Left Unity in Britain

Left Unity in Britain

• 1.
  British situation Contrastwith Portugal, Germany, Greece, France Series of misfires 2010 election compares unfavourably to 2001 and 98 Socialist Alliance candidates
• 2.
  Disastrous situation forleft after elections for the European Parliament Conference a chance to discuss the possibility of a common framework for the left in the general election Having modest growth in pockets Respect
• 3.
  Profile Respect haspoor profile on the issue of the economic crisis and the defence of jobs. Insufficient for an election campaign Absent from many areas
• 4.
  Chances Respect onlyparty on left with a chance of a Westminster seat Focus on East London and South Birmingham Little to benefit by Respect going into any new formation if it loses electoral gains
• 5.
  Son of No2 EU “ Help build the campaign for a socialist alternative and for a trade union based electoral challenge to cuts and unemployment.” Socialist Party Lacks RMT support CPB voted to take no further part. Will stand own candidates and support Labour
• 6.
  RMT conference November7 on ‘The crisis in working class representation’. “ The conference will be non-binding and non-resolution-based to discuss with like-minded socialists and trade unionists how best to defend and promote working class interests.” Just like last year.
• 7.
  SWP appeal “Urgent need” for “a political alternative to Labour that can unite the left” Limited response Not clear why
• 8.
  People’s Charter Supportedby most currents on the political left and by trade unions including the RMT Has enough content to annoy bureaucrats who reject any real challenge to Brown and New Labour. A basis on which Labour’s left MPs could work with some union leaders and activists Supporters in large affiliated unions could take up fight to break the stranglehold of the link to Labour
• 9.
  Slow and uncertainRecent history makes unity slow and uncertain. Likely to be arrangement allowing organisations to stand under own name Will be necessary to vote Labour in some areas if no clear anti-war, pro-working class candidate
• 10.
  Outlook Tory victoryor very weak Labour government. Support credible pro-working class candidates where standing. Support Labour where none available