British Communist Party(s)

[Voice of the Revolution]

Having fairly recently confirmed my beliefs I am seeking to join a political organisation, preferably a communist pary. That is where I have run across difficulties. There appear to be two main partys, and one minor. I need advice on the strength of each, their manifesto's, and the differnces that divide them. (If my assumtions are wrong, please don't hesitate to correct me.)

[Ernestocheguevara]

VOTR, this is a toughie!! I will try not to be biased being as I'm a memeber of the Socialist Party(UK), there is a link in my signature to their homepage. What I did was to look at all the parties out there check out there web-sites read there Manifesto's and make an active decision based on the similarites between what I felt and thought and what the party felt and thought.

There are a few on this site that will deter you from joining a party at all! To these people, and to you, I would say "You can't start a revolution on your own it will take the cooperation of the vast majority of the working class in order to achieve this and nothing else!" :) Hope this helps.

PS Join the socialist party!!! :D :D :D

[Kez]

oh dear,

post your views, and get non-party members to say
we should have some sort of thread to solve this question which is best party

[Voice of the Revolution]

Oh, Ok. These are my views which I are relatively new and uncorrupted.

Constuctive Communism (Yeah, I know that Constructive Communism is a bit of a sound byte, but hey.)


The main principle of Constructive Communism is equality, true the principle of a hundred ideologys, yet it is the application of this principle which has failed a hundred times.

Some may argue that in the current society we have already achieved equality, for the vote, a right which many have suffered for the want of, enables the people to decide the rulers, and thereby the direction of the State. To my mind and interpretation however, this form of 'equality', is merely an illlusion. How is an abused worker, working ten hours a day completing menial tasks equal to the employer, whose idea of hard work is a six hour stint at the office pushing paper? This magic 'vote ' does not deliver equality, instead it serves a malicious purpose by making the worker think that they have achieved some measure of equality, and that the time for struggle has passed.

So how would Constructive Communism achieve equality?

The first aim is to end Capitalism. Capitalism is a system blatantly based upon corruption and cannot be 'fixed'. The so-called 'Free Market Economy' does nothing towards achieving freedom, indeed as a direct consequence it stiffles freedom, liberty and equality.

Democracy should continue, but in a purer, more refined form. There should be seperate elections for local M.P's and the Prime Minister, after all the person most likely to support your local needs is not nessercerily the best one to support your national intrests. Referendums should be held on all major issues, and the public should be able to pass an emergancy 'Vote of No Confidence' at any time during a P.M's premiership.

The media should be censored, but for moral rather than political reasons. There should be an end to blatant pornography in national newspapers, and the dropping of sleaze and the invasion of peoples privacy; many have taken thier own life or died as a direct result of media over-attention, examples being Princess Diana and Doctor David Kelly. No-one person should be allowed to own a newspaper, and certainly not a multitude of papers. Newspapers exert considerable powers over the people, and so should be monitered to eradicate irrisponsibility.

Politics should remain as they are. No party would be banned, despite their potentially abhorent views. I belive the quote 'I may not belive in what you are saying but I will die defending your right to say it' is most fitting.

Aslyum seekers should be treated with the utmost respect, the exact opposite of their currenct position. In contrast to the endless stories purpotrated by the gutter press, the majority of Aslyum seekers are fleeing persecution, and poverty is a form of persecution as dangerous as any other. The National Socialists talk of the importance of blood, that Britain was founded by white people and should remain so. If you are conserned with that though you should also talk about the forgotten secrets of ansestory. The British Empire, our ansestors persecuted and murdered the ansestors of those now fleeing. The Third World is in a mess today as a direct consequence of our ansestors actions, and it is time that we shouldered our responisibility for that.

The monarchy should be abolished. It stands for something abosolatly abhorant, indeed the absense of Equality and so should be destroyed as a matter of principle.


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Zanzibar]

http://broadleft.org/gb.htm

[Hegemonicretribution]

I guess I would be classed as one of those that would say not to join a party, but it is because I feel you can achieve more via other organisations. The truth is there is not really a large place for socialism in Westminster. However there are ways to chanel your beliefs that will have further reaching consequences. As much fun as it is being part of a party, it must be remembered that it is basically a glorified fan club. The parties do not appear to be making any immediate impact today.

I was also a little concerned over the strict regulation of media. I agree about ownership of papers, but I guess I hold political freedoms and civil rights as important factors in my little utopia. I am not sure if that would be popular with voters, or if any parties are along those lines. Then again I admit ignorance, as I have not checked manifestos for a long time....actually you inspired me.

[Saint-Just]

http://reds.linefeed.org/ukgroups.html

This has most of the left-wing parties in the UK. It is written by an individual who favours Trotsky though.

I would only recommend:
New Communist Party,
Revolutionary Communist Party of Britain,
Communist Party of Britain,
Communist Party of Britain (M-L) or
Communist Party of Great Britain
Socialist Labour Party (although it is declining)

[RedAnarchist]

congratulations for finding your political feet VOTR. Hopefully our forum will be informative and useful to you.
I would suggest reading communist literature (many books are recommended on this site) and learning the left-wing lingo. Remember that it is your belifes, and other people cannot force you to change them. Be proud of your views and defend them. :D

[Voice of the Revolution]

Thank you for your support, I have read a lot of my Grandfathers books (from the now defunct Left Book Club, printed by Vicktor Golansk), all of which are pre world war 2, but highly informative.

As regards to the 'censorship', prehaps I worded that incorrectly. I meant that we should have better standards with use and application of the media.

[redstar2000]

I suggest that you actually go meet some people in the different parties that you are considering.

Ask yourself, "Do I like these people?"

"Do they make me feel welcome?"

"Would I feel comfortable engaging in the political activities that they concentrate on?"

If the answers are positive, go ahead and give one a try and see how it goes.

But if you start to feel alienated and "used", don't walk, run to the nearest exit and don't look back.

Bad experiences in so-called "communist" parties have ruined tens of thousands of potential revolutionaries. Once they feel that they have been "burned", they conclude that "all" revolutionary activity and ideas are "shit".

Try not to let that happen to you. If things turn sour, just quit and move on.

:redstar2000:

The RedStar2000 Papers (http://www.anarchist-action.org/marxists/redstar2000/)
A site about communist ideas

[Ernestocheguevara]

Originally posted by Voice of the [email protected] 3 2004, 12:56 PM
Thank you for your support, I have read a lot of my Grandfathers books (from the now defunct Left Book Club, printed by Vicktor Golansk), all of which are pre world war 2, but highly informative.

As regards to the 'censorship', prehaps I worded that incorrectly. I meant that we should have better standards with use and application of the media.
I would seriously recommend you read some post WW2 literature!!! The cold war affected the world like nothing since and it pays to be up to date. I know some of it is a little daunting-to say the least- but it is worth it. Try looking into books on Cuba - the closest thing to a Socialist country the world has - North Korea and Russia -Post War- it pays to know what you are arguing about because a few on this site may rib ya for it otherwise! I said more or less what I thought above.

I wouldn't class parties as a 'Glorified Fan Club'hegemonicretrobution that's a little harsh! We are a bunch of like minded individuals who are trying their hardest to infiltrate the working class, local communities, trade unions etc. in order to aid them to unite and overthrow the Bourgoise in the name of Socialism, but trying to disspell the images that the media and government give out is not something that can come overnight they need educating on the alternatives to the shitty parties currently on offer and made to realise they hold the power not the fat cats, also they need to realise that although Socialism seems a little Utopian it IS possible and CAN work!

I will waffle no further-- :D

[guerrillaradio]

If you wanna be the "voice of the revolution", don't be pinned down by any party bullshit. Be your own man hombre.

(fuckin SWP... :angry: )

[Kez]

Originally posted by [email protected] 3 2004, 07:18 PM


(fuckin SWP... :angry: )
hahahah,

if theres anything u can do is just dont join the SWP, fuckin biggest cancer on the left

[TC]

I am an American WWP supporter.

I will be moving to the UK, probably Edinburgh but possibly London.

...would anyone know of a most similar party to the WWP active in either or both cities? I am aware of the New Communist Party being similar but I understand it is only in london.

[Voice of the Revolution]

*sighs* forgive my ingnorance please, but what is the SWP?

[Kez]

Socialist Wankers Party, sorry, did i say wankers? i meant workers.

[Voice of the Revolution]

And what is the heinious crime of SWP?

[Edelweiss]

Originally posted by Voice of the [email protected] 4 2004, 03:48 PM
And what is the heinious crime of SWP?
I can only speak about their German branch "Linksruck" here, but I suppose the SWP is just the same: They are (as many Trotkyist sects) trying to undermine and control every progressive/leftist organisation, event or rally they find, which is often totally preventing every constructive work which would help the cause. A few examples are the globalisation critical "Attac!" network here in Germany, or the youth organisation of the social democrats. They have a strict hirachy, formerly under their "great leader" Tony Cliff, which doesn't allows any form of opposition. Also, their structure is totally sectarian (simular to religous cults), members often have to donate large parts of their income to the party, and will get problems if they want to get out of the group, all members are instructed to recuruit new members.

[Saint-Just]

Originally posted by [email protected] 4 2004, 08:29 AM
I am an American WWP supporter.

I will be moving to the UK, probably Edinburgh but possibly London.

...would anyone know of a most similar party to the WWP active in either or both cities? I am aware of the New Communist Party being similar but I understand it is only in london.
I would say that parties you may like would be:

New Communist Party,
Revolutionary Communist Party of Britain,
Communist Party of Britain,
Communist Party of Britain (M-L) or
Communist Party of Great Britain

None of them are quite the same as WWP. Cassius Clay is a member of the New Communist Party. Both the NCP and RCPB are anti-revisionist and Hoxhaist.

[Edelweiss]

Originally posted by Chairman [email protected] 4 2004, 04:53 PM
Cassius Clay is a member of the New Communist Party. Both the NCP and RCPB are anti-revisionist and Hoxhaist.
Where is Cassius Clay anyway?

[Kez]

polishing Stalins grave after i pissed all over it and used his rotten tash to wipe my ass

[Ernestocheguevara]

The SWP are very Stalinesque in that questioning the party is forbidden and expulsion almost definite for such a heinous crime! (that's what I call freedom of speech!) You are literally Forced into recruiting others or face expulsion and everything from marches to stalls MUST be attended, or you once again face expulsion!

[Voice of the Revolution]

Surely that would dimish support for the Party? Ok then the SWP are off my christmas card list. By the looks of things the British Communist Party seems to be the strongest of the partys.

[Kez]

the CPB (the one you suggest) is a relatively good group, although is full of stalinists, they are much more sensible than many many other groups. Although it isnt a party i would choose, its a "nice" party.

VOTR,
read www.socialist.net our journal, see what you think.

By the way, the CPB got 2nd place in Student Uni election in Oxford which is pretty good, i could forward u his email if u wish

[Voice of the Revolution]

Yes, I would appreciate that Kez. I saw the article on the website (www.communist-party.org.uk) about the election, its a shame they can't translate that into parliamentry elections.

[Kez]

what part of UK you from?

[Voice of the Revolution]

Nottingham, kenneth clarkes constituency (sadly)

[Saint-Just]

I think it is a bit of an exaggeration to say the CPB is full of 'Stalinists'. I know one 'Stalinist' member. I think the CPB are good, but it annoys me that they criticise Mao. They are a big party though, relatively.

[Voice of the Revolution]

It claims to be a 'reform' party, which kinda dispells the image of stalinists. I like the image of a more moderate communist party, so at the moment it is appealing to me.

[BOZG]

I wouldn't even know where to begin with the SWP. For starters, some comrades have already mentioned the authoritarian structures within the party. They are also incredibly oppurtunistic and will constantly launch front groups, "such and such against war", "such and such against privatisation" etc, all dominated by the SWP. Any broad-left group that's been launched has been pretty much hi-jacked by the SWP. Unable to actually build themselves, they tend to try and link up with other groups and build on their work. They also take a very liberal approach to issues, watering down their programme and tending to make allowances for other groups, such as the Muslim Association of Britain for one, or another example is the new Respect Unity Coalition, a broad-coalition with a watered down programme in order to maintain some big names.

Also depending on whether you're a Trotskyist or not, they have no comprehension of the Transitional Programme and are extremely sloganistic, calling for all out revolutions at every drop of the hat without understand where peoples' consciousness is at.

The list of problems with the SWP is endless, I'm sure you could find some problem with them on every issue.

[Saint-Just]

Originally posted by Voice of the [email protected] 5 2004, 07:44 PM
It claims to be a 'reform' party, which kinda dispells the image of stalinists. I like the image of a more moderate communist party, so at the moment it is appealing to me.
As much as I remember, the CPB seeks to influence the Labour Party through the unions. I think this is probably the most effective tactic, however it will not create a far-left government. It may not be the best end but the means are probably more effective. Although, what it means is a one in a million chance rather than a one in a billion chance.

I would say the main problem with the SWP is that they are 'calling for all out revolutions at every drop of the hat'. I don't disagree with their other tactics. The fact that they force people to follow party line and try to dominate every other movement makes them and the whole left more effective.