means that the Central Committee of 'The Party' has decided that this 'united front of a special kind' - al-Respeq (Social Worker Faction) or The Lost List or The Lost Alternative or whatever it's called this week - is no longer where the action is and has therefore been de-prioritised. It has not formally been closed down, and may never formally be closed down. It is just being shelved.

Rees & Kraut have not admitted that Islamo-Trottery was a crap plan - and they won't admit it.

They have also not admitted that they fucked up their shitty little Islamo-Trot front by pissing off almost all their allies - and they won't admit it. It was GG's fault for dressing up as a cat and it was Salmonella Yakult's fault for not fixing the candidate selections in Brum to allow a Social Worker among the chosen and it was the fault of Big Abjol and Moneybags Hussain in east London for...

NB: Rees & Kraut were and are right. The CC was, is and ever will be correct. Amen.

Ramadan-a-ding-dong mubarak!

That is slightly more accurate, in my humble opinion.

 

[Fedayn]

Those extracts from her diary were brilliant.

At the Kurdish Centre the caretaker is so keen to vote for Respect that he forgoes his Welsh Rarebit and Leek flan during his lunch break in order to get to the polling station. Whilst canvassing in Gateshead Sinead is requested several times to 'get her tits out' by a group of white males clearly working their ticket. I stick to the guacamole and the guacamole sticks to me.

Aaah yes that eternal dichotomy, nice foreign type people as opposed to nasty white lumpens.....

 

[TremulousTetra]

Yes, I have absolutely no principles . I joined the SWP to spread evil and to worship the Dark Lord Rees .

Look,mate , the vast majority of people who join a socialist party like the SWP do so because they want to overthrow capitalism and replace it with a democratic socialist society free of exploitation. If you want to want to advance any business interests or try to pursue a lucrative political career you join New Labour,the Tories or the Lib Dems.

Anyway I must go,I have a chicken to sacrifice.

don't worry he is on sabbatical from reality!

 

[TremulousTetra]

Why were you surprised?

The SWP decide who is in charge in Left Alternative - not the members like you!

Rees and German took the Left Alternative (aka Left List) to a truly dreadful set of election results - worse than the much derided Socialist Alliance achieved in the GLA List vote in 2000 for example (SA 2000 27,073 1.6%; LL 2008 22,583 0.94%). With two minor exceptions, the Left List results in the council elections were just as dismal.

Yet Rees argued there was nothing wrong and it was business as usual.

The SWP are rapidly downgrading the Left Alternative and electoral work and Rees pretending that LA was the continuity of Respect and was getting back on course, was just getting in the way. So he was sacked and replaced, not by the members of Left Alternative, or even by the members of the SWP who had cheered him on in the split only in January of this year. German appears to have resigned in some kind of 'solidarity' though the writing was clearly on the wall for her too.

The CC has now spoken: Left Alternative is now to be "reduced to minimal, but still existing, role". "bruising election contests" shall be avoided (like there are election contests that are not???).

So where does that leave those who went with the SWP from Respect into Left Alternative, like yourself?

Well, to be frank, up the creek without a paddle!

If you want to get reinvolved in fighting elections and trying to create a genuine left alternative, you would be better off rejoining Respect - it is not necessary to worship the ground on which George Galloway walks any more, we had quite enough of that nonsense from Rees in the past. Even the SP's CNWP has more life and future in it than the moribund Left Alternative you cling to.

Which way are you going to jump?

I would rather stick pins in my eyes. Since the socialist alliance it has been a totally horrendous experience, and if SW have decided this is a dead end, I can only say well done.

 

[TremulousTetra]

Read the whole thread, how sad am I.

Not much illumination on the topic of the thread, so no change there on urban.

And I see we're still refering to SW as fascist without comment from our elder statesman such as butchers, so no change there.

 

[Fisher_Gate]

God you're funny.
You know fuck all about me. Or about my "future endeavours".

You are a member of the SWP are you not????

Therefore you are required to follow the line in last week's Party Notes:

1) work in "Left Alternative is to be "minimal", and as directed by Martin Smith and Charlie Kimber. Electoral activity will be minimal because it is "bruising".

Your "future endeavours" are as follows:

2) the "Public Services not Private Profit" campaign, which at present involves getting people to sign a "motherhood-and-apple-pie" petition (and no doubt trying to follow this up with a sale of Socialist Worker).

3) Convention of the Left type activity and intervening in the SP's CNWP if directed to.

4) supporting other left candidates in elections. So far this covers only the People's Party of Furness (aka the Socialist People's Party). Their next set of local elections are in 2012, but if there is a by-election called that they decide to stand in during the next 3 and a half years, you will be required to help canvass and you'd better find your way to a place called Barrow-in-Furness (accessible via train connections from Manchester and Preston http://www.tpexpress.co.uk/pdfs/Timetables/TT_Sept08_Cumb-Scots_web.pdf). There is a possibility that they may stand in the Cumbria County Council elections in June 2009, so you might find yourself called up for service then.

Whatever you do, you are not allowed to go to London to canvass for Respect in Tower Hamlets or Newham, nor are you allowed to go to Birmingham to canvass for Salma Yaqoob. These people are not "real" Left wingers because they are opposed to the SWP and therefore they are to be called "sectarian" at all times, despite actually being the only people in with a chance of winning seats at the next general election.


Is that a pretty fair summary?

 

[Fisher_Gate]

I would rather stick pins in my eyes. Since the socialist alliance it has been a totally horrendous experience, and if SW have decided this is a dead end, I can only say well done.

So you agree with getting rid of John Rees (and Lindsey German) because the last four years has been totally wrong all along?

But explain to me - why sack them? They were only following the CC and conference line were they not? Why not just downgrade the work and allow them to fade away like the Cheshire Cat?