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From Socialist Worker, No. 121, 8 May 1969, pp. 2–3.
Transcribed & marked up by Einde O’Callaghan for ETOL.
AT THE NEXT General Election I suggest that the International Socialists run a parallel political campaign without putting up candidates.
The camppaign would use the usual methods of leaflets, meetings, posters, etc. and would be based on a manifesto-type document, stating our policy and exposing the nature of parliament within the capitalist state.
On election day we would have our own polling booths, preferably mobile and based on vans. We would invite electors to ‘sign for socialism’ (or some such slogan) by recording their name, address, and trade union. Our vans could be stationed outside the normal voting places or at factory gates.
Our ‘results’ could be announced at the count and later through the normal channels of distribution. They would also include many useful local contacts.
A systemlike this would be more positive than abstaining and would not involve us in investigating the suitability of Labour or Communist candidates.
Indeed it does not exclude people voting for these candidates if they want to.
This point may be important legally as interference in election procedure could result in prosecution over a technicality.
Another advantage of the scheme is that it does not involve us in the heavy expense of lost deposits yet enables us to take political action and make political propaganda that clearly shows our policies and differences.
Moreover it would be more effective than the conventional protest vote which is itself ensnared in the parliamentary process.
Our election statement should be a clear and straight-forward political document and should include quite specifically the socialist principles of rank and file control and re-call. This is fundamental in electing representatives in political – as well as the more essential industrial – areas of the class struggle.
I think it is important that IS begins to discuss the electoral issue now instead of being caught unprepared with the resulting confusion and conflicting actions at the election, whenever it is called.
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Alan Woodward, |
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Last updated on 16 January 2021