VET FOR PEACE A small but growing US anti-war movement found no real echo in John Kerry's feeble campaign GULF VET AGAINST THE WAR! That Respect has emerged so quickly as a credible political force in a number of areas is one of the best reasons for optimism for socialists in Britain for a very long time. THE UNITY COALITION party. unions and our strategy for the general election. regularly. agenda).
In our view this will be an important tool in helping is vital if Respect is to become a real party. were putting resolutions with no other purpose than to destroy Respect. of view was in stark contrast to Mark Serwotka's appeal for the new party to include the principles of debate, tolerance and democracy. ing class movement has taken a real hammering since the Miners' Strike. mism for socialists in Britain for a very long time. sider very important were defeated at the conference.
We understand that the way to change this is to help comes a new audience. real boost to those of us who wish to build Respect into the needs. Socialist Resistance will be at the heart of this. Join now, and help build a real left alternative to Blair Respect's first national conference on October 30-31 saw the coalition take several important steps towards becoming a
It was also notable for the high degree of agreement delegates had on the state of British politics, war and imperialism, the importance of supporting the class struggle activists in the
Delegates and platform speakers gave a strong sense that a common political practice is being developed. Branches have been established in several parts of the country which meet
Delegates were elected at pre-conference discussion meetings, a characteristic of a party. The conference committed itself to strengthening the press office and setting up a paper (a demand which supporters of Socialist Resistance got on the Respect branches organise and build themselves. It will also help develop a real public profile for the organisation as well as being a forum in which policies can be elaborated. A paper
As we report in this issue some bad habits from comrades previous ways of working and debating remain. A small group
However some members of the newly elected National Council haven't shaken off some of their old vices. Virtually denying the right for dissident minorities to raise their points
Yet this unevenness is a completely natural part of the development of a new organisation. The British left and workThat Respect has emerged so quickly as a credible political force in a number of areas is one of the best reasons for optiSome positions that supporters of Socialist Resistance conRespect become a much larger organisation. With new people
The overall political success of the conference has given a alternative party that the youth and working class of Britain