create a new relationship of forces inside it. Everyone wants this in the Alliances as far as I can see, but I don't see that coming at the present time other than from the left sections of the unions. It would create a much more attractive situation, people would have more confidence in it and it could more effectively take advantage of the situation. PAT. I would say this about the process at the moment. This has not yet been decided on inside the RMT so of course it is a personal view.
If a branch wishes the union to support a socialist candidate in a particular area then they would make the proposal to the national centre and that would be looked at by the Council of Executives - the national leadership.
If the candidate agreed with the union's basic principles, then a consultation process would be started in the region concerned to decide which candidate the union was going to support in that, and indeed in other, constituencies
If there was agreement amongst the branches then it would not be a problem if that person was a member of the SSP, the SA, the Labour Party, Plaid Cymru, or no party - or simply a member of the union.
It would be important in this process to be sure that the person was well known and represented the struggle in their area. It would not be sufficient for someone to have a Socialist Alliance or of course any other party political label.
I think that is the practical way that we are looking to move forward within the next year or so.
Whether that would then lead to the union actually supporting another party or taking a new initiative with other existing parties and with other unions involved - all of that is some way off down the road. At the moment we are looking to broaden out who we support in elections because Labour clearly no longer represents us
Clearly any future involvement of unions in the Alliance or in any other of the smaller parties like the SSP, would open up a massive number of issues as to how that could be achieved constitutionally. ALAN: Yes I am sure the Alliance would be very interested in such a discussion.