Workers Socialist League

Socialist Press, Trotskyism Today and the Trotskyist International Liaison Committee, 1975–1984

[that time a Central Committee member of the…]

Socialist Press no. 7, 1 May 1975 · scan p. 3 · about 728 words

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that time a Central Committee member of the WRP, set out to bring abou a discussion within that party on the wrong positions being taken by the committee agreed to circulate a document written by comrade Thornett. containing a statement of his differences, and to arrange a 'full and free discussion within the party prior to the first annual conference. That free discussion never took place. Anyone who in any way supported the rapid development of the economic crisis and the forward movement of the working class all over the world, which has since escalated to an even more rapid development, began to produce the conditions bulld Yet it was precisely in this period that the WRP began to decline in all its areas of work. It was this decline more than any other factor which raised questions which led to an examination of the nolitical positions of the WRP leadership and to Alan Thornett's documents. As the split emerged, the sectarianism of the WRP, its departure from the Transitional Programme, and the way its maximum programme isolate To understand the response to comrade Thornett's document in the WRP it is necessary to recognise the period we are now in. The defence of jobs through the night for the sliding scale of hours without loss of pay the defence of living standards through the fight for the sliding scale of wages related to rising prices; the challenging of the employer and the preparation of the struggle for power by the fight to open the books and establish workers control in the fight for nationalisation under workers" management; are now called for in this situation in the form of a programme of transitional demands which will form a bridge between the present consciousness and struggles of the working class to the need to take power. Yet the WRP right up to the opening of the discussion by comrade Thornett had never seriously fought for any of these demands. Instead it restricted itself to the sterile maximum demand "nationalise the economy The impossibility of any kind of opposition within the WRP forced us to found the Workers Socialist League as an independent organisation which will maintain and fight LO develop the traditions and principles of Trotskyism. We are continuing to maintain a critique of the WRP leadership, but most important to us now are the new developments in trade union work and new areas opened up by our break from WRP methods. We are now turning to recruit and train the new forces thrown forward into struggle in this period not only trade unionists, but also protessional workers, housewives, students and youth - in the fight to We have shown already that we continue to fight against all forms of revisionism - whether the state capitalist theories of IS or the Pabloite revisions of the IMG, and against Stalinism and reformism. Already it is clear that our struggles for Trotskyism in Britain take place under conditions which must create similar splits and discussions throughout the world. For this reason the WL is now engaging in a process of internal discussion prior to a full founding conference, a vital part of which is to hammer out and adopt perspectives for the building of the Trotskyist Fourth International. and the development of revolutionary parties based on the Trotskyist resources to begin regular publication of Socialist Press just five weeks after provisionally constituting the Workers Socialist League. Already the paper is winning important new contacts and establishing a firm base in the workers movement as the organiser of a Trotskyist party of considerable The Workers Socialist League was formed on December 22nd. 1974 after over 200 members were expelled from the Workers Revolutionary Party.

The reason for the expulsions was that Alan Thornett, who was at Healy leadership and the Workers Press.

The issues were first raised on the Central Committee, and that document was expelled.

This split was product of particular political conditions. The revolutionary parties.

the WRP from the working class became clear. without compensation under workers control' construct the new party.

Programme in every country in the struggle to end capitalism.

We were able to assemble the necessary political, editorial and material political strength.

vould like more information abou t the VORKERS SOCIALIST LEAGU OMPLETE THIS FORM AND SEND TO: , Dartmouth Parl: Fill, London NW5 1HR Name..

Address..

← Contents of Socialist Press no. 7, 1 May 1975