SWP expulsions and squabbles

[imposs1904]

Viv Smith (ex CC) resigns.

For some daft reason, Nigel getting all giddy - no offence meant - about news of the round of resignations of old timers on twitter reminded me of this famous old pic:

Maybe someone more tech minded than me can do an SWP version from the last year Tony Cliff was on the Central Committee.

 

[Karmickameleon]

Viv Smith (ex CC) resigns.

Was steadfast in support of W. One of the people who comes out of this horrible business very well.

 

[revol68]

For some daft reason, Nigel getting all giddy - no offence meant - about news of the round of resignations of old timers on twitter reminded me of this famous old pic:

Maybe someone more tech minded than me can do an SWP version from the last year Tony Cliff was on the Central Committee.

The funny thing is, looking at the mug shots you'd probably go for a pint with Stalin, though I'd take Kollantai to dinner.

 

[butchersapron]

Birchall gone then.

 

[Nigel Irritable]

Maybe someone more tech minded than me can do an SWP version from the last year Tony Cliff was on the Central Committee.

Only Callinicos left on the CC, isn't there? Will any of them still be even nominal rank and file members once Stack resigns?

 

[Nigel Irritable]

Birchall gone then.

Is there a direct comment or statement about or are you inferring that?

 

[butchersapron]

Is there a direct comment or statement about or are you inferring that?

That's from someone i don't know but who does appear to be in the know and known herself. So bit of both.

 

[Fedayn]

This twitter account https://twitter.com/Izaakson seems to have a blow-by-blow timeline of resignations.

 

[butchersapron]

Is there a direct comment or statement about or are you inferring that?

His resignation
http://grimanddim.org/political-writings/2013-letter-of-resignation/

Unfortunately the events of the last year have changed everything. The monstrously irresponsible and self-indulgent conduct of a former leading member was bad enough. But far worse was the failure of the party leadership to deal flexibly and intelligently with the situation. The Central Committee has been at best obstinate and short-sighted, at worst grossly dishonest. The revolutionary organisation is a means to the end of socialist transformation, but for members of our self-selecting leadership it has become an end in itself.

The Central Committee bears a heavy responsibility for this situation, and that they should seek re-election en bloc reveals an arrogance that disqualifies them as a leadership. As senior CC member, Alex Callinicos bears a particularly heavy responsibility. (When a dog bites me I don’t blame the animal; I blame the owner that failed to keep it on a lead.) It is a small personal tragedy that his cowardice and dishonesty over the last year will overshadow forty years’ work as a significant Marxist theoretician.

 

[Nigel Irritable]

One of the sadder resignation letters from a left group that I've seen.

 

[Karmickameleon]

His resignation
http://grimanddim.org/political-writings/2013-letter-of-resignation/

Brilliant but basically very, very sad letter of resignation... Puts the blame fairly and squarely at the Prof's door, but the problems were clearly more deep seated than that.

 

[muscovyduck]

I don't understand, was the 'woman and children' line definitely said? If it was, there is a chance that they were implying she's still a child and thus doesn't take the politics seriously, which is frustrating to the extreme.

Being young rarely comes up in privilege theory in that way, and it nearly always comes up in arguments like this as a way to patronise.

 

[Belushi]

Nice to see you back muscovyduck.

 

[muscovyduck]

Nice to see you back muscovyduck.

Nice to be back.

 

[bolshiebhoy]

I don't understand, was the 'woman and children' line definitely said? If it was, there is a chance that they were implying she's still a child and thus doesn't take the politics seriously, which is frustrating to the extreme.

Being young rarely comes up in privilege theory in that way, and it nearly always comes up in arguments like this as a way to patronise.

thanks for the comic relief. Some of us needed it.

 

[Balbi]

Maybe soon there'll be a suitable sized SWP for them to go and live in the Ecuadoran embassy with their spiritual king

 

[BK Double Stack]

renton resigns.

 

[Nigel Irritable]

renton resigns.

Perhaps the least surprising resignation other than Aargh.

 

[J Ed]

thanks for the comic relief. Some of us needed it.

 

[Spanky Longhorn]

thanks for the comic relief. Some of us needed it.

You are a disgrace

 

[muscovyduck]

thanks for the comic relief. Some of us needed it.

Oh man I'm so sorry for actually trying to add something to the conversation

 

[Belushi]

thanks for the comic relief. Some of us needed it.

You're such a prick.

 

[bolshiebhoy]

One of the sadder resignation letters from a left group that I've seen.

Sad, dignified and very un self serving. What you'd expect from the man. Huge loss.

 

[bolshiebhoy]

renton resigns.

politics aside, best for him really, this whole period and his attempts at squaring the circle must have done his head in. Hope he finds a new home and keeps sharpening his keen wits for use against the real enemy.

 

[bolshiebhoy]

You're such a prick.

Gallows humour, pardon me.

 

[Belushi]

Gallows humour, pardon me.

I don't think you realise what you've just done there, but it's the perfect illustration of how the SWP has got itself in to this mess. A young woman asks a question and you mockingly dismiss her out of hand. It's fucking vile.

 

[Bakunin]

For some daft reason, Nigel getting all giddy - no offence meant - about news of the round of resignations of old timers on twitter reminded me of this famous old pic:

Maybe someone more tech minded than me can do an SWP version from the last year Tony Cliff was on the Central Committee.

Now I've got a mental image of Stalin sitting in the Kremlin, gleefully crossing all the other pics with a red marker and then shouting 'House!'

 

[Balbi]

DACHA!

 

[muscovyduck]

Gallows humour, pardon me.

I can't see how asking for clarification as to whether it was said or not could have made you respond like that when you could've just said 'no'.

Was your issue that it's stupid to ask whether it is patronising, or that it's a valid thing to say when speaking about alleged sexual assault?

 

[KeeperofDragons]

I don't think you realise what you've just done there, but it's the perfect illustration of how the SWP has got itself in to this mess. A young woman asks a question and you mockingly dismiss her out of hand. It's fucking vile.

True