Marco Tesei, South East London Socialist Party
I am a no-longer-young new member of the Socialist Party! What made me join is not a simple question to answer. I felt complete disillusionment with Corbyn and the Labour Party after my experience of campaigning with Momentum in the 2019 general election. My time and energies were completely misinvested, I have since decided.
So I was on the lookout for a new, cohesive and – now that I had lost my faith in Labour as a champion of socialist policies – more radical organisation to throw my lot in with.
But why did I go specifically for the Socialist Party among the several Marxist parties and organisations on offer? That is much harder to explain. I knew about Militant, (the Socialist Party’s predecessor) its activities in the 1980s, and its role in getting rid of the hated Thatcher. That was a nudge in this direction.
But what really did it for me, was a cover-to-cover reading of an issue of the Socialist last November, held out to me enthusiastically on my high street by a smiling young person. What immediately jumped out from the pages was the collective but, at the same time, personal feel of the paper. Each article speaking clearly from a common viewpoint but also rooted in individual experiences of the workplace. I was impressed too by the number of people, many young, confident enough to contribute an article but also able to speak with such ideological clarity and passion. The plurality of voices, the unity of vision, the youthful energy – it all struck a chord with me!
This first impression of the Socialist Party has been reconfirmed for me on multiple occasions in the last weeks, both in meetings and in discussions with other members. In branch meetings, for example, everyone is made to feel easy and participation is high. No one’s contribution, however modest, goes unacknowledged or undiscussed. I have seen the beneficial effects of this not just in myself but in other new members who, from initial silence, have turned into fountains of voiced ideas once the democratic vibe has worked its magic on them.
The manner of more experienced members is characterised by persuasive argumentation based on careful analysis of concrete situations, whether it be reporting back on a particular picket line attended, or giving an extended talk on realistic strategies for socialists in the current British and international contexts.
A democratic, clear-headed and passionate socialist party – yes, definitely for me!
