I spent two days in Dundee assessing how the Scottish Socialist Party is bearing up following the split with Tommy Sheridan and the subsequent pasting in the May elections.
My impression was that the party was in a better shaper than could be expected.
Saturday October 20 was Socialism 2007 - and this was the first time I had had the chance to attend the party's educational event.
The first session was organised in parallel workshops discussing "the case for socialism." The discussion was stimulated by a series of photographs - ours were of Postal workers on the picket line and of soldiers in uniform - and some CarOs with slogans on. Those I included:
saw Global warming isn't too bad is it? Feminism has had its day? Does the working class still exist? These radical education methods have long been used by the SSY but were successfully introduced into the party as a whole this time. The report backs were a bit undisciplined and therefore went on too long - and certainly lost my attention a bit - but overall it was an extremely good session.
Common themes in many of the report backs included prominence given to the question of the environment and global warming, and a re-iteration of the importance of a feminist understanding to the identity of the SSP. People also spoke about the importance of emotional support for each other within the party both in the past and in the future.
There seemed to be some differences of emphasis in discussions about the relationship between the SSP and campaigns where some comrades seemed to be drawing an implicit critique that some of the past practice had been a bit sectarian.
There was some discussion about what the SNP was up to at Holyrood and particularly a feeling that the first budget that Salmond will introduce will inevitably mean cuts which will pull some of the left veneer from his face.
There were less internationalist references in the discussion than I have previously noTICed at SSP events but I think that what has happened over the last year does mean that a certain degree of introspection is inevitable. I did think that the balance sheet that some comrades drew of the anti-war movement was overly pessimistic and wasn't really sure what that was based on but overall I thought both the content and the context of the discussion was very positive. I also attended a workshop on "Are we all liberated now? Gender, sexuality and the raunch culture" which I Pam Currie: defending the SSP model. will report on separately see p 8) and a second which involved watching a documentary film Curtis called The Trap. It's rather an interesting critique of neo-liberalism and imperialism and shows the role of ideologues like Isaiah the neo-cons in the White was a bit soft on Blair. was a more accessible way to a book that says the same frustrating because there ised by the Campaign and one by the
Frontline. I London. attended the later. Pam Currie "After the elecSocialism". The fringe ductions from the two to ment. original piece that the SSP is vinced that the SNP will be to whether the party will be longer growing in the way public sector. He concludes need to set aside partybuildme a little defensive, per- level. it pose in mean i was not part one in the in was once. so Im not sure whether i on the need to really learn
suggested that women's participation in the party had this seam to the SSP sero held fine an oring she did not evidence that - emphasis it was a ositive
and certainly it seemed to and constructive Scottish me healthier than in organi- which showed a good deal of Solidarity sations I am familiar with in The last issue of Frontline it was clear that the majority between Gregor Gall and of comrades agreed with become more and mor
terms of relations with those who have joined Solidarity the situation is not the same in every part of the country, the further you get away from the central belt the less that is the case. Her approach on this question (if not on others) seemed to Gregor's position started Rossiter and Eddie Truman
ciples of the SSP model as a which is proindepence, proThis seemed to well emulate and support south position seemed over global warming and the over the who have previously been bly buoyed by the success of that she and a number of
other comrades seemed Pam particularly focused rather dismissive of the the lessons of feminism. She and the possibility that new tive debate ensued in which embroiled in a damaging
important to strengthen the Scotland and England