extremely open in that everyone who wanted to speak in a discussion was taken - though this did mean that a few resolutions were not reached at all. Important political differences remain inside the SSP after the split, but these were debated out in a comradely fashion.
There were times when the level of the political debate seemed frustrating for example with the predominance of complacent twoSTaters in the restine discussion - but other times when it was very impressive -for example in the debate on prostitution.
Conference elected a new Executive on which there are a large number of new faces -in particular a significant number wo gave gained political experience through their leadership of the SSY.
A number of those who have been central to the SSP since its inception, e.g. outgoing National Secretary Allan Green, had decided to stand down at this point before the Sheridan crisis. Others may well have been affected by the toll of the last two years.
While it is always a gamble for more experienced activists to stana back ana lel olners take the reins, without being fully sure whether this team is ready for the responsibility, WiTnOUT such wagers the future of organisations can't be assured.
It is not as if the outgoing leadership comrades who nave not stood again won l still be active in the party at different levels and available to put forward their ideas if Those are asked Tor
The next big test for the SSP is the elections for the Scottish Parliament next May. It will not be easy to maintain serious representation in the On October 27 Scottish Socialist Party MSP Rosie Kane was jailed for 14 days refusing to pay a £300 fine imposed after she took part in a protest against Trident in February 2005 outside the Scottish Parliament (see above).
Government plans to replace these current weapons of mass destruction at a cost of between £25-£40 billion pounds - the equivalent of 120,00 newly qualified nurses every year for 10 years.
The decision of the TUC in September to pass a motion against Trident is to be welcome, as is the steady increase in membership of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament as more anti-war activists understand the centrality of the nuclear question to New Labour's warmongering.
But the movement will need to see more mobilisations on the streets, and more leaders like Rosie Kane, if we are to defeat the government on this vital question. Parliament, but with a big effort nor is it excluded that this can happen.
As Colin Fox noted in his written report:
"Many commentators have already written the SSP off for the 2007 elections but the latest System Three Three poll put us back up at 6 per cent and within touching distance of keeping our MSPs".
The task of the left in England is to give them all the support we can muster.