tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21995284.post4273049812812157577..comments2023-10-25T12:49:50.074+01:00Comments on The Old Socialist Unity Blog - we have moved: Don't mourn, organiseANhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05901425044840795347noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21995284.post-52495380427166113832007-05-04T19:09:00.000+01:002007-05-04T19:09:00.000+01:00I think it's sectarian because it puts the advanta...I think it's sectarian because it puts the advantage of the group Andy happens to support ahead of the needs of the working class - in this case the need to have a socialist voice representing the working class in parliament.<BR/><BR/>As for the rest of your post Louise, I agree with part of what you are saying, in that I do think that Solidarity are more likely to collapse altogether than the rump SSP. On the other hand I think that Solidarity also have much more potential to build something significant. It's a more unstable formation with both greater possibilities and bigger dangers.<BR/><BR/>By contrast, while I think it is almost certain to survive in some form, the SSP is extremely unlikely in my view to do anything other than continue a demoralised and embittered decline.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21995284.post-81115562403238716212007-05-04T18:37:00.000+01:002007-05-04T18:37:00.000+01:00Mark P: Why is that statement sectarian? I think y...Mark P: Why is that statement sectarian? <BR/><BR/>I think you need a sharp political analysis of the political situation in Scotland and Solidarity (whether the intention or not) was built on the cult of the personality that is Sheridan and in bad faith as well. <BR/><BR/>And Mark emphasises this with the comment, "without Sheridan in parliament what exactly holding these groups together"?<BR/><BR/>Solidarity could indeed collapse but the SSP has greater potentiality to rebuild itself. It doesn't revolve around the "cult of the personality" and engages in real class struggle. <BR/><BR/>All I would say to demoralised SSPers is don't give up the fight. <BR/><BR/>I am a LP member but I still have much admiration for the SSP for the work they do (if I lived in Scotland I would join SSP).Louisefeministahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08279991897445225597noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21995284.post-56417117887338091262007-05-04T17:58:00.000+01:002007-05-04T17:58:00.000+01:00Some will think I am sectarian for saying this, bu...<I>Some will think I am sectarian for saying this, but the worst possible result was Sheridan being elected without the SSP winning a seat, as this would have bolstered the Solidarity organisation, which is an obstacle to the task f building an inclusive left party.</I><BR/><BR/>You are a sectarian for saying this.<BR/><BR/>More generally, I think that both left formations in Scotland face an uncertain future. <BR/><BR/>The SSP, already demoralised and much reduced, has just been absolutely butchered at the polls. I don't just mean that they lost their seats. I mean that they generally finished 12th or 13th, behind the various Christian parties and the BNP. The SLP managed a higher vote by not actually existing in Scotland, which is a fairly damning verdict. In the areas declared so far, they have been trounced by Solidarity, who themselves have done poorly. They also seem to have lost their Glasgow council seat.<BR/><BR/>This will, inevitably, have drastic consequences. It will further demoralise the ranks and lead to even more people dropping out. It will allow the media to portray them as irrelevant, which will do more damage. And, not to forget the financial implications of all this on a party which was already deep in the red. The parliamentary money is gone, which will mean an end to most of the fulltime staff.<BR/><BR/>I don't think that the SSP is going to entirely disappear, but I do think that it is an open question if anything of much significance will remain in a year. How many actual activists did they have left after the split, discounting the huge number of paper members? How many will they have left once all of this sinks in?<BR/><BR/>At the same time, Solidarity: SSSM also faces an uncertain future, for slightly different reasons. It too will have taken a morale hit - polling a multiple of the SSP tally isn't much use if you lose out too. But there are other issues to consider, namely Sheridan and the SWP. Sheridan is currently talking about continuing to build Solidarity, but who knows what will happen, particularly with the various ongoing legal stuff.<BR/><BR/>The SWP are an open question. They seemed to expect to be the dominant force in Solidarity and when that did not happen, there are rumours that they rather scaled back their involvement. Without Sheridan in parliament what exactly is holding these groups together?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21995284.post-17457871343223813152007-05-04T14:24:00.000+01:002007-05-04T14:24:00.000+01:00Ken - thanks for the factual correction about the ...Ken - thanks for the factual correction about the helicopter, I will leave my post inaccurate for comic effect!ANhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05901425044840795347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21995284.post-7191039764603857282007-05-04T13:56:00.000+01:002007-05-04T13:56:00.000+01:00I don't now whether you are refering to me as an u...I don't now whether you are refering to me as an ultra left on the sidelines Lynsey,<BR/><BR/>but my observations were offered in the spirit of constructive commentary, becasue the drop in the SSP vote will have an impact on those if us in Englkand who are serious about left regroupment and renewal.ANhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05901425044840795347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21995284.post-17093260866010678542007-05-04T13:47:00.000+01:002007-05-04T13:47:00.000+01:00Well call me simple minded, but it seems to me (1)...Well call me simple minded, but it seems to me <BR/><BR/>(1) The SSP and Sheridan both did badly after the split - so they should both have worked harder to avoid the split<BR/><BR/>(2) Sheridan did less badly than the whole of the SSP - so the SSP were wrong not to try and hang on to SheridanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21995284.post-42115188595393327642007-05-04T13:45:00.000+01:002007-05-04T13:45:00.000+01:00Why is it that out of touch ultra lefts feel it is...Why is it that out of touch ultra lefts feel it is necessary to put their own prejudices on to the real reasons for a slump in the socialist vote?<BR/><BR/>Have fun sitting on the sidelines, guys!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21995284.post-1469036791543921302007-05-04T13:34:00.000+01:002007-05-04T13:34:00.000+01:00The dead end of left nationalism...The dead end of left nationalism...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21995284.post-19495033114785962772007-05-04T12:04:00.000+01:002007-05-04T12:04:00.000+01:00One correction - the helicopter didn't crash. It c...One correction - the helicopter didn't crash. It couldn't take off because of fog.<BR/><BR/>The other big story of the election is the shambles of the vote-counting, with thousands of unintentionally spoiled ballots.Kenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03493440163559858462noreply@blogger.com