[Marxism] SWP Membership figures/Poll Tax

[mike pearn]

Richard wrote "The SWP claims those figures, and those
figures are accurate and I know themto be so.  Your
basis for not accepting them is that you personally
seefewer of them about than in 1987, and that one
person told you of a poorly attended branch meeting. 
Forgive me if I don't find such impressionism a
particularly impressive riposte."

I'm sorry to have upset you Richard. But the truth is
that in the area I discussed there was a branch of
over 60 15 years ago and today all that is left at
very best is a score. The meeting concerned was an
internal meeting btw which my friend a long time
ex-member was not asked to leave which is itself
suggestive. My 'impressionism' regarding the SWP and
the numerical and qualitative decline of its
membership is pretty common outside the ranks of the
group itself.

In reply to Einde's comments regarding the poll tax
and the SWP's role in fighting it I note that in
Scotland the group totally missed the ball many
comrades paying the tax itself. As was documented at
the time in the Internal Buletins. In England and
Wales I note that the SWP's line of Don't Collect
appeared to be ultral-left to many in the campaign and
lost us support. I happen to believe it was the
correct slogan, in conjunction with the Don't pay
slogan, but that we fought for it very poorly on the
ground. Basically the SWP then and now cannot work in
coalitions which it lacks control of.

best

Mike Pearn.


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