North Devon Socialist Party branch meeting report 25th November

The main focus of the latest North Devon branch meeting was the housing crisis.

Introducing the discussion, JL noted the dramatic increase in housing repossessions, which seem to be particularly acute in North Devon. He gave background about the cause of the crisis which has resulted in soaring private sector rents and mortgages, and the decimation of social housing.

He outlined the importance of the neo-liberal measures brought in by the Tory government of 1979-1997, most notably the Right to Buy scheme, the attacks on the unions and the restructuring of the economy away from manufacturing and mining and towards financial services.

The move towards financial services and the increasing lack of social housing resulted in a house price bubble, where house prices rose to ridiculous levels. These prices are now declining due to the banks being much stricter in their lending since the so-called sub prime mortgages came to light and paralysed the financial 'industry' with fright. This, combined with rapidly increasing unemployment is resulting in the elevated repossessions. As GS noted in the discussion afterwards, the situation for people repossessed now is worse than it was 40 years ago, when there was more of a social safety net and more council housing.

It was agreed that as socialists we need to put the political arguments forward for nationalisation of the banks and construction industry under democratic workers and for a house building programme to be initiated and for repossessions to stop.

It was also agreed that practical support needed to be offered, and pressure put on the council to improve its provision of housing benefit and help for those threatened with, or victims of, repossession. A housing campaign will be established, and contact made to other organisations and interested individuals to help kick-start and build that.

In the discussion on organisational matters, a new branch programme was agreed, and the forthcoming regional conference debated. In industrial reports, DL outlined the 12% pay rise over two years the Appledore shipyard workers had achieved, and looked forward to Robbie Segal's forthcoming election campaign in the USDAW union.

4th November North Devon Branch meeting report

Members and non-members of North Devon Socialist Party gathered last night in Barnstaple, and enjoyed extensive discussions about the American elections, building the left in the US and in Britain, and future activities of North Devon Socialist Party.

JL, introducing the discussion on the American elections, noted the importance of the grassroots movements built up by Barack Obama and Ralph Nader (the independent pro-worker candidate). He reiterated the political positions and likely acts of the incoming President Obama, including making the American working class pay for the economic crisis caused by the capitalists, as well as continuing with the substance of Bush's imperialist foreign policy, albeit with a different focus and Clinton-style charm and superficial multilateralism. He emphasised the need for the movement built by Nader to continue to organise on 'November 5th and beyond' to build an independent pro-worker force, preferably moving towards forming a workers party with other elements including peace campaigner Cindy Sheehan.

Those present agreed with the characterisation of the Democrat Party as just a wing of the capitalist party in the US, the Republicans being the other wing. The mass movement backing Obama were set for disappointment, and it would be the task of the left in America to engage with those people, and patiently explain the need for a break with the Democrats.

Concerns were raised about the scale of the task facing the American left, and certainly the challenges of organising and building on a continental scale are great, but there was consensus at the meeting that there was no alternative, and the best we could do in Britain and Europe would be to offer practical and political support to our American comrades. In addition, we need to work towards establishing our own workers party in Britain, emulating and learning the lessons of the tremendous efforts in Germany and France in this respect.

There then followed industrial and student reports, in which our support for the Appledore shipyard workers was reiterated, and an update was provided on the efforts to build the Shop Stewards Network in North Devon.

Next week - Exeter and North Devon Branch Meetings

Exeter Socialist Party Meeting

Date: Tuesday 7th October, 7.30pm

email socialistpartydevon@gmail.com for details of the venue.

Agenda includes discussion of trade union and industrial news, Socialist Students activities, our fuel poverty campaign and a discussion on the individual under capitalism introduced by SB.

North Devon Socialist Party Meeting

Thursday 9th October

7.30pm

Henry Williamson Room, Barnstaple Library

Agenda includes discussion of the National Shop Stewards Network, a report back from the Devon, Cornwall and Somerset aggregate meeting, Socialist Students and ISR campaigns, the fuel poverty campaign and a discussion on the roots of the current economic crisis introduced by JL.

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.

Successful first meeting of North Devon Socialist Party

Last Thursday marked the first meeting of the Socialist Party’s new North Devon branch. New members from Barnstaple (pictured left) and Braunton, a mixture of youth and experience, met in Barnstaple Library to listen to an introduction given by Robin Clapp, the South West regional secretary.

The introduction was wide ranging, from the current economic situation to the role of the Socialist Party locally, nationally and (for the CWI) internationally. This was followed by a discussion of how the Socialist Party could work in the current climate to get our ideas across and shape events, which all who attended contributed to. There was agreement with Robin’s point about our work, in workplaces, colleges, and the wider world, was about a dialogue with working class people, listening being as important as getting our own views and analysis of events across.

We discussed how the party would build in North Devon, a large rural area with dispersed population, low union membership and no real history of left activity. It was agreed that our activities needed to be centred around helping youth and workers to organise, at the local Further Education College, individual workplaces and unions and through setting up a local branch of the National Shop Stewards Network. In addition to leading the fightback against low pay and exploitation at work, the point was raised that young people in particular need help in combatting the growing authoritarianism of the police and local councils.

Ambitious but achievable targets have been set for raising fighting fund and attending national and regional events, new members being very keen to learn more and get active. We are a small branch, aware of the challenges as well as opportunities of working as socialists in Britain in 2008. We are optimistic about the impact we can have in North Devon, while realising that it will take consistent hard work and patience to achieve what we want to.

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.

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.

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.