Crisis in British SWP continues with resignations

FAO the Central Committee of the Socialist Workers Party

We, the undersigned, are writing to you to inform you that we can no longer remain in the Socialist Workers Party. The organisation’s tradition of fighting women’s oppression has been seriously undermined by the handling of a number of rape and sexual harassment allegations by the Disputes Committee and the Central Committee and the crisis of democracy and accountability in the party this has laid bare.

The SWP leadership has done everything it can to silence members’ genuine concerns on the matter including:
·         Expelling four comrades for discussing concerns about how the rape allegation was handled
·         Gerrymandering and abusing bureaucratic measures in conference, aggregates and district meetings;
·        Sitting back whilst the Central Committee supporters have bullied the complainants, their supporters, and any
member of the opposition.

We are not prepared to accept or abide by the decisions of the special conference. The conference is a bureaucratic victory which will only lead to the demise of the SWP. The reputation of the SWP in the movement is irreparably damaged as a result of the handling of these complaints by the Disputes Committee and the leadership’s determination to protect one member rather than to develop a clear perspective on rape and consent. 

The SWP leadership have utterly failed to uphold the organisation's core principles of women’s liberation. This is corrosive to the party and thus it is not in spite but because of our commitment to the struggle that we feel forced to leave in order that we can remain committed socialists who can build militant activity in our workplaces and communities. We will not put the party before the class, or the organisation before our principles.

We stand in solidarity and comradeship with those who remain in the party and attempt to save it, but we can no longer do so.                        

In solidarity,

Adam F, Brixton
Aidan B, Sheffield North
Alaina B, Sussex & Brighton
Alan R, Edinburgh
Alex A, Oxford
Alex W,  Leeds Central
Alice B, Edinburgh
Alice S, Leeds Central
Alistair H, Sheffield North
Amy N, Cardiff
Amy A, Oxford
Andrew B, York
Andy L, Hackney East
Ashleigh F, Bristol North
Ayan C, Bristol North
Brian C, Bradford
China M, Brent and Harrow
Chris B, Sussex & Brighton
Danny J, Manchester City Centre
Darren H, Bradfor/Leeds Met UCU
Dave M, Brixton
Emma R, Norwich
Emma W, Oxford
Gill T, Walthamstow
Glenn D, Newcastle
Gonzalo P, Euston
Hannah E, Sussex & Brighton
Hester D, Leeds Central
Holly S, Walthamstow
Ian S, Hastings
Jackson B, Sheffield
Jake D, Tottenham
Jake P, Euston
Jamie A, Euston
Jamie, P Tottenham
Jen I, LSE
Jenny M, Hackney East
Jessamie F, Sussex & Brighton
Jessica R, Wandsworth & Merton
Joe R, Portsmouth
Joe W, Portsmouth
John G, Euston
Joseph B, Kent
Jules A, Liverpool
Kat B, Cardiff
Kieran C, Camden
Kris S, Wandsworth and Merton
Kristina I, Sussex and Brighton
Lewis P, Sussex and Brighton
Liam H, Gravesham/Medway Branch
Linda R, Edinburgh
Mark H, Hornsey & Wood Green
Martyn C, Sussex & Brighton
Martin P, Sheffield
Matt H, Sheffield South
Matt H, Bristol North
Mike R, Brighton
Miriam J, Manchester
Naomi J, Canterbury
Nathan A, Oxford
Nick F, Liverpool
Nick W , Brighton
Nicole L, Brixton Branch
Penny S, Oxford
Pippa G, Liverpool
Raymond W, Edinburgh Branch
Richard S, Hornsey & Wood Green
Richard T, Bristol East
Roisin B, Sheffield North
Rowan L, Brixton
Ryan H, Liverpool
Ryan P, Brighton
Sam B, Bristol North
Samuel G, Islington
Sarah W, Portsmouth
Sophie S, York
Stacey M, Nottingham/Glasgow
Stephen B, York
Steven S, Liverpool
Tom M, Leicester
Toni M, Bristol South 
Will R, Canterbury
Will T, Lancaster

We realise others have left already since January Conference and many more will leave in the coming days and months. All are welcome to add their names to this statement, please email swpresignation@gmail.com

For the source and further information : http://internationalsocialismuk.blogspot.co.uk/

Note: The publishers of this blog hope that all socialists will be able to learn lessons from these developments that will strengthen all of us and the ideas of socialism among the working class. With this in mind, we have reposted the January 30 statement of the Workers International Network on the crisis in the British SWP: 
 http://weknowwhatsup.blogspot.com/2013/03/win-statement-on-crisis-in-british-swp.html