Urban75 Home About Offline BrixtonBuzz Contact

SWP expulsions and squabbles

Especially since pretty much every other left wing group has joined Labour now.

When the WRP and then Militant collapsed, there was at least somewhere else sizeable to go to, an alternative group that could pick up the baton, that was still on campus. Not true now, so they have hung on, and even, according to one thing I read or heard somewhere, have risen like a phoenix this year.
 
Especially since pretty much every other left wing group has joined Labour now.

When the WRP and then Militant collapsed, there was at least somewhere else sizeable to go to, an alternative group that could pick up the baton, that was still on campus. Not true now, so they have hung on, and even, according to one thing I read or heard somewhere, have risen like a phoenix this year.
Did you hear this from the SWP though?
 
Of course!

I do see some element of truth to it tho, a couple of recruits on campus, a SWSS group that isn't run by people over 50...
 
Especially since pretty much every other left wing group has joined Labour now.

When the WRP and then Militant collapsed, there was at least somewhere else sizeable to go to, an alternative group that could pick up the baton, that was still on campus. Not true now, so they have hung on, and even, according to one thing I read or heard somewhere, have risen like a phoenix this year.
Actually, I was surprised to see a stall manned by youngish women at the tory conference protest...
 
it cant be too far off the size of Marxism these days. But it isn't an organisation....

:D just messing.

I'm writing from distant memory - at least ten years since I've been in a position to attend the London Anarchist Bookfair - but I always thought there was a wee bit of an overlap between attendees of both Recruitathon and the AB. Not the hardcore of either side . . . more the interested politico punter, wanting to pad out their bookshelves.
 
Can't be far off the rump of the CP or someone catching up now? They (the SWP) can barely be pushing 4 figures these days surely?
 
Course they are. At the stwc demo just before xmas, it was fairly clear which was the biggest organised group selling papers etc. The sp were noticeable too of course but the swp clearly had more of a presence. My better half even commented on it when we arrived at Oxford Circus just before the March got going. "Jesus your lot are never going to die are they. They even seem to be quite young some of them, not all old codgers like you" I believe she said.
 
Of course!

I do see some element of truth to it tho, a couple of recruits on campus, a SWSS group that isn't run by people over 50...
I never agreed that the Delta case would be the end of them, but can't say I have noticed much of a surge.

It's hard to tell, but I felt the SP had a bigger presence at the tory conference demo.
 
I got a computer generated letter from the swp before xmas requesting paper money...I ain't been a member for 6 years or so...so their membership records ain't worth shit
 
Last edited:
These reports of a comeback strike me as dubious at best. The core problem is their current age demographic. It's very difficult to recruit your way back from being a party of grey hairs and if it can be done at all it takes a very long time. Mind you they aren't going to disappear either. Most of the greyhairs are in for life.
 
Last edited:
RS21 appear to be doing quite well?
They appear to maturing as an organisation and hopefully in the next year or so developing into a reputable political group. There recent magazine shows this positive development and i'm sure there are just as many activists turning out to events that are closer to getting their first homes than collecting their pensions.

Quite recently in Oxford they organised events where two to three hundred people turned out such as Rhodes Must Fall of which I saw quite a few faces today going to get tickets on the same subject at Oxford Union so they appear to be holding on to members and supporters . From what I've heard this is similar in many other areas such as London and Manchester where they have held both people and power base !

Hopefully this is signalling a new kind of politics that will out mode and out manoeuvre the old Trot Hacks such a those in the SWP for a new kind of politics ! (Not slagging off all Trotskyist groups apologies for not making this clearer )

Magazine subscription
 
RS21 appear to be doing quite well?
They appear to maturing as an organisation and hopefully in the next year or so developing into a reputable political group. There recent magazine shows this positive development and i'm sure there are just as many activists turning out to events that are closer to getting their first homes than collecting their pensions.

Quite recently in Oxford they organised events where two to three hundred people turned out such as Rhodes Must Fall of which I saw quite a few faces today going to get tickets on the same subject at Oxford Union so they appear to be holding on to members and supporters . From what I've heard this is similar in many other areas such as London and Manchester where they have held both people and power base !

Hopefully this is signalling a new kind of politics that will out mode and out manoeuvre the old Trot Hacks such a those in the SWP for a new kind of politics ! (Not slagging off all Trotskyist groups apologies for not making this clearer )

Magazine subscription

£3.70? Fuck that - don't they post it online?
 
SWPer with a nose brace spotted tipping over SP tables at the health workers demo. An isolated incident, but reports say that no SWPers stopped him or yelled at him.
 
I got a computer generated letter from the swp before xmas requesting paper money...I ain't been a member for 6 years or so...so their membership records ain't worth shit

Neither are their numbers on all sorts of things. I remember helping set up a meeting in Plymouth where literally nobody came except the three people setting it up, of which I was one. The response of the other two was along the lines of:

"Well, I suppose we can spin something for Socialist Worker..."
 
SWPer with a nose brace spotted tipping over SP tables at the health workers demo. An isolated incident, but reports say that no SWPers stopped him or yelled at him.

Had the impression with the non aggression TUSC pact, these sort of 'lover's tiffs' were over !
A few years ago outside Marxism was with a senior female member of SP when one of these Cliifitte scallywags attempted to slam the door hard in her face but managed to catch it and stare him down 'til he cowered; looking to his girlfriend for support, she gave him a condescending, 'you're a wanker' look!

That's what you have to do with these SWP would be ruffians; " Aggressive Eye Contact !':mad:
It's the only way !:rolleyes::D
 
Sister parties - SP in Australia is from the Committee for a Workers International, set up by SP here.
and how many parties are affiliated to this cwi? e2a: seems to be at least 35. so saying that abuse cover-ups endemic within these parties appears a bold statement i would like to see you substantiate.
 
and how many parties are affiliated to this cwi? e2a: seems to be at least 35. so saying that abuse cover-ups endemic within these parties appears a bold statement i would like to see you substantiate.
It's not entirely clear from their website how many sections they currently have. A recent meeting had "70 representatives" of various sections, but not clear how these are distributed. I think they have some quite significant sections, but others are two men and a dog:
CWI International Meeting: Developing a socialist programme to meet the needs of workers and youth during capitalist crisis
 
Back
Top Bottom