the appeal for joint work is all the more regrettable because Big Flame has been one of the few organisations on the far left warch was consistently stated Is commitment to revolutionary unity.
What prevents the comrades from signing the appeal? The big rame auonar Committee agrees that need distinguish between revolutionaries and reformists on the basis of fundamental policies.
But it savs programmatic agreement isn't enough.
If Big Flame were to have its way, even before discussions could begin entering into joint work with the aim of regroupment - each of us would have to put up our hands for a common explanations of such problems as:
•Why many thousands of experienced revolutionary organisations as a revolving door...' or why there was a retreat in the class struggle in post-war penod .
Socialist Challenge has all along rejected an approach Socialist Challenge 8 February 1979 which places these kinds of preconditions groupment process can begin.
Since its launch, the paper has argued the need for a united democratic centralist organisation in Britain, in which through open and democratic these questions, and many others, could be discussed out. to While such issues important, and all have a place for debate inside a revolutionary organisation, it is utterly sectarian to refuse to unite with people who hold differences on questions other those around fundamental questions Far approach, the SING adopted position paraphrased Lenin's known point: "We should spell out our differences, order to further divide ranks, but in order to dissolve the divisions and unite'.
The record of the IMG in practice just does not add up to the sectarian picture Big Flame is trying to paint.
Today, the department discussing how to participate in ally re- the forthcoming World Congress of the national; and in several towns SWP are debating with the IMG on issues relaung to me kinds of The other questions that Big Flame considers should be a can be part of any regroupment debate we totally agree with.
We drew up the document called 'Our Common Ground' so that we could have the basis for discussion on such issues as *the type of strategy and tactics that are necessary in the conditions of sectarian class struggle has and which relationship between revolutwell- ionary organisations and the ALEOHUIEOUS BHUYCLECHLS our Big Flame has yet to state its forward in this document.
It's not only National wants unity on a basis that we would regard SWP WICE is closed to these debates.
Fourth Interconfirm the comrades Big Fame has Fourth Revolutionary?
traditional that Trotskyists revolutionary that conveyed by IMG's rigid revolutionary of post-war be used USTHSE He misrepresented. that the Big committee which still sectarian They consider a priori that the IMG example.
Several examples are used to "rigidity"
IMG. However, we believe that mis-read the article Can only Trotskyists be Campaign The argument it contained NUPE. was tar it is qure in une witn Trotskyist views might find themselves in a minority in a organisation!
Quite the oppose message from Big Flame.
Another proof cited of the approach is our orientation to the SWP. The worry is that the appeal might as a battering ram SWP. But the IMG's resolution on the SWP is take We have tried to make a very necessary.
secise characterisation of the We're certain that Big Flame will agree with us when we say that serious differences exist have be overcome concerning the views an organisation. of the SWP on the relationship autonomous movements, for This kind of debate has been possible thanks to the joint work that has been carried out hope Fine ANL, the Ford Workers' Group, and the for Action Sometimes it's difficult to get this kind of joint work off the ground. Socialist Unity is a case in point. Both the IMG and Big Flame have made appeal after appeal to get the SWP to drop sectarian approach in Unfortunately, sometimes the only way the SWP will listen DULCE is if the sheer weight of the forces involved makes them stock. That's battering rams are sometimes But is this sectarian on the part of the IMG? Far from it -the fight to involve the SWP in Socialist Unity starts from the rather broader concerns of the working class and not from the interests of the IMG as Big Flame wants joint work and debate but without conditions, it claims. We're for joint work as well, but in some of the areas proposed - in the ANL, UTOM and so on that Labour Party militants, CP members and a wide range of other militants will be involved.
But that's to dodge the real question about revolutionary unity. And for that, Big Flame does lay down condition: far-reaching ones.
Big Flame's course, we'll all be condemned to smail sects competing' for confused recruits; acung cross purposes; and all the have crippled British revolutionaries for too long.
Or we hope COLESC. continue the joint work and discussions Big Flame comrades.
But comrades, can you not see that had you decided to sign the joint appeal, we could have probably involved even larger numbers of militants in organised fashion?
Dodie Weppler, IMG Political Committee