Date: Tue, 20 Aug 96 18:51:25 PDT
From: LCMRCI <global-AT-uk.pi.net>
Subject: Resolutions from the Rev. Platform of the SLP



Resolution 

The SLP and the general election

The Socialist Labour Party is committed to making an effective challenge at
the next general election. The party must ensure that the voice of working
class independence is raised as strongly as possible.

We stand for the general interests of the workers' movement. The SLP should
determine how many candidates and in what constituencies they should stand.
Where other working class parties and organisations are aiming to stand in
the same constituency, the SLP should seek discussions with them. Therefore
, in the lead up to the coming general election, the SLP must seek concrete
discussions with other working class organisations such as Militant Labour,
the Communist Party, the Revolutionary Communist Party and others who also
stand in elections - to ensure that:

* Our candidates do not stand against each other, thereby splitting the
anti-capitalist vote.

* A minimum platform of working class defence and democratic demands is
agreed if possible.

Critical support is offered to other working class organisations in areas
where the SLP is not standing. In effect we should argue for a united bloc
of working class organisations in this watershed election.

Resolution on Europe - Reference Back No. 1

1.	As a socialist and internationalist party, the SLP will pursue a 
working
class agenda an all matters relating to the European Union. Whilst
recognising that the EU is a capitalist club, we will be guided by the
understanding that the more the process of economic and monetary union
develops, then the more identical will become the immediate practical
issues facing the working class of the EU nations. Thus, the greater will
become the opportunities for cross border working class solidarity and
co-ordinated action. The working class unity shall be our prime objective
in European policy.

2.	The SLP will adopt a position of neutrality on British membership of 

the
European Union. We will not be drawn into expressing preferences for one
form of capitalist organisation over another. We are for the destruction of
capitalism and its replacement by international socialism.

3.	Similarly, with respect to the Maastricht Treaty, the SLP will not 
take
sides in the arguments over whether or not capitalist nation-states should
retain the ability to run large deficit budgets, and to manipulate currency
exchange rates and interest rates. The working class agenda we will propose
will be for massive improvement in public services funded by increased
corporate taxation, a heavily progressive income tax and other methods of
'soaking the rich'. We have no interest in the use of financial
manipulation by capitalist nation-states, to gain temporary competitive
advantage over other states. The SLP's agenda will be for the ending of
capitalist competition and the establishment of international workers'
planning and control of production and exchange.

4.	It shall be SLP policy to stand candidates in elections for the 
European
Parliament and to seek to achieve a common manifesto with like minded
working class parties in other EU nations.




Document as amended and accepted by the first conference of the
Revolutionary Platform of the Socialist Labour Party

1.  We desperately need radical economic, social and environmental change.
This can only be achieved through the revolutionary struggle for socialism
and the establishment of workers' power. As part of this struggle the
working class must win what Marx called the 'battle for democracy'. A
revolutionary democratic SLP must stand for:

2.  For a socialist republic, for a united Ireland  If led by the working
class, the fight for these demands will be a vital element in the struggle
for socialism in the UK. We are for the abolition of the monarchy and all
hereditary privilege. We must fight for the abolition of the House of Lords
and for proportional representation. We are for the immediate and
unconditional withdrawal of British imperialism from Ireland.

3.  Self-determination for Scotland and Wales  We fight for the peoples of
Wales and Scotland to have the right and the means to exercise their
self-determination. We advocate their voluntary union with the working
class of England.

4.  No illusions in parliament  Parliament is a vital area of struggle for
our new party. Yet there is no possibility of socialism being achieved
through parliament. We need a democratic workers' state. All MPs and
Ministers should receive a salary equal to an average workers' wage. All
SLP MPs must be subject to the discipline of the Party, and are accountable
to the Party.

5.  Democracy in the workplace   We are for workers' control of industry
through elected and recallable workplace councils.

6.  Democracy in the trade unions  The rank and file must control their own
unions. All officials must be elected, accountable, subject to instant
recall and paid the average wage of the workers they represent. All members
of the SLP who are trade union officials must be instructed to accept a
wage equal to the average of that union's membership. All remaining moneys
shall be given over to the movement.

7.  For a socialist workers' Europe  As a socialist and internationalist
party, the SLP must pursue a working class agenda on all matters relating
to the European Union. We must unite  with European workers to fight for a
united socialist workers' Europe.

8.  Workers' Unity  There should be no residence qualifications for
membership of the SLP. We want to organise all workers - whatever their
country of origin - that live under the British state. The SLP must oppose
all immigration controls. The bourgeois state uses such controls to keep
migrant workers as worst paid labour in Britain, to criminalise them and
divide them from the rest of the class. It is a basic principle of the
workers' movement that we oppose all immigration controls.

9.  An internationalist party  A revolutionary republic must withdraw from
all imperialist alliances and blocs like Nato. Our international policies
must be guided by the world fight for working class revolution and
socialism. We are for a workers' international which unites all workers
against the capitalists and which fights for a socialist Europe and a
socialist world. We are for the withdrawal of UK imperialism from every
part of the world (Ireland, Balkans, Gibraltar, Africa, Hong Kong,
Malvinas, Carribean, etc). We defend the right of every oppressed people to
expel imperialist troops from their own lands.

10.  For a democratic SLP  We must have discipline, organisation and
democracy. We need the principle of free and open debate without
bureaucratic restriction. This must go along with unity in action. Minority
views should be given due recognition and comrades should have the right to
co-operate with co-thinkers to win support in the party.

11.  For a revolutionary alternative to Labour  We don not need a 'Labour
Party Mark II' or a new Independent Labour Party (ILP). The new party must
reject reformism and fight for revolution.

12.  For complete equality of workers from all nations and genders Smash
immigration controls. Support the right for black and Asian community to
defend themselves against racists and fascists.

Workers of the world unite






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