The39thStep
Urban critical thinker
Can't see how that would make 'the fight against fascism' any better.
SWP expulsions and squabbles
- Thread starter Nigel Irritable
- Start date
butchersapron
Bring back hanging
Yes, but who in UAF do you think should - or could - declare UDI? That was what you suggested should happen.
It was interesting watching leading members of the SWP today. The Prof - carrying the Financial Times but staying out of the way. Charlie Kimber looked lost but like he wanted to be in charge - explained to the crowd in his posh voice that the BNP wanted to march to here so we were staying here to stop them marching to here - about 5 minutes before the crowd went to confront the BNP. Esme Choonara stayed out of the way but was on her phone a lot. Michael Bradley ran around a lot and only spoke to anyone by pulling them to one side and being obviously secretive. Jo Cardwell walking around a lot. I ignored her when she recognised me and smiled as I really disliked her as a member. Paul Holborow also stayed out of the way. Hannah Dee got involved a lot.
KeeperofDragons
Crazy dragon lady
It won't and that's the problem
KeeperofDragons
Crazy dragon lady
The rank and file should but I think the most likely scenario is people will let their membership lapse, though they will likely go to demos against the fascists more locally, they may be less likely to remain members.
butchersapron
Bring back hanging
There is no rank and file ffs. There is no membership. wtf do you think the UAF is? You'e in the bloody party that runs it. What on earth have they told you that it is?
KeeperofDragons
Crazy dragon lady
There is a membership & I was a paid up member until I was put on short-time at & had to cut down on my outgoings so my membership lapsed.
butchersapron
Bring back hanging
No, there is a way that you pay money. That's it.
So you had to pay subs to the SWP and to UAF?, what a racket...
emanymton
A cat politely sat on the flaming gardener.
It had a bit more independence when it first started I think. And I think there are a few areas were it has a little bit it of a life of its own, but not in any significant way.
sihhi
Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered
I'd be interested in this why did UAF have independence before but no longer?
emanymton
A cat politely sat on the flaming gardener.
The whole point of setting up UAF, according to the SWP was to reach out to a wider audience than the ANL could manage, basically by being more moderate. Hence we get the famous statement signed by David Cameron. I think this actually worked for a while but it dropped of pretty quickly and it ended up being the SWP and a few others in most areas same as the ANL.
Eta: There have tensions within UAF and with others outside about street demonstrations and how confrontational they should be. Which I think is part of the reason the SWP has been all over the place on this for years.
Tom A
Goat among sheep
UAF is a direct descendent from the ANL mark 2, the ANL effectively ceased to exist when UAF was formed.
cesare
shady's dreams ♥
So the UAF is the modern day equivalent then?
Tom A
Goat among sheep
Pretty much so, for the SWP it does pretty much the same thing and plays the same role.
bolshiebhoy
socialism leinster drink
Yawn. UAF played a huge role this weekend. And the SWP too.
SpineyNorman
Inappropriate content removed
Quite heavy labour involvement in Sheffield - think it depends where you are. If Sheffield's anything to go by it's actually worse when it's not 100% SWP dominated cos they can blame the shit politics, complete absence of anything about class, shite speakers, etc etc on the need to 'compromise to sustain the united front'.
They mobilised some people, but the leaders in London were trying to actively stop people confronting the BNP. It was laughable as the young people on the demonstration eventually ignored Charlie Kimber's efforts to control the demonstration. Many CC members stayed near the Cenotaph even when the mass of UAF organised people had gone to join the South London contingent.
The actual confrontation with the BNP was led by anarchists.
Don't know about elsewhere, and I don't say this likely, but having Kimber demand of me I stay behind a banner otherwise (according to him) I'm not a part of the demo was eye-opening.
TremulousTetra
prismatic universe
don't let the truth get in the way of a bloody good strawman argument. There are no tensions in the UAF! It is totally controlled by the SWP.
TremulousTetra
prismatic universe
stop telling lies about "50 something men"! The SWP was/is entirely students and the CC.
TremulousTetra
prismatic universe
TremulousTetra
prismatic universe
yeah, I had to pay subs to both the SWP and the socialist alliance. As did the Socialist party. And every other organisation involved in the Socialist Alliance. But if you want to be a member of two organisations, that's what you have to do. I can see how you would want to believe it is a racket, but it isn't really.
barney_pig
Po-cha-na-quar-hip
Was Delta there?
The39thStep
Urban critical thinker
mainly ( ANL Mark 2) because it was getting to a situation after the Bradford debacle when it could have been banned by Labour. It had to re group politically with Labour's support
belboid
Exasperated, not angry.
there wasn't really any chance of that happening tho, was there? I recall Marsha Singh proposing it a day or so after the riots, but there was zero chance of them actually doing it.
Nigel Irritable
Five, Ten, Fifteen Years
It was more about hooking up with the resources they could get from a merger with the NAAR (ie Socialist Action and various quangocrats).
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