SSP Special Conference 2008
More pictures from SSP Conference here>>
The Scottish Socialist Party held a highly successful Special Conference
over the weekend of 29/30th March to discuss changes to our constitution
and elected positions.
This was the culmination of 12 month long consultation process following
a Commission established to look at the SSP’s structures and constitution.
The conference was addressed by a Shelter striker, Aileen Orr from the Scottish
Independence Convention and also by Hilary Wainwright from Red Pepper who
spoke on the future of political parties and the need to avoid repeating
the mistakes of the past.
The way the conference was organised marked a radical departure from the
norms of the socialist movement with discussion starting in groups of 6 delegates
or so with a facilitator modelled on the participatory democracy and radical
education methodology that the SSP has been increasingly using over the past
2 years.
Following the discussion groups the 110 branch delegates came back together
for plenary sessions and voting, either with a traditional show of cards
or using Single Transferable Vote proportional representation on issues such
as the nature of the leadership of the party or the composition of elected
bodies.
While many of the decisions involved small changes to the wording of the
SSP constitution a number of highly significant changes were agreed underlining
the SSP’s reputation as a ground breaking socialist organisation.
The SSP will introduce 4 year fixed terms for National office bearers Executive
Committee members, spokespersons/office bearers and Regional office bearers
on a staggered basis from 2008, to avoid a situation whereby all national
office bearers and experienced EC members stand down together in 2012.
The party has agreed that the SSP will have two national spokespersons, one
male and one female to be elected in May 2008.
The party also unanimously agreed to preserve the rights of platforms within
the party, despite the wrecking tactics of the Socialist Worker and CWI platforms
prior to the split in the SSP in 2006.
Other changes agreed include a more flexible approach to student organisation
by the SSP’s highly effective student activists and that Point 2 of
the Aims and Principles of the party should be rewritten to include a clear
statement about women’s oppression. This will be drafted by the Women’s
Network and presented to Conference 2009.
The party also reaffirmed it’s commitment to producing Scotland’s
only socialist newspaper, Scottish Socialist Voice.
A special meeting of the SSP’s delegate National Council will be held
in May to complete the changes agreed
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To keep up to date with our campaigns check
out the website of the Scottish Socialist Voice, the weekly paper of the
SSP.
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