This year the Scottish Socialist Party annual conference was in a village hall on the sunny, bright but breezy island of Arran for the last week end in March. One of the most important debates was considering, once more, the arguments about standing in this year’s Euro elections. Over the last year this has been part of a sub-agenda eclipsed by elections in Fife and Glasgow but now we had to make a final decision.

The fascist BNP are definitely going to offer a radical alternative to the neo liberal policies of Lib Lab Tories and Nationalists here.

Consideration was given to opposition as per mobilisation of labour movement campaign for a NO vote in 1975 Common Market referendum. There was a resolution to consider any offer of discussions with [the RMT's] ‘No to EU’ project. While this was attractive as a trade union initiative, it was seen as an undemocratic after-thought of a campaign that would have difficulty being differentiated from UKIP’s xenophobia. We also noted that only about 30% electorate turn out for EC elections.and the drain on our financial resources just as we are getting more stabilised after learning from the last two traumatic years. However we were also reminded that there was more to elections than votes and getting elected. We also have a campaigning socialist vision we can offer workers.

The preoccupation with party finances was clearly an important concern we are just beginning to emerge from two very difficult years with no MSPs amongst other problems.

This was all repeatedly contrasted to the ever deepening crisis of capitalism and the inability of any of the other parties to offer Scottish workers an alternative. We believe that we will have to make a broad appeal for people to give financial support to a socialist voice in these European elections and this was further confirmed by a guest speaker from the newly formed French NPA, New Anti-Capitalist Party. She recounted the rapid growth in membership as people wanted a different workers party and she also reminded comrades of the important process that the SSP had started in Europe while other comrades saw a presence in the elections as an important answer to those who thought the left had disappeared here.

Norman Lockhart Tweeddale &Scottish Borders