Liz Davies resigns as Socialist Alliance leader

national | miscellaneous | news report Thursday October 24, 2002 17:21 by Bob the Party-Builder

Liz Davies, the figurehead leader of the English Socialist Alliance has just resigned in disgust at the behaviour of the SWP (which controls the SA). Below is her statement, the statement of the SA in response and comments from two of the handful of the remaining independent members of the Socialist Alliance. This comes two days after the Socialist Party left the Welsh Socialist Alliance after the packing of meetings by the SWP.

STATEMENT FROM LIZ DAVIES RESIGNING FROM THE SOCIALIST ALLIANCE
EXECUTIVE

As members of the Socialist Alliance executive are aware, I have
resigned as national chair of the Socialist Alliance and from the
executive. I have done so with deep sadness.

I feel strongly that minimum standards of accountability and probity
have not been upheld by some leading officers and members of the
executive. Under the circumstances, it is clear to me that I will not
be able to discharge effectively my duties to the members.

The premise of the Socialist Alliance was that individuals and groups
from differing political backgrounds and perspectives could work
together on a common political project. It was always clear that trust
among the elements of the Socialist Alliance, and in particular trust
among members of the executive and national officers, was essential to
this endeavour. As a result of recent events, I feel that trust no
longer exists.

I remain committed to contributing towards the development of a viable
socialist alternative to New Labour.

Liz Davies

October 21 2002

. . . with this . . .

STATEMENT FROM THE SOCIALIST ALLIANCE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE IN RESPONSE
TO LIZ DAVIES'S RESIGNATION

We very much regret Liz Davies's resignation from the national
executive. We greatly
appreciate the contribution she has made on the national executive and
as chair and
thank her for this. We welcome her continued commitment to building a
socialist alternative to New Labour, and we hope to continue to work
closely with her as a member of the Socialist Alliance.

As a result of Liz raising her concerns, the Executive has taken
urgent measures to deal with the important issues she has raised.
Those measures will be monitored and finalised at the November meeting
of the Executive, which will also initiate a period of open and
democratic discussion of the politics and operation of the Alliance
leading up to the Alliance's Annual General Meeting on 15 March 2003.

The Executive is looking forward to building on our excellent result
in the recent Hackney mayoral election. Local Alliances are already
active in building broad labour movement support committees for the
fire fighters, and the Executive decided to throw the whole weight of
the Alliance nationally behind this effort.

With New Labour taking an openly anti-union stance against the fire
fighters, the need for socialists to unite in a campaigning
organisation like the Alliance has never been more urgent. The
Alliance is also in the forefront of the anti-war movement in many
areas, and will be working to make sure that a clear and distinctive
socialist message is heard in this new and growing movement.

Lesley Mahmood and Steve Godward (joint vice chairs), Tess McMahon
(treasurer), Marcus Strom (nominating officer), Rob Hoveman (secretary
and campaigns officer), Will McMahon (membership secretary), Mark
Hoskisson (trade union officer), John Rees (press officer), Nick Wrack
(publications officer), Mandy Baker, (youth officer), Weyman Bennett
(race officer), John Fisher, Declan O'Neill, Alan Thornett and Martin
Thomas (executive members)

October 23 2002

. . . which really doesn't tell us what has really happened does it?
So, comrades on the "indy" list (non-aligned socialists inside the SA)
have been having a field day. Here are a few contributions . . .

There really are questions that need to be answered here,

1/When did the executive receive her resignation.

2/If it was at the weekend, why has it taken three days to inform the
membership.

3/What are the matters of probity and accountability comrade Davies
refers
to.

4/Is there a reason why the other independent members of the executive
chose
to keep quite, to date on this matter.

5/Her statement and the Executives reply could be read as stating that
she
has also resigned from the Socialist Alliance, Is this true?

6/This is the second resignation of a leading independent, Comrade
Church
went first, his resignation was quietly smoothed away, it is in no
ones
interest to do the same over Liz Davies, rumour and innuendo are the
curse of
political parties, open honest debate is the only way to stop it
developing.

[name removed]
Socialist Alliance independent

and . . .

Well this statement is about as clear as mud. What are the concerns,
in what way have minimum standards of accountability and probity not
been upheld? What are these recent events?
Despite the absurd response of the other members of the EC, who do not
even attempt to clarify matters for members - presumably they think we
are rank and file members of the SWP who receive information on a need
to know basis - we are entitled to know. Liz Davies rightly had a
reputation as a socialist member of the Labour Party's National
Executive before resigning. What is it that has forced her into going?
What we seem to be witnessing are the death throes of the Socialist
Alliance. Another monument on the road to sectarianism. The promise
of early days has not been fulfilled. To trump 12% in Hackney, when
it was less than their own local election results and probably the one
area in the country where the SWP has a resonance is just dishonest.
Maybe they could mention the 18% the BNP gained in Stoke's Mayoral
election, well outside Lancashire mill towns. To just to urge people
on to greater efforts is typical of those who cannot deal with an
issue straight and square. Maybe an explanation by the SWP of their
role in Wales would be useful or do they believe they are
unaccountable to anyone outside their own Central Committee?

[name removed]
Brighton & Hove Socialist Alliance - (not meeting for longer than I
can remember)