The Socialist Party contests elections on the simple demand for socialism and not on a programme of reforms or even on the demand for socialism linked up with a programme of reforms. The Socialist Party has as its object the establishment of socialism. It is a revolutionary party based on the class struggle, and not a reform party. Holding that no amelioration of the workers’ condition can be obtained under capitalism that would be worth the amount of time and energy spent in working and organising to obtain it, the Socialist Party is opposed to the waste of such time and energy, and to the confusion involved in attempting to improve capitalism by means of reforms, thus obscuring the class struggle.
A party claiming to be socialist, but with a list of reforms or “immediate demands,” attracts reformers who are not socialists, and has a reformist and not a socialist electorate behind it. Even if such a party obtains political control it is useless for the purpose of furthering socialism.
While our organisation is opposed to a reformist policy the socialist delegate in Parliament or on a local council is not bound to vote against every particular palliative amelioration measure. The Socialist Party does not hold that the measures already taken or to be taken by the capitalists are all of them bound to be useless or harmful to the workers, or bound to impede progress towards socialism. Some legislation in the past, while assisting capitalists immediately or in the long run, has not been correspondingly harmful to the workers.
The Socialist Party holds that some of the measures brought forward by the capitalists owing to economic developments or owing to conflicts of interest between sections of the capitalists themselves can be used as weapons in the class struggle by the workers and by the socialist movement. That being the case, a socialist minority in Parliament or on a local council would be required by the socialists who sent them there to criticise from the socialist standpoint all measures brought before them (pointing out their futility in comparison with socialism and so forth), and to refrain from supporting, bargaining or allying themselves with any party for temporary ends, but at the same time would be required to vote for particular measures where there is a clear gain to the workers and the socialist movement in so doing. (The decision would, of course, be in the hands of the Party, and not in the hands of the individual.) It may be added that such measures are more likely to be put forward when socialism is imminent, and a frightened ruling class is striving to keep back the flood by making concessions.
The position which the Socialist Party has always taken up differs fundamentally from the position of candidates elected on reform programmes by reformist voters. In the case of socialists elected on a socialist programme, the decision lies with socialists, well able to judge the merits from a socialist standpoint. In the case of reformists (the Labour Party, for example) the decision rests with a party and an electorate which do not know and accept the socialist case, and are incapable of judging from the socialist standpoint.
In conclusion, we must emphasise that the object of the Socialist Party is the establishment of socialism. This purpose, in an organisation based solely upon the demand for socialism, and putting forward candidates on that and nothing else, cannot be forgotten or subordinated. Our policy, our organisation, and all our activities are governed by that objective. The question of voting for or against, or ignoring measures introduced by non-socialist parties, does not and cannot influence our policy towards the objective.
Our two candidates in this general election adhere to these principles. They are Andy Thomas in Folkestone & Hythe and Brian Johnson standing in Cardiff Central.
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