Archive for Alan Thornett
A contribution to the debate on the future of Respect
Respect needs to take itself seriously build itself as a fully functioning party with a comprehensive political platform, engaging in a range of activities. This is the only way to build a political alternative.
I agree with much of what Clive Searle (Respect National Secretary) says in his report on the election results […]
The current stage of the election campaign
The first two TV leadership debates — which were unprecedented 90 minute slots of primetime TV with a huge audience — have produced an earthquake in the election campaign. The Lib Dems surged by 14 points in the polls after the first debate and became the front runner in a Westminster election for the first […]
24Apr2010 | Alan Thornett | 2 comments | Continued
If Labour wins the election
Alan Thornett suggests an alternative programme for a Labour government
There has been a remarkable collapse of Tory support in the opinion polls since the end of last year. The Tories ‘bullying’ campaign against Gordon Brown largely misfired and their opinion poll lead has halved. The Lord Ashcroft scandal has not helped them either. There is […]
Fourth International declares itself ecosocialist
Alan Thornett reports from the sixteenth world congress of the Fourth International (FI) which was held near Ostend, Belgium, in late February. There were over 200 delegates, observers and invited guests from around 40 countries. The International brings together revolutionary socialists from around the world and Socialist Resistance is its section in the British state.
It was […]
SR: Respect and the General Election
The Socialist Resistance national committee on January 9 adopted this document by Alan Thornett to respond to Salma Yaqoob’s ideas about Respect’s strategy for the upcoming General Election.
The statement issued by Salma Yaqoob at the end of November, on the approach of Respect and of the left to the upcoming general election, is very useful. […]
An assessment of the Respect conference
The Respect conference could have been a very positive event. It was attended by over 200 members and was located in Salma Yaqoob’s constituency of Sparkbrook and Small Heath in Birmingham where she won 27% of the vote in the last general election and where she stands a very good chance of winning in the […]
23Nov2009 | Alan Thornett | 4 comments | Continued
An assessment of the Respect conference: Alan Thornett
The Respect conference could have been a very positive event. It was attended by over 200 members and was located in Salma Yaqoob’s constituency of Sparkbrook and Small Heath in Birmingham where she won 27% of the vote in the last general election and where she stands a very good chance of winning in the […]
23Nov2009 | Alan Thornett | 1 comment | Continued
For a United Challenge at the General Election: New SR leaflet
Despite the crisis of the thirty-year neo-liberal project, the three main parties are promising more of the same. All they have on offer is war, environmental destruction, unemployment, public service cuts, wage cuts, privatisation, racism, repression and surveillance and a lack of affordable housing for working people. Labour are putting in (inadequate) fiscal stimuli, whereas […]
5Nov2009 | Alan Thornett | 3 comments | Continued
The Respect conference, the crisis, and the general election
Respect could use its upcoming conference to get ready for next year’s elections.
The first priority of the Respect conference — which is to be held on November 14th in Birmingham — must be the launch of its election campaign. The most likely date for both the general election and local elections, in which most of […]
What kind of new organisation do we need?
This piece by Alan Thornett was published earlier this year as a contribution to our discussion on regroupment. The document was uncontroversial among those who have had a chance to discuss it and goes some way to establishing a framework for the constitution adopted by Socialist Resistance’s refounding conference earlier this month.
We need to start […]
Jack Jones - No friend of the union left
Jack Jones (March 1913 - April 2009) the former General Secretary of the Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU) died in April at the age of 96. He was general secretary for nine years from 1968 until 1978, writes Alan Thornett. During this period I was a prominent TGWU shop steward in the British Leyland (BL) Cowley […]
6Jun2009 | Alan Thornett | 1 comment | Continued
SR condemns police attack on Tamil protestors
The brutal way in which thousands of Tamil people, who had been demonstrating in Westminster for the last few days were dispersed last night by the police, should be condemned by all those who value human rights. Most of the protesters were refugees driven out by the conflict. It appears that 11 protesters were injured […]
19May2009 | Alan Thornett | 0 comments | Continued
ENA chant offensive slogan and ''EEDL'' while marching through peaceful independent shop area of Brighton.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aK7n-tP_4hM 
