There is a discussion in University of London Union about the Socialist Party's 'Socialism 2013' event, which takes place at ULU the weekend of 2 November.
The discussion is taking place because of the controversy surrounding the Socialist Party's response to allegations against RMT official Steve Hedley, then a member of the SP (for more details about the case and the SP's response, see the Women's Fightback blog here).
Some on the ULU executive advocate cancelling the SP's booking for rooms at ULU.
Obviously it is up to ULU's democratic structures to decide. We understand why some in ULU advocate cancelling the booking, and want to debate the issues in a comradely spirit. But we also want to put on record that we oppose cancellation of the booking, that our comrade Daniel Cooper (who is ULU Vice President) will vote against it, and that we will seek to persuade others to oppose it too.
We do not think this is a disagreement about how seriously the issues involved should be taken. Workers' Liberty has consistently raised the issue of how the left and the labour movement should deal with sexism, including around this particular case. But we do not want a culture where political problems in the movement - again, the SP's behaviour here and the politics underlying it are undoubtedly a massive problem - are dealt with through bans and shutting down events rather than through political argument and struggle. Such argument and struggle is in any case the only way of effectively tackling these issues.
(We took a similar stance on the SWP's 'Marxism 2013' event, which also took place at ULU - see this article for much more detailed arguments explaining why, most of which are applicable here too.)
We instead advocate that ULU puts out a statement on the issues and intervenes in the event to discuss with Socialist Party members and others in attendance.
