Fight for Jobs Public Meeting 11th February

Devon Socialist Party Public Meeting

7.00 pm

Wednesday 11th February

Exeter Community Centre, St Davids Hill, Exeter

The free market is in meltdown, as the economy falters ordinary working class people face the brunt of the recession with job losses and cuts in pay & conditions – 55% more out of work in Devon & Cornwall in one year. How can workers and young people organise to fight to save jobs and fight back? Come and hear how.

20,000+ people are now on the dole in the Westcountry - the number claiming Jobseeker's Allowance in Devon and Cornwall in November was 55% higher than November 2007. But the actual number of people out of work could be up to twice the size. Whilst overall rates of unemployment are still lower in the region than other parts of the country, increases in the last year have been the biggest of any region in the UK. Companies like Marks & Spencer, who still made massive profits and increased sales in the past year, have taken advantage of the situation, closing stores in Honiton and Torquay anyway and laying off more workers. Working people are being used as scapegoats, we refuse to pay for the crisis the Bosses have created - Join us and fight for:

• The right to a decent job for all.

• No job losses, open the books to let workers see where the profits have gone.

• Bailout workers not the bosses. Nationalise industries threatened with closure or large scale job losses.

• Rebuild fighting trade unions, involving young workers and unemployed.

• Skilled training linked to decent jobs.

• No cheap labour apprenticeships! All apprentices on at least the minimum wage, with a guaranteed job after.

• No University fees. Support the campaign to defeat fees.

• No to bullying management. For decent working conditions.

• For a real living minimum wage of at least £8 an hour for all with no youth exemptions.

• Share out the work. For a 35 hour working week with no loss of pay.

• For government investment in socially useful jobs.

• For a massive public program of house building, renovation and infrastructure projects.

• No to these projects being run by private companies who will put profit first.


For more information please email us at: socialistpartydevon@gmail.com

Exeter Socialist Party meeting - Tuesday 16th September

This coming Tuesday's Exeter branch meeting will be a busy one, discussing various activities, including coming worker's struggles, combatting the BNP and building in the College and at the University. There will also be a discussion introduced by WH, the subject being 'Socialism and Internationalism are intertwined'.

The meeting starts at 7.30pm and will be held as always in the Exeter Community Centre, on St David's Hill. For more details please contact us at socialistpartydevon@gmail.com.

South and East Devon strike report

This strike had a very local feeling with many picket lines within easy reach in many of the small towns in Devon. The holiday resorts of Teignmouth and Dawlish had four picket lines resulting in the closure of three schools and very dubious lack of Health and Safety cover in the other. Classroom assistants, technicians and caretakers were at the forefront in a determination to make a stand against low pay. This was their first taste of strike action and many felt that this was not the last against what they see as a paycut. What was surprising was how quickly they have learned to organise themselves into effective pickets given how little industrial action has occurred in this area over the past decades.

Towns such as Torquay, Totnes also saw schools and libraries close with disruptions in bin collections. In North Devon, Barnstaple Civic Centre had only a few going in but there was reports of agency staff covering for normal staff. Unison is following up this 'scabbing' with legal action. It was reported that one of the UNISON members was calling for unions to put up their own candidates in elections. Socialist Party members donated to the strike fund. These are things that the Campaign for a New Workers' Party fully supports.

Plymouth and Exeter saw fairly well attended demonstrations. However the impression of the 48hr strike was that this was about workers taking widespread strike action in their local area. As one picket said "We did not take serious action against pensions - but now our backs are against the wall and this is serious business, our bills have gone through the roof and we must defend ourselves and our families."

Report by SB, Secretary of Devon and Exeter Socialist Party

No to war, terrorism and racism - Socialist Party public meeting Tues 27th May

The bombing in Exeter city centre came as a shock to the West Country. For socialists the event raises important questions as to the origins and consequences of terrorist acts. Will it result in increased racism and Islamaphobia? How can we unify the left against warmongers and capitalism?



Come along for ideas, questions and discussion.


Exeter Community Centre


Tues 27th May


7.30pm

Unity in action - together we can win!

In a show of unity and strength, public sector workers across Devon and the country have gone on strike in coordinated joint action. Taking part were teachers (from the NUT), further education lecturers (UCU) and workers in the Department of Work and Pensions (Jobcentre Plus) and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (both PCS).

For teachers and lecturers, the main reason behind the strike was pay, triggered by an insulting below-inflation 'pay rise' for teachers and the continued underpayment of lecturers in further education. For the civil servants, pay is also an issue (a three year pay deal where some will receive a complete pay freeze!), but also privatisation and job cuts led to action. Teachers and lecturers are also concerned with this, as well as increasing workload.

In North Devon, all secondary schools were closed for the day, a reflection of the anger and determination felt by NUT members. At North Devon College there was a tremendous 35-strong picket. Socialist Party members joining the picket to offer support were received well. The lecturers were pleased at the turnout, and one striker revealed that the strike had led to several inquiries from non-UCU members about joining the union. The problems faced by workers in further education in organising effective action centre around the multitude of different unions involved and increasing casualisation. Workers are organised not just into the UCU, but also the ATL, ASCL, UNISON and GMB. Anti-trade union laws mean that without a full ballot members of these organisations could be victimised for participating in action with the UCU.

The increasing casualisation at the college means that about half of the teaching staff are employed on an ad hoc hourly basis. This insecure and irregular employment is bad for the lecturers and their students, and obviously makes them very reluctant to raise their heads above the parapet and take part in strike action. All of this illustrates the need to organise united action across all public sector unions, and build a new political alternative to the main parties, which would enthusiastically campaign against the restrictive anti-trade union laws introduced by the Tories and kept on the statute book by New Labour.

Socialist Students and Socialist Party members also attended pickets at South Devon College and Exeter College. A lot of students signed our petition expressing support for the strikers. Many students also took part in the rally organised by the UCU from Exeter College to a rally held at St James Park, Exeter City's ground.

The rally, organised by Devon NUT, was incredibly well attended. The room was full to bursting and many people had to hand around outside the room and listen in. The broad range of speakers representing unions from the NUT, to UNISON, UCU, FBU, PCS and back to NUT (well it was their rally!) was admirable, as was the consistent theme of public sector unity. Addressing the rally, PCS National Executive member and Socialist Party member Mark Baker stressed the need for a political alternative to the main parties (all of whom condemned the strike action) and for unity: "On our own we can't defeat Gordon Brown's pay freeze. Together we can, together we will."

Eight members of the Socialist Party attended the rally. One of these, student teacher Jim Thomson, spoke from the floor following the main speeches. He stressed the need to combat the neo-liberal policies of New Labour and the other two main parties. The disaster of privatisation and private involvement in public services is clear, and he gave the local example of the costly and unpopular PFI scheme which rebuilt Exeter's secondary schools. Obviously, as well as industrial struggles to fight for 'public services not private profit' there will need to be political struggles too, which means unionists and campaigners must build a new party to represent the case for well funded public services where the priority is serving those who use it, and not lining the pockets of fat cats.

The rally ended with a tribute from the South West regional secretary of the NUT, Andy Woolley, to the late NUT general secretary Steve Sinnott. The tribute, like the rally and the atmosphere on picket lines, was positive and celebratory. All those present were aware, as Steve Sinnott was, that this action was the beginning, not the end, and that more struggles lie ahead for teachers and all public sector workers, in getting a decent pay rise, stopping job cuts and privatisation, and starting the fightback against neo-liberalism and the idea that public service = bad, and private profit = good.

Unity in action - 24th April joint public sector strike - some pictures

From the top:

Photos 1 and 2 - Strikers at North Devon College in Barnstaple.
Photo 3 - A picture from the well-attended rally held at Exeter City's St James Park.
Photo 4 - Socialist Party member and PCS National Executive member Mark Baker addresses the rally.
Photos 5 and 6 - Jim Thomson, a student teacher and member of Exeter Socialist Party, speaks at the rally.
Photo 7 - The picket line at Exeter College.
Photos 8 and 9 - The UCU, with supporters including members of the Socialist Party and Socialist Students, march to St James Park.

NHS demo and anti-BNP protest

In response to the Exeter University Debating Society's reckless calling of a debate on the question of whether the BNP should be allowed a platform on campus (a position we strongly disagree with as the presence of fascists, which the hard-core BNP members undoubtedly are, leads to intimidation and violence against groups such as ethnic minorities and homosexuals, and also gives the impression that the BNP are a legitimate political party which only lends them credibility), Devon Socialist Party, and other groups such as Exeter Socialist Students, Exeter Socialists and Devon NUT, organised a protest outside the debating chamber.

The debate was won (if not on strength of argument but because the right wingers who see having fascists on campus as a 'cracking wheeze' dominate the Debating Society turned out in force) by those proposing the BNP be allowed on campus to spread their poison and cause safety issues for large numbers of students. They will now undoubtedly try to invite someone like BNP Fuhrer Nick Griffin down to speak, something which will be resisted by all anti-fascist campaigners. As last Friday, the Socialist Party and Socialist Students (who organised the protest last week) will be at the forefront.

On the Saturday, Socialist Party and Socialist Students members travelled from Exeter to London to go on the march to defend the NHS. It would be fair to say that the four main things you could always see on the demonstration were people, banners for the health union UNISON, banners for the general union Unite and Socialist Party members, placards, banners or papers.

The rally held at the end of the demo was kept deliberately non-political by the UNISON leadership, who seem determined to remain several centimetres up the Prime Ministers unmentionable. In UNISON they bitterly oppose any attempt to question the donation of millions of pounds of UNISON members money to the New Labour government that is kicking them in the teeth and the NHS in the direction of private sector fat cats.

We say - Break the link with New Labour - don't fund those who kick us in the teeth
- Support the Campaign for a New Workers Party and candidates standing on anti-cuts and save the NHS platforms
- Link up the local NHS campaigns to form a fighting national 'Save our NHS' campaign free from the obstructions of the likes of UNISON leader Dave Prentis

Save our NHS national demo - free bus places left

On Saturday 3rd November there will be a national 'Save our NHS' demonstration in central London. Socialist Party members will be out in force as always, arguing not just that the NHS is an essential serve, but that the privatisation and introduction of markets and competition needs to be stopped and reversed.

The NHS needs to be a public funded and democratically run organisation to be a success. Cuts and siphoning off money to the wallets of rich shareholders of PFI and private health companies removes money from front line services and results in overstretched staff, fewer services and the rise of the superbugs MRSA and C. difficile.

The demonstration, organised by the health union UNISON, starts at 11am at Temple Place, Victoria Embankment. UNISON in Exeter and Barnstaple are running buses to (and from) the demo. There are still free seats left on the buses, which leave Exeter at 7am and Barnstaple at 5.30am (from the Square). If you are interested in getting the Exeter bus, please contact Jim at maj_mij@hotmail.co.uk. If you are interested in getting the Barnstaple bus, please contact Sue Harte on 01271 322353 or unisonhealthndevon@hotmail.co.uk .

It is still time to drive out the profiteers and save the NHS! Please make it to the demonstration if you can!

14/8 Exeter branch meeting

Aside from organisational issues, the main topics of discussion and debate at the branch meeting were the world situation and the ongoing industrial action by the CWU. Also discussed was the possibility of a general election in October and events in September, October and November.

On the subject of the CWU/Royal Mail dispute, JL outlined the situation as it has unfolded to date, including the one-day strikes, the staggered strikes and the current postponement. He emphasised the support for the strikes by not just the vast majority of postal workers but the public as well. However, the leaders of the CWU seem to be pursuing a course of action better suited to getting a few concessions rather than the outright victory that is needed (for more details of the CWU action see previous posts on this site). In the discussion that followed JK talked about the strikes by Post Office counter workers, which were about the closure of 70 Crown Post Offices and the provision of the services in WH Smiths instead. AC pointed our attentions to the national demonstration in London on the 21st August. SB and JT also made some points related to the action in Devon and the tactics of the union leadership, which seems at odds with the attitudes and determination of the postal workers on the ground.

In the discussion on the world situation, JT gave a report on the event recently held in Belgium for members of parties affiliated to the Committee for a Workers' International (CWI). Socialists from all over the world gathered to discuss issues such as the ongoing crisis in the middle east, American imperialism, the environment and many other issues. A report of the event can be found in the latest issue of 'the socialist'. An online version of the report is available on the Socialist Party website. A report is also available on the website of China Worker (thanks to Leftwing Criminologist for the information about this link).

17/7 Exeter branch meeting

At the recent Exeter branch meeting, the ongoing postal strikes were discussed, as well as the situation in Northern Ireland and the growth in membership of the Socialist Party in Devon, the south west and nationally.

Introducing the discussion was SB, who outlined the changed situation in Northern Ireland over the past few years, and since the accession to power of bitter foes Ian Paisley (pictured left, of the Unionist DUP) and Martin McGuinness (pictured right, of the nationalist-republican party Sinn Fein). He said that it was noticably quieter, and the police now walked the streets, albeit still carrying arms. Beneath this sheen though still lies the reality that the sectarian divide still remains and the national question remains unresolved.

The DUP-Sinn Fein government, despite being in office for some months now, has little to say on the contentious issues of health, housing and education. Both parties are committed to neo-liberal anti-working class policies, and sectarian politics. A new party needs to be formed in Northern Ireland based on a socialist programme uniting workers from both communities. Sectarian schooling and housing, which entrenches the conscious policy of the British ruling class of divide and rule, need to be ended.

The national question, in Ireland as well as Cyprus, Palestine/Israel, Kashmir, Sri Lanka and elsewhere cannot be solved under a capitalist system which promotes divisions between workers in order to exploit them. SB recommended books by the secretary of the Socialist Party of Northern Ireland (affiliated to the same international organisation as us, the CWI) Peter Hadden, particularly 'Beyond the Troubles' and 'Divide and Rule'. Both books are available online, if you click on the titles.

Regarding the postal strike, those present at the branch meeting talked about their experiences on the picket line, and in a discussion we discussed the propects for the action, the postal service and how we would work to help the postal workers in any way we could.

Devon Socialist Party in this weeks 'the socialist' and postal workers campaign update

Presumably owing to space, only one report of the postal strike from Devon appeared in this weeks the socialist, the weekly newspaper of the Socialist Party. That report, on the strike in Barnstaple, can be found here.

Socialist Party members supported pickets in Plymouth, Teignmouth, Newton Abbot and Exeter as well as in North Devon.

There was also a report on the successful new members and contacts meeting we held last week. That cannot be found on the website, so we reprint it here:

New members' meeting

The Socialist Party in Devon held a successful new members' and supporters' meeting where Robin Clapp, the South West regional secretary, answered questions on the Socialist Party's programme, our history and ideas.

The first aim of the meeting was to introduce the Socialist Party's programme to our supporters, many of whom, having only met us in the last few months, had never been to our meetings before. Many at the meeting asked why we follow the ideas of Marxism, and how that relates to our day-to-day campaigning.

Secondly, we hoped that this meeting would make the ideas of Marxism more accessible to newer party members. Many people can find the political terminology and theories complicated. We therefore need to take time to discuss and explain and read so all our members understand why and how Marxism gives us the tools to build a socialist alternative to capitalism. Two people decided to join the Socialist Party after the meeting and we sold six copies of the socialist.

Jim Thomson, Exeter Socialist Party

Meanwhile in a new development, the postal workers union, the CWU have announced fresh strike action starting at 7pm on Thursday 12th July. Devon Socialist Party fully supports this action, and will again do everything we can to support the postal workers, politically and practically, in any way we can, in what may become a protracted struggle. The future of tens of thousands of jobs, the pay and conditions for those who keep their jobs, and our postal service is at stake.

Postal strike - brief update

This is only a brief update on today's postal strike, there will be a more detailed report soon, when we have all reports in from Socialist Party members who have supported the postal workers across Devon, from Barnstaple in the north to Plymouth in the south to Exeter in the east, and plenty of places in between.

Generally though, the strike was near solid, and in Newton Abbot it was 100% out. The atmosphere on the picket line was determined and generally there was a good spirit. Our leaflets, copies of the Socialist and support were well received, and the postal workers can be sure we are behind them 100%. Speaking to some of the strikers, it is clear that while they are angry over the 'pay rise' of 2.5% they have been offered (which, with inflation standing at 5%, loss of early start bonuses and strings attached including mass cuts and 40,000 job losses, has got to be one of the measliest 'rises' ever offered), the main reason behind the strike was the privatisation and commercialisation of a public service.

Support for the strike from the general public was high (and very enthusiastic), proving once again that ordinary people can see through the lies, distortions and manipulations of the government and Royal Mail management.

It is not thought that managers working today had much of an impact on the effectiveness of the strike, being collectively described by one worker as 'about as efficient as a sponge in the Sahara desert'!

Concrete steps will now be taken in North Devon to forge public sector unity, by arranging a join meeting of all the public sector unions to move forward, campaign and fight together.

19/6/07 Exeter branch meeting report + solidarity appeal

After discussing organisational issues including how we will work to support the postal workers and firefighters in their coming struggles, SB led the discussion on why internationalism is so important for a socialist organisation.

Because of the international, globalised nature of capitalism and the need for global unity of workers and poor peasants to replace this system with a system of democratic socialism, socialism and internationalism need to be two sides of the same coin.

In the Socialist Party, this means being part of an international organisation (the Committee for a Workers' International, the CWI) which has organisations and parties affiliated to it in around 40 countries, from Chile to Russia, South Africa to Sweden, New Zealand to Israel. Being a part of an international organisation allows cooperation and coordination of action as well as sharing information - unclouded by the capitalist media - about what is going on in these countries.

Solidarity work also forms a key part of the internationalism of the party, for instance, supporting a CWI member recently arrested in Bolivia.

An internationalist approach, focussing on the power to change the world for the better only the united, organised working class have, serves as a counterpoint to the dead-end of nationalism (swapping one set of oppressors for another) and Stalinist ideas of 'socialism in one country'

The discussion that followed included contributions from all those present, ranging from discussion of how the Socialist Party's position - a consistent focus on the importance of class - differs from other left groups, the heroic and often dangerous work some of our comrades undertake in places like Kazakhstan and Sri Lanka, and how internationalism influences our approach to analysing world affairs and wars (such as in the middle-east).

In summing up SB accepted the points raised in the discussion and added that three books that had helped him in preparing for the meeting, would be useful and instructive to anyone wanting to find out more about internationalism.

These books, from different eras of struggle, are 'Socialism Made Easy' by the Irish revolutionary James Connolly, 'What We [Militant, the forerunner to the Socialist Party] Believe', by Peter Taaffe, and 'Marxism in Today's World', also by Peter Taaffe. All are available from Socialist Books, or for loan if you email Devon Socialist Party at socialistpartydevon@googlemail.com.

--- As this report was being written, details of another solidarity appeal have come through:

KAZAKHSTAN SOCIALIST JAILED AGAIN

Ainur Kurmanov, leader of Socialist resistance (CWI) in Kazakhstan has once again been jailed for five days after participating in a protest in support of residents in the Bakai region of Almata, who for over a year have been resisting forced evictions to allow building speculators to use the land for more profitable projects.

Please protest immediately to the Kazakhstan Embassy: london@kazakhstan-embassy.org.uk

Please also send messages of support to Kazakhstan social protesters and CWI members at:
bolshevik1917@list.ru
with copies to
pabgem@online.ru

22/05 Exeter branch meeting report

The meeting started off with a discussion of organisational issues. JT started off with a report back from the recent National Committee meeting (the Socialist Party elects a National Committee and an Executive Committee to run the party, debate and discuss on strategy etc., and put forward policies and plans to the yearly national congress which discusses and votes on them).

We then discussed ways to improve our internet presence, the fruits of which will be seen over time.

After then talking about fundraising ideas (details of some exciting competitions and events wil appear on this website soon) and the forthcoming National Youth and Student meeting, JL started the discussion on the Israel-Palestine question with a brief outline of the history of the conflict, starting from the dividing up of the old Ottoman Empire, a defeated ally of Germany in the First World War, between Britain and France. The strategies employed by British and French imperialism in the region led to division and ethnic tensions. The introduction and discussion covered issues such as imperialism, nationalism (for instance, why we support the right of democratic self-determination), and the reactionary, anti-working class ideologies of Zionism and Islamism which drive the Israeli state and the Hamas organisation respectively.

As usual there was an informative and comradely discussion of what is a sensitive and complex issue. All at the meeting agreed that the key to successfully analysing the situation is to look at it class terms - both Palestinian and Israeli workers are exploited and oppressed by Israeli imperialism, and Palestinians by their own ruling class, and both are increasingly hostile to those who rule them. There has been mass industrial action over welfare cuts, job cuts and non-payment of wages in both Israel and Palestine, and the key issue is uniting the struggling Israeli and Palestinian workers, and fighting for the establishment of a democratic, socialist, secular Palestinian state alongside a similar democratic socialist secular state of Israel as part of a socialist federation of the middle east.

For more information see the website of the Committee for a Workers' International, the international organisation the Socialist Party is affiliated to, and the website of our sister organisation in Israel, Ma`avak Sotsyalisti.

Next Exeter branch meeting - 22nd May - Israel/Palestine

Every fortnight, the Socialist Party holds a branch meeting in Exeter. All members and anyone interested in coming along are welcome. The meetings are informal but businesslike. We discuss events over the past few weeks and plan our activities, campaigns and interventions in the days, weeks and months ahead. We also hear reports on international news and industrial work.

One member will then introduce a discussion on a topic of interest - on the 22nd it will be Jim on Israel and Palestine. After this introduction we will debate and analyse the issues surrounding it. The purpose of this is to educate members and supporters about a wide range of important areas, improve confidence in speaking and debating in public and to deepen understanding of how we as socialists analyse the world. In the past discussions have ranged from the French Revolution to fascism, from nuclear power to the Labour Party, and so on.

We hope you can come along - Tuesday 22nd May 7.30pm Streatham Court E, University of Exeter. If you have any queries please leave a comment or email us at socialistpartydevon@gmail.com.

Plymouth Power! A book review of Todd Gray's 'Blackshirts in Devon'

There may be many Devonians alive today who probably don’t even realise they have grandparents or great grandparents who are heroes/heroines, There are no statues or plaques in their honour or anniversary tributes but there should be. Perhaps the new Tory Council could arrange a ceremony on the Hoe!

We know a great deal about the effects of the Second World War on places like Exeter and Plymouth but little about the pre-war struggles against the home-grown variety of fascism. A book by Exeter-based historian Todd Gray tells the story at last - ‘The Blackshirts in Devon’.

Gray uses a wide variety of sources to put the story together – local police and Labour Party branch secretary reports, newspaper coverage and national Home Office material. He also provides a wealth of detail from Devonian fascists themselves - letters, newspapers and journals. Unfortunately, there is one major gap in the book – the stories told by anti-fascists, especially how they organised against the fascist threat. Despite that, Gray has given us a fascinating slice of Devon history.

Nationally, Oswald Mosley founded the British Union of Fascists (BUF) in 1932. Within a year BUF branches had been formed across Devon, the first in Plymouth in July 1933. There were small numbers of BUF members in places like Exmouth, Torbay and North Devon and these relied heavily on a few national BUF organisers to keep them going. It’s clear, though, that wherever the BUF attempted to spread their propaganda, there was often local opposition - in Sidmouth an angry crowd threw a fascist into the river.

The main centres of BUF activity were Plymouth and Exeter. According to local police and Labour Party reports, the Plymouth Branch had over a thousand members at its height in 1934. We don’t know what these members’ levels of commitment were. There were various options – regularly buying BUF newspapers and journals, taking part in branch meetings, attending major public meetings, donating regularly. Some may have just joined to gain access to all the facilities available at the large headquarters in Lockyer Street. In the beginning there were about 50-100 active members who organised and attended outdoor meetings, sold newspapers in the street and acted as stewards at street and larger public meetings. In all this seriousness, there were lighter moments in the book – Plymouth BUF members were forced to change their uniforms as they were being mistaken for tram conductors!

Plymouth BUF met with opposition from the start. As the months went by this grew in numbers and temper, heckling and harassing at virtually every public event organised by the fascists. This constant harrying wore the BUF down. This can be seen by charting the number of stewards they were able to muster at certain meetings. In February 1934 they had about 60. On April 6th (in the Octagon) there were 14 and at a September meeting at Prince Rock only 3 were available. For most of 1934 the police were having great difficulty in keeping order at all. At one point (on June 13th 1934), they were unable to cope with such a large and hostile crowd of anti-fascists without the intervention of a passing navy patrol!

A BUF branch had existed in Exeter since late 1933 and became the main centre of fascist activity in Devon after the Plymouth branch’s collapse. There was a brief flurry of activity in 1936 and 1937 but they made little headway – partly because of organised opposition by local anti-fascists but also because as the War loomed, the increasing association of the BUF with German Nazism damaged their credibility even further. The Exeter Branch became so weak and ineffective it was forced into joint activity with Dorchester fascists.

Gray acknowledges the effect of anti-fascists in reducing the possible influence of the BUF in Devon but concluded that changes in tactics as a result of decisions made in London by Mosley were the main reason for the decline – he mentions the adoption in Plymouth of the violent tactics employed by the BUF in the East End of London, resulting in the loss of the Plymouth branch in 1935.

But large-scale opposition had already severely dented the BUF influence in Plymouth by the end of the summer of 1934 – witness the substantially reduced numbers of stewards the BUF could muster by then. Plymouth BUF had become so beleaguered by the anti-fascists that a last desperate bid to bolster them was made by arranging a public meeting addressed by Mosley in early October 1934, along with importing violent BUF toughs from other parts of the country, particularly the East End of London. This led to more violent disorder, including a confrontation in the Market Square on October 11th. The Western Morning News reported that about 10,000 anti-fascists were present. As a result of these disturbances, three fascists were imprisoned at Exeter following assault charges. By November 1934 the Plymouth BUF had virtually disappeared, thanks to the efforts, all told, of thousands of Plymothians.

All these events took place about seventy years ago, so what is the relevance of the book now? Well, it finally acknowledges the role of thousands of un-named and unknown Devonians who decided to do something about the fascist poison in their midst. Most of all, though, it’s a testimony to the power the working class has when we are united and act together in enough numbers.

The fight against the fascists of today, the British National Party (BNP), has to be led by the working class ourselves, as it was against Mosley and the BUF in the 1930s. We can’t rely on fine words from MPs, councillors, trade union or religious leaders, sports or showbusiness types. Especially if these people support the anti-working class policies of one of the three main political parties, which have been mainly responsible for people voting for the BNP in the first place! Only the working class has the power to crush any fascist threat, just as only the working class can really change the world for the better.

Book review by DL, a supporter of the Campaign for a New Workers' Party

Exeter branch meeting 8/5/07

In a lively branch meeting, we discussed issues ranging from the Scottish elections to carbon emissions trading to the BNP.

Secretary JT (for reasons of security - BNP members operate a charming website called 'Redwatch' which publishes details of socialists with the aim of fascist thugs beating them up - we use initials in these branch meeting reports) opened the meeting with his analysis of the recent elections. He highlighted the fact that despite New Labour's annihilation in Scotland and retreat in Wales, they had not done so bad in England. In some parts of the country, such as the large northern cities and Coventry, the New Labour vote actually went up. JT pinned this on the fears of many traditional Labour voters of the return of a Tory government, which despite Cameron's soft soaping, is rightly dreaded by most working class people. It may also be due to Blair's imminent departure and illusions that still exist in Gordon Brown. The BNP had not done as well as hoped, and though they gained one seat overall, they lost four seats they previously held, demonstrating that once people see what they are really about they are quickly ditched.

In the discussion that followed this opening, those at the meeting generally agreed with the analysis about the fortunes of the Labour Party. JL also voiced his view that anti-fascist campaigning had to put forward an alternative (in the form of the Campaign for a New Workers' Party) or else be pointless in combating the conditions that the BNP thrive in - the lack of a political alternative to the parties of cuts and privatisation.

Linking the opening discussion with the main discussion on the environment, chair AC noted the progress of the Greens in this election and how they are seen by many as a left wing alternative. Many attending the meeting had examples of opportunism and right wing policies pursued by the Greens, for example voting through budgets cutting services in Lewisham and Kirklees in exchange for a few pitiful concessions such as slightly increased recycling, and proposing increasing already extortionate hospital car parking prices and raising the idea of congestion charging in North Devon.

In the organisational section of the meeting the issue of the press fund was raised - the party needs to replace its ageing printing press with some more modern equipment and, having no rich backers, we rely on the financial sacrifices of our members to get things done. Many Exeter Socialist Party members have pledged outstanding amounts to the fund.

JT raised the request by the Irish Socialist Party for England and Wales Socialist Party members to help with their election campaign. In the May 24th election we hope to have Joe Higgins TD (member of the Irish parliament the Dail) re-elected and Cllr. Clare Daly elected.

Also, with the CNWP conference on Saturday, it was confirmed that there will be 5 CNWP supporters attending what should be a historic and inspiring event.

TA led the main discussion on the environment with a wide ranging introduction touching on the science behind climate change, the wilful inactivity of Governments due to obsession with short term rapid economic growth and close relations with the fossil fuel industry. TA left us all to draw our conclusions when he revealed that the Association of Petroleum Geologists was the only scientific body, presumably twinned with the organisation 'Turkeys Against Christmas'.

TA outlined the forces inherent within capitalism that not only cause this tremendous environmental destruction but also render it incapable of doing anything meaningful to solve the problem - in fact the private free-market in energy means decisions are based on profit not social and environmental need - the prices of different fuels dictating whether they would be used in power stations regardless of the carbon dioxide burning them releases.

There were many viable solutions in terms of energy conservation and using greener energy, and while individuals did have a responsibility to act in an environmentally friendly way, ultimately this would be a drop in the ocean while big business pollutes the planet.

In the discussion following TA's lead off, the fact that science is not divorced from society was raised. For instance, the original report of the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) written by scientists and much more robust in its conclusions and recommendations, was watered down dramatically by Governments to make it more vague and avoid pinning the blame on Governments and big business.

The idea of a democratically planned economy as a counterpoint to the capitalist free market anarchy we currently live in was also raised. In a democratically planned economy, long term decisions would be democratically made regarding energy generation, enabling mass construction of renewable energy facilities, coupled with a programme of energy efficiency. For example, Cuba, a planned economy (not democratically planned, so there are inefficiences and flaws) was able to pursue a programme of replacing all of its lightbulbs with energy efficient lightbulbs. Cuba is also recognised by the UN as the only environmentally sustainable country in the world. If a poor country which doesn't have the undoubted advantages of having its planning democratically controlled, think what democratic socialist planning could achieve in a rich country like Britain.

All the capitalist apologists can muster is a 'carbon emissions trading scheme' - whereby licences to pollute are bought and sold in a kind of stock exchange. In other words, the capitalists have even found a way to make money out of environmental damage! The scheme is ineffective at reducing carbon dioxide emissions though.

The issue of 'Green taxes' was also raised. As socialists we would oppose all taxes such as Green taxes, that disproportionately affect ordinary working class people - a tax on air travel would prevent a normal family from going abroad on holiday, but the rich Government minister would be able to travel without restriction! We favour democratic socialist planning as a solution to environmental problems, not reducing living conditions for ordinary people.

As luck would have it, there happens to be an excellent article on alternative energy sources in this week's copy of the socialist, the weekly newspaper of the Socialist Party, an indispensible read for workers and youth: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/2007/485/index.html?id=pp1183.htm

Apologies to any who attended yesterday's meeting whose contributions I have missed off, I do remember it being an excellent discussion with a lot of interesting, relevant and insightful points put forward by all those who spoke, but I can't remember everything and didn't take extensive notes, and this post has gone on quite long anyway. It would be great though if we could have a bit of debate in the comments section on some of the points raised at the meeting.

Exeter branch meeting Tuesday 8th May - Can we fight climate change?

Every fortnight, the Socialist Party holds a branch meeting in Exeter. All members and anyone interested in coming along are welcome. The meetings are informal but businesslike. We discuss events over the past few weeks and plan our activities, campaigns and interventions in the days, weeks and months ahead. We also hear reports on international news and industrial work.

One member will then introduce a discussion on a topic of interest - this week it will be Tim on climate change and environmental destruction. After this introduction we will debate and analyse the issues surrounding it. The purpose of this is to educate members and supporters about a wide range of important areas, improve confidence in speaking and debating in public and to deepen understanding of how we as socialists analyse the world. In the past discussions have ranged from the French Revolution to fascism, from nuclear power to the Labour Party, and so on.

We hope you can come along - Tuesday 8th 7.30pm Streatham Court E, University of Exeter. If you have any queries please leave a comment or email us at socialistpartydevon@gmail.com.

More photos from the Campaign for a New Workers' Party meeting held in Exeter on the 19th April

3rd May elections and recent activity

On Saturday 28th April, Devon Socialist Party members and CNWP supporters leafletted the Ilfracombe East ward with anti-BNP leaflets. The leaflets put forward class arguments and posed the question of a new alternative to the main parties for workers. The BNP candidate subsequently failed miserably, garnering just 63 votes. Also on the 28th, members did stalls in Exeter and Taunton and sold over 30 newspapers. On the Sunday, members travelled up to Bristol to assist with Tom Baldwin's election campaign in Windmill Hill. He got a good vote in the end, and was praised by the PCS union for his answers to the questions they asked of all council candidates.

We expressed our solidarity with the striking PCS members on 1st May.

There will be a full analysis of the local, Scottish and Welsh elections on here shortly, including the votes for Socialist Alternative candidates, the state of the BNP vote and lessons for anti-fascist work and the situation in Scotland.