SWP palace coup: the silence of the Tomb
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There seems to have been a major coup within the leadership of the SWP (no involvement from the membership, of course). The incompetent John Rees and the intellectually-challenged Lindsey German appear to have been done over in a palace coup by a faction led by National Organiser Martin Smith and Industrial Organiser Charlie Kimber.
One might have expected the SWP’s leading blogger and author of a book (“The Liberal Defense of Murder” ) that seems to have disappeared without trace, Mr Lenny “Seymour” Tombstone to have something to say about all this. But no: strangely, our Lenny is – so far – silent as the tomb.
modernityblog said,
September 11, 2008 at 11:46 pm
Seymour and the rest, etc are basically scared of saying anything out of line
they don’t dissent and are in many ways very conservative (with a small c) politically
they wait like children to be told what to think, how to say it and why
then they’re off….
but leave them without a “line” and they flounder
its like watching “The Revenge of the Brain Dead”
that famous SWP production, directed by John Rees, with a cast of two dozen old hands, nodding their heads in agreement, whenever he says something
what political sycophants
Jim Denham said,
September 12, 2008 at 2:19 am
The following has been suddenly removed from the ‘Socialist Unity’ site, which could mean that it’s innacurate, or embarrassing in some way. Anyhow, here it is:
JOHN REES SACKED AND LINDESY GERMAN QUITS AS “LEFT ALTERNATIVE” OFFICERS
Filed under: SWP — Andy Newman @ 6:44 pm
Sorry I have been a bit slow on confirming this news. My e-mail access has been restricted due to a server problem.
The “Left Alternative” is the brand name of the SWP dominated part of Respect that split away from George Galloway, Salma Yaqoob and most of the councillors last year.
Since then the Left Alternative has fared disastrously. Gaining just 0.68% across London in the mayoral election in May, since then one of their councillors has joined the Conservatives, three have joined the Labour Party, and one of their GLA list candidates has joined the Lib Dems.
What is more, the dispute in Respect could have been handled in a professional and civil manner to facilitate an amicable divorce and minimise the damage to the left, but at every stage John Rees and Lindsey German escalated tension and sought to damage Respect, once it became clear they couldn’t control it. At every throw of the dice the personal prestige of John Rees was prioritised over either the interests of the movement, or indeed even the interests of the SWP
They failed.
Although weaker than it was in some ways, Respect has survived, George Galloway continues as a barnstrorming and principled MP, and we are working for success in the next General Election.
The Left Alternative national executive has sacked John Rees, the author of the debacle. It is not clear at this time whether Lindsey – his partner – has resigned in sympathy or also been sacked.
The SWP’s Party Notes sent out the Left Alternative statement as an appendix on Monday, and suggests that the Left Alternative will be playing a more modest role in the SWP’s political operations. It is not yet clear whether John and Lindsey retain their positions on the SWP’s Central Committee, but even if they do they have diminished authority
This is excellent news. There are very many capable and principled socialists within the SWP, many of whom have real achievements to their credit in the workers movement. The antics over the last year or so have hindered the SWP from playing the constructive role it can achieve. It has also diminished the authority of some of its best militants by association with the Rees circus.
It is time for everyone involved in the Respect split to move on, work together where we can; work separately where we must; but all of us doing our utmost to spread the influence and effectiveness of left policies and ideals. The demise of John Rees will make that task easier.
Andy newman said,
September 12, 2008 at 2:41 am
I removed it becasue it was inaccurate.
As I said, i had a server problem that was preventing me getting my e-mail.
So I was relying on a couple of phone calls for my info, and had got the wrong end of the stick.
The article that I later put up is more accurate.
They were not sacked from the left Alternative, as I originally claimed, they were forced to resign from it by the SWP CC, becasue the CC decided that Rees and German should no longer head up their electoral work.
Andy newman said,
September 12, 2008 at 2:42 am
do you cache all my articles in case they change later?
Voltaire's Priest said,
September 12, 2008 at 6:42 am
We don’t read SU that often. Jim must’ve been bored
modernityblog said,
September 13, 2008 at 1:34 am
I read SU blog avidly, great place to watch a car-crash in progress, and sometimes, as if by accident, there are some half way decent political points raised
Nuke Matgamna said,
September 13, 2008 at 7:22 am
First the AWL now the SWP: farewell to cults.
charliethechulo said,
September 13, 2008 at 7:18 pm
This is interesting, though the source isn’t noted for accuracy:
http://splinteredsunrise.wordpress.com/2008/09/11/trouble-at-the-top-the-swps-palace-coup/