Democratic discussion, debate and decision-making

National congress 2006:

Democratic discussion, debate and decision-making

The Socialist Party’s national congress is taking place in Skegness
over the three days Saturday 11 February to Monday 13 February 2006.
Socialist Party branches throughout England and Wales are electing
delegates this month to send to the congress. Branches are also
discussing the congress documents and resolutions, which assess the
recent and present political situation in Britain and the key tasks our
party will face over the coming months.

Judy Beishon

The first congress session will be a political discussion on Britain,
but will include points on the important background of world relations,
world events and the world economy.

This discussion will be based on a British perspectives document that
was sent to all branches at the end of last year, together with a
document entitled A new stage of world capitalism and the international
workers’ movement agreed at last November’s meeting of the Committee for
a Workers’ International (CWI) International Executive Committee (IEC)
which is available at
www.socialistworld.net

The second session will be on the campaign for a new mass workers’
party recently initiated by the Socialist Party. With the existing main
political parties being almost indistinguishable in their support for
more privatisation and attacks on workers’ living standards, we believe
it is urgent for us to step up this campaign and devote time on our
congress agenda to discussing how it can be developed.

Sessions will then follow on the essential task of building our
membership and finances, and on our work in the trade unions,
workplaces, universities, colleges and schools. Resolutions covering
these issues were agreed by our national committee meeting on 7-8
January 2006 and will be discussed and voted on by the congress.
Branches can also put forward their own resolutions on any issue.

It has also been decided to propose the launch of a campaign at the
congress to increase our sales of the socialist. A specific session has
therefore been placed on the agenda to discuss this, and a national
committee resolution will be presented to help the discussion focus on
the detailed tasks that such a campaign will involve. The congress will
end with a report and discussion based on one of the political sessions
from the CWI IEC.

Democratic discussion, debate and decision-making are regarded as
extremely important in the Socialist Party. The political and
organisational foundations of our work over the next year will be
decided at the congress, with all decisions being taken by the vote of
branch delegates. The branch delegates are democratically elected by
party members at their local branch meetings. Congress delegates will
also be electing a new party National Committee.

There will be some space for party members to attend the congress as
visitors if they would like to come but are not elected as delegates.
All members should consider coming, as the event is likely to be very
inspiring, interesting and informative.

Contact your party regional organiser or our national organisation
department on 020 988 8777 if you are thinking of attending, and for
details of the cost and other arrangements.