Socialist Alternative (England, Wales & Scotland)

Socialist Alternative (England, Wales & Scotland) is a Trotskyist group in Britain, part of International Socialist Alternative. Socialist Alternative's goal is “To rid the world of capitalism and replace it with true democratic socialism".[1]

Socialist Alternative
ChairpersonCollective (National Committee)
Founded2019
Split fromSocialist Party (England and Wales)
Preceded byMilitant (1964–1991)
Militant Labour (1991–1997)
NewspaperSocialist Alternative
Student wingStudent Socialist Alternative
IdeologyMarxism
Trotskyism
Revolutionary socialism
Socialist feminism
Internationalism
Political positionFar Left
International affiliationInternational Socialist Alternative
Colors  Red
Slogan"Struggle, Solidarity, Socialism"
Website
socialistalternative.net

History

Socialist Alternative was founded in 2019 by over 130 former members[2] of the Socialist Party (England and Wales) who had either resigned or been expelled[3] as the result of a split within the Committee for a Workers' International (CWI), with which the Socialist Party had been aligned.[4][5]

The majority of the Socialist Party supported a faction that left the CWI to become the Refounded CWI (now known as the CWI). The minority supported what was initially called the CWI-Majority but, has been known since January 2020 as International Socialist Alternative.[6][7]

International campaigns

Socialist Alternative took part in the KazakhSolidarity campaign supporting protests in Kazakhstan at the beginning of 2022, also supported by a number of other left groups[8]

Covid-19

Socialist Alternative members took part in protests in 2020 related to the UK Government's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. During a protest in Manchester they criticised the government prioritising "private profit over public health" and demanded the government stepped in to support working people as the furlough scheme was being wound down.[9]

Trade Unions

The Salford branch of Socialist Alternative supported the strike of workers at the CHEP factory in Trafford Park. They argued that these striking workers needed to work together with Kill the Bill protesters against the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill and fellow strikers in the University and College Union.[10] Members of the Coventry branch have been active in supporting the strike of refuse collector drivers.[11]

Climate Change

At the COP26 conference in Glasgow, Socialist Alternative provided their part of a lively contingent from ISA on the demonstration. They described the conference as "a collection of hollow promises that still add up to a catastrophic 2.7C of global heating by 2100."[12][13] Spokesperson Danny said "We need to make sure that COP26 can hear the voice of the working class” [14][15]

Socialist Feminism

Socialist Alternative claims to be building the socialist-feminist wing of an emerging movement because it is the exploitative, unequal, sexist system of capitalism that provides the basis for gender violence.[16] As part of building this movement they organised a number of demonstrations.[17]

Publications

Apart from their newspaper they have also republished the classic work of revolutionary Marxism by Leon Trotsky, "Marxism in our Time". It has a new introduction by Hugh Caffrey.[18]

See also

References
  1. ""We will fight for every reform that makes workers lives better" – Socialist organisation to support protests and strikes in Salford community". salfordnow.co.uk.
  2. "Issue 1 feature: A new chapter for revolutionary socialism in Britain". socialistalternative.net.
  3. "Taaffe expels his majority". weeklyworker.co.uk.
  4. "The split in the Socialist Party". workersliberty.org.
  5. "Socialist Party split still unclear". workersliberty.org.
  6. "Continuing the Fight for International Socialism". socialistalternative.org.
  7. "Bureaucratic coup will not stop CWI majority from building a strong revolutionary socialist international!". chinaworker.info.
  8. "Picket of the Kazakstan Embassy, London 8th January".
  9. "Socialist Alternative at the People's Assembly protest against 'deliberate harm to workers in north'". thenorthernquota.org.
  10. ""We will fight for every reform that makes workers lives better" – Socialist organisation to support protests and strikes in Salford community". salfordnow.co.uk.
  11. "Catch-up on bin strike protest outside the Coventry council house". coventrytelegraph.net.
  12. "International Socialists mobilise in Glasgow for COP26 protests". socialistalternative.net.
  13. "COP26: Up to 100,000 protesters gather in Glasgow Green but Greta 'cancels'". The Scotsman.
  14. "氣候大遊行登場 民眾痛批英首相「偽君子」 | 國際焦點 | 國際".
  15. "Glasgow climate protest RECAP as thousands of activists march through city centre". dailyrecord.co.uk.
  16. "International Women's Day 2022: Join socialist feminist protest actions against gender violence and all oppression". socialistalternative.net.
  17. "International Women's Day demonstration in city to speak out against sexism and gender violence". leicestermercury.co.uk.
  18. Trotsky, Leon; Caffrey, Hugh (27 September 2020). Marxism in Our Time. Primedia eLaunch LLC. ISBN 978-1-63649-125-7.
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