For the last 15 months, a number of left groups and individual members of the Socialist Alliance (SA) have grouped together under the Socialist Alliance Democracy Platform (SADP). Our main aim has been to maintain the SA as a major focus for left unity as part of the process of building a new workers’ socialist party, organisation or network as an alternative to New Labour.
The SA Conference last March agreed to maintain the Socialist Alliance whilst building Respect, and re-assess the situation at an AGM before the end of 2004. In the event, the SA ceased to function after March 2004. The NEC finally met early November, elected a Conference Arrangements Committee (CAC) and called an AGM for February 2005. The SWP made it clear they would be aiming for a continuation of the present situation where the SA exists in name only whilst the SWP builds RESPECT.
The SADP has produced a Dossier on Maladministration in the SA. They still await answers.
With this in mind, the SADP have organised a Socialist Unity Conference for Saturday 12 March, 12.30pm at the Union Services Club in Birmingham, under the heading ‘Build a Democratic Socialist Alliance Towards a Mass Workers’ Party’. Invitations have gone out widely to all left groups and individuals. To prepare for the Conference, and mobilise for the SA AGM, the SADP has turned its Members Meeting on 29 January into an Open Meeting.
By Pete McLaren, Convenor, Socialist Alliance Democracy Platform (SADP)
