Socialist Workers Party

• Opportunism in Irish conditions March 22 2007
  Socialist Workers Party (Ireland) held its Marxism 2007 event in Dublin over the weekend of March 10-11. The event reflects, as it does in Britain, the current political and organisational state of the SWP. Anne Mc Shane reports
• Solidarity and SWP’s favourite anti-semite March 22 2007
  The Palestine Solidarity Campaign wants to have it both ways over saxophonist Gilad Atzmon and the Deir Yassin Remembered group. Tony Greenstein (a founder member of the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign and a member of Jews Against Zionism) reports on the annual general meeting
• No to SWP Berufsverbot January 18 2007
  To defeat the BNP, we must fight the system - and not call for ballet dancers to lose their jobs, says Jim Moody
• SWP ‘no platform’ fiasco November 23 2006
  Last weekend’s grandly named People’s Assembly saw the Socialist Workers Party adopt a highly contradictory position on the crucial question of defence of democratic rights, including the right to free speech. Peter Manson reports
• A lesson in Stalinism October 5 2006
  Members of the Socialist Workers Party tried to throw CPGB students out of a public meeting. Dave Isaacson reports
• Contradictions exposed September 14 2006
  Simon Wells reviews John Rees' Imperialism and resistance, Routledge 2006, pp265, £14.99
• Martin Smith’s ‘appeal’ fiasco June 1 2006
  Comrade Simon was expelled from the Socialist Workers Party in a completely arbitrary manner. He was simply informed by telephone by national organiser Martin Smith: ‘You’re out of the party’
• Martin Smith and his telephone expulsion March 23 2006
  As the latest case shows, any member who dares to question the Socialist Workers' Party’s political trajectory faces expulsion by telephone. Martin Smith’s regime is a disgrace and discredits the left in general, writes SW Kenning
  • You’re out, comrade X!
    
  • No names - Matt Kidd
    
  • Wrong thoughts - Chris Jones
• Shades of Stalinism March 2 2006
  It is impossible not to observe a distinct taint of Stalinism in the reaction of the Socialist Workers Party to the recent controversy over the Danish cartoons, writes Lawrence Parker. This raises an ominous question mark over the SWP’s ability to constructively engage with cultural production
• SWP 'racism' fig leaf February 23 2006
  The furore following the Danish cartoons has not subsided, writes Peter Manson. But the position of many islamic groups - backed up by the Socialist Workers Party - plays into the hands of islamophobes
• Floundering towards Eurocommunism February 16 2006
  While Ligue Communiste Révolutionnaire theorists flounder towards Eurocommunism, the SWP’s Alex Callinicos can only answer them with evasion. In the first of two articles, Mike Macnair discusses revolutionary strategy
• Revolutionary strategy and Marxist conclusions February 23 2006
  In the second in a series of articles, Mike Macnair continues his examination of right-moving Ligue Communiste Révolutionnaire theorists and the response of the SWP’s Alex Callinicos
• Victim of 'democracy' January 26 2006
  SW Kenning comments on SWP paranioa and the witch-hunting of one of their own members
• Maverick George Galloway offends SWP sensibilities January 12 2006
  George Galloway’s decision to try his hand at ‘reality’ TV as a Big brother contestant has thrown Respect and the Socialist Workers Party into disarray, to put it mildly. Peter Manson reports
  • Less than gorgeous
    Is it possible for working class politicians to utilise an established cultural form, designed for a completely different purpose, in order to bolster an oppositional message? Lawrence Parker takes a look at Galloway in the Big brother house
• Rumblings of rebellion January 12 2006
  SW Kenning reports on last weekend’s SWP conference, which took place over the weekend of January 7-8
• Faith schools too hot for SWP January 12 2006
  The left must takes this issue seriously, says Michelle Euston. After all, faith schools are envisaged in the government’s white paper on education as a wedge to break up comprehensive education system
  
• A loyal rebel January 5 2006
  On the eve of the Socialist Workers Party’s annual conference this weekend (January 7-8), SW Kenning looks at what is going on behind the scenes and the official claims of one magnificent success leading to another
  • John Molyneux: Why I intend to stand
  • Central Committee: Reply to Molyneux
    
• Stalinist atmosphere reigns December 8 2005
  Our republication of a mildly critical piece from the Socialist Workers Party’s Pre-conference bulletin seems to have caused a furious row inside the SWP - at least judging by the reaction of its author, Dave Crouch. Peter Manson reports
• Rightist liquidation threatens December 1 2005
  Ian Mahoney reviews the SWP’s Pre-conference bulletin
  
  • Socialist Worker: is it doing its job?
    Dave Crouch expresses disquiet over the relaunched SWP paper
• Decision time for SWP November 17 2005
  The Socialist Workers Party is still refusing to take responsibility for two of their members who voted for the scandalous pension deal in the PCSU: Martin John has resigned from the party and no action has been taken against Sue Bond. Lee Rock, national secretary of the PCSU Socialist Caucus, reports
• John Rees comes out for Blair’s laws September 29 2005
  Leaders of the Socialist Worker Party are galloping to the right at a breathtaking pace: John Rees supports the religious hatred laws, reports Mark Fischer

The Weekly Worker takes a closer look at the Racial and Religious Hatred Bill and explains why communists must oppose them

• Sops and imminent dangers (Jack Conrad)
• Censorship by stealth (Mike Macnair)
  
  
• Fight for Marxist principle in Respect
  Mary Godwin reports from the latest CPGB members' aggregate, which saw discussions on Respect, Communist University and Northern Ireland
• SWP forgets Kosova July 28 2005
  Today the SWP does everything it can to be seen as the staunchest ally of muslims in their fight against oppression. Back in the 1990s, however, it was a different story, writes Peter Manson
• Ignorant and proud July 14 2005
  There was a slightly unreal atmosphere around this year’s Marxism, the annual school of the Socialist Workers Party. Respect haunted the proceedings, reports Mark Fischer, yet was practically invisible both in terms of the formal agenda and on the stalls
  • Size ain’t everything …
    In his session on 'Revolution in the 21st century' Chris Harman tried to make a rather feeble connection between “the revolutionary party" and the explicitly non-revolutionary formation Respect - mainly to convince his own party comrades, says Tina Becker
  • Fighter for women’s rights?
    There was an angry response when the CPGB's Anne Mc Shane reminded Lindsey German in the meeting on ‘The history of women’s liberation’ about the SWP's lack of fighting for a woman's right to choose in Respect
  • Demagogic lies
    The Sunday morning Marxism session, ‘Strategy and tactics in the anti-imperialist movement’, saw a ferocious, coordinated attack on the CPGB and Weekly Worker, led by senior SWP members, repors Peter Manson
  • Reasons to engage
    Hillel Ticktin (editor Critique) explained in the CPGB's fringe meeting ''Why saying no to war and poverty is not enough - we need a Marxist party'
  • Bolshevik flexibility
    John Bride and Mike Macnair opened up an interesting debate on Respect and the role of communists within it in the second CPGB fringe meeting at Marxism

• The ‘C’ word July 14 2005
  Why won't the Socialist Workers Party condemn the terrorist attacks in any of their statements on last week's London bombing? Ian Mahoney investigates
• Terrorism and the SWP Janus July 14 2005
  Are the London bombers and al Qa’eda potential allies in the struggle against imperialism, or reactionary enemies of the working class? Mike Macnair gives a communist view
• SWP tails red nose establishment March 10 2005
  Much of the left buys into charity-mongering, crticises Eddie Ford
• Galloway joins in the numbers game February 24 2005
  The SWP voted down the CPGB’s principled call for the scrapping of all immigration controls at the October conference of Respect. Now we can see the result, writes Tina Becker. George Galloway is free to ape the populist calls of the Tories and Labour government for ‘controlled immigration’
• SWP's strange amnesia March February 17 2005
  Tina Becker reports on the Socialist Workers' Party's recent interventions into the World Social Forum
• Mutiny stirs against east London potentates November 25 2004
  In the run-up to the SWP’s November 27-28 conference, more critical voices are being raised over the nature of the internal regime. But, reports Mark Fischer, these are couched in terms that accept the basic premises of SWP ‘wisdom’ and are therefore incapable of getting to grips with the problem
• Call for democracy November 18 2004
  Hot on the heels of his diplomatically worded critique of the Socialist Workers Party’s intervention in Respect, veteran SWP leader John Molyneux has now turned his attention to the organisation’s own regime and culture. In this contribution to the Pre-conference Bulletin No2, comrade Molyneux exposes the intolerance and monolithism of the leadership and calls for far-reaching cultural change
• Worries, tensions and opening the floodgates November 11 2004
  This year’s first Pre-conference Bulletin of the Socialist Workers Party makes interesting reading - it shows that there are some real differences over Respect, says Tina Becker
• Consider your tactics wisely, for yours is not an easy fight September 9 2004
  Former Socialist Workers Party national committee member David Isaacson explains why he has joined the CPGB and calls on his former comrades to rebel
• Reorganisation - yet again September 9 2004
  Ian Mahoney assesses the SWP's recent reorganisation - and doubts that this will solve the comrades' political and programmatic problems
• BNP infiltrates SWP September 2 2004
  How could it have happened that two young members of the British National Party were promoted to celebrated 'student activists' in the Socialist Workers Party, asks Sam Davies
• Back to programme July 22 2004
  In this week's 'Party Notes' Mark Fischer argues that the lack of a programme is coming to haunt the Socialist Workers Party
• Following the line July 22 2004
  David Broder shares his impressions of his first ever attendance at Marxism, the SWP's summer 'festival'
• SWP in trouble July 15 2004
  It is unlikely that the SWP’s central committee will be very happy with Marxism 2004. Registrations and overall attendance was down significantly - by about 50% - to around 2,500. Our team reports on some of the key sessions
• Blaming the membership July 1 2004
  Last weekend’s national committee of the Socialist Workers Party was a pretty unhappy affair. The printshop is being sold off and the promised breakthrough on June 10 failed to happen. How did the leadership explain these results? Paul Fellows reports
• SWP loses allies February 19 2004
  Four independent members of the SWP's Globalise Resistance have followed Jeremy Dewar of Workers Power in resigning from the organisations steering committee
  • Resignation letter
• Confusion reigns over union bosses' pay November 20 2003
  SWP members voted against their organisation public position at a recent meeting of PCS Left Unity, reports a bemused Lee Rock
• Globalise Resistance and the politics of manipulation November 12 2003
  Ian Donovan takes a look at the Socialist Workers Party's anti-capitalist front organisation
• New project, same old sectarianism November 6 2003
  SW Kenning reports of the secret weekend national conference of the Socialist Workers Party
• At the crossroads October 30 2003
  Sooner or later the SWP faces a choice between strategically counterposed perspectives which have developed within the ranks of its leadership, argues Mike Macnair. What we have seen since the death of Tony Cliff is a combination of thrashing around and sharp about-turns. To grasp the origins of this impasse it is necessary to delve back into history
• Under pressure September 18 2003
  Jack Conrad assesses the political positions of the different fractional centres on the leadership of the Socialist Workers Party
• 'Classical Marxism' and grasping the dialectic September 18 2003
  Mike Macnair assesses the relative merits of John Rees' The algebra of revolution and the classical Marxist tradition and David Renton's Classical Marxism: socialist theory and the Second International
• Secularism is no 'shibboleth' either July 24 2003
  Jack Conrad stands by defence of secularism, women's rights and homosexual equality
• Socialism and the logic of sectarianism July 17 2003
  Where does the SWP's lack of democracy, bureaucratic manipulation and thuggery come from?, asks Jack Conrad
• SWP’s fantasy world July 17 2003
  Exchanges between the Socialist Workers Party and the Ligue Communiste Révolutionnaire cast light on the weaknesses of both organisations. Mike Macnair looks at the SWP’s latest contribution
• Come with us to the mosque July 17 2003
  The SWP's Chris Harman has slapped the wrists of his French group
• Physical attack on opponents July 17 2003
  A personal statement from Mark Fischer and James Bull of the Communist Party of Great Britain, July 11 2003
  • Letter to Socialist Workers Party central committee from Communist Party of Great Britain
• No compromise on sexism and homophobia July 10 2003
  Is the SWP facing its 'Clause 4' moment?, asks Jack Conrad
• SWP watershed July 10 2003
  This year's 'Marxism' has seen the Socialist Workers Party in ebullient mood. Ian Mahoney wonders why they are celebrating
• Valuable but flawed July 10 2003
  Kit Robinson reviews Alex Callinicos' An anti-capitalist manifesto
• The necessity of class July 3 2003
  Latest developments in the Socialist Workers Party must have Tony Cliff spinning in his grave, believes Jack Conrad
• Good little Stalinists June 26 2003
  Mike Macnair was impressed on the unity of purpose shown by the Communist Party of Britain and their would-be suitors in the Socialist Workers Party at the STWC activists' conference
• Religious dogma May 15 2003
  Jim Blackstock castigates the SWP for its attitude towards combating racism and the electoral success of the BNP
• Bitter taste of SWP arrogance sours day November 21 2002
  Socialist Worker Party clowning was not appreciated by the organisers of the anti-war demo at the European Social Forum in Florence
• Building Chris Bambery's 'new' SWP sect November 21 2002
  Report of the Socialist Workers Party's recent conference
• SWP comes out for 'no' June 13 2002
  Motion for the Socialist Alliance October conference on the euro referendum
• Divisions in SWP surface June 13 2002
  Has Chris Harman become a CPGB ally, asks Mark Fischer
• Socialist Workers Party: Third plank article April 25 2002
  The SWP’s Alex Callinicos tell us the SA is a “united front of new type”. No, it ain’t, says Mark Fischer