Tariq says in his presentation that socialists should stand openly in elections. Well excuse me while I have little fucking giggle. I remember very clearly his vigorous support for the celebrated Socialist Unity (SU) electoral coalition in the late 70s--a fact which he conveniently fails to recall in his speech. The International Marxist Group (IMG)--of which Tariq was then a leader--did not stand openly in elections in its own name, but sensibly sought to unite the left and broaden the base of the electoral coalition against Labour. Isn't his current advice, therefore, a case of "do as I say, not as I do"?

RESPECT/SSP may well experience the same fate as SU and other attempts to challenge Labour/far right, but the fact that RMT branches are supporting the RESPECT/SSP suggests that there is more of a chance of success this time. The previous attempts suffered from shoe-string budgets. You need money to fight a serious election campaign--to punch through the media blackout. In the meantime, will intellectual windbags merely scoff from the sidelines? That is, fiddle while Burnley...burns?

I'm quite encouraged that someone who could once stand behind a front now argues against that way of operating - guess he learnt something in the last 25 years?

Also, whatever you think about the Scottish Socialist Party (SSP), I think its a little unfair to bracket them with the (dis)respect coalition. What RMT branches are supporting Respect exactly?

09/03/2004

Manchester RMT Piccadilly Number One branch voted unanimously to support Respect: The Unity Coalition at a meeting on Monday 8 March.

John McDonald, the RMT branch secretary, says, "The Labour Party no longer reflects the needs of ordinary working people. That's why we've voted to support Respect. We must not just give Respect our money but we must support it in every way we can."

Respect members in the north west of England now plan to visit every RMT branch in the region. RMT branches in London have invited Respect to send speakers to their next branch meeting to talk about why the union should support Respect.

"This has all been moved by ordinary RMT members," says Unjum Mirza, the RMT's London Regional Policy Officer. "It has been agreed that at most branch meetings there will be a Respect speaker. Nine out of the 12 RMT branches in London will now be discussing whether to support Respect or not. Two are taking place on 31 March, five on 1 April and two on 7 April."

So just the one union branch, backed up by a statement that quotes the support of a member of the SWP in London (Unjum Mirza)?

dear tariq
you are half hearted and scarcely visible.i need help phone me.