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14/09/2005
Forward Wales heads for oblivion
Forward Wales continues to implode after losing many of its leading activists including its sole councillor Dave Bithell, the National Secretary and International Organiser. Now the trade union organiser has quit.
The party's website has been "under construction" for the past four months - i.e. since the website organiser resigned - and members have just received their first written communication since the elections. It includes the minutes of the June 19 National Committee, which decided to change the name of the party from Forward Wales, the Welsh Socialist Party back to Forward Wales. Not only is such a move against the party's rules - changes to the constitution can only be made at annual conference - but it took place without any prior consultation with the membership, who had no knowledge that such a step was even being considered.
Those who quit are citing disagreements with the political direction of the party - specifically a secret deal party leader John Marek struck with the Tories to stand a spoiling candidate in marginal Cardiff North at the General Election - as well as the lack of internal democracy in the party.
They are also disillusioned with Marek's performance in the Assembly, where he has put more emphasis on his role as deputy speaker than campaigning for his new party and winning affiliation from unions such as the RMT.
More locally, there has also been dissatisfaction with Marek's handling of the crisis surrounding the planned redevelopment of Wrexham Football Club's stadium, in which he has openly aligned himself with disgraced former chairman Mark Guterman who is hated by fans.
The activists who have left are re-grouping locally in the Wrexham Socialist Forum and include a quarter of the party's candidates in last year's council elections.
Fewer than 100 members remain in the party throughout Wales and the number of activists has dwindled dramatically.
One of the party's founder members told SEReN: "Forward Wales was born from an alliance of former Labourites and socialists who were united in wanting to challenge Labour's unhealthy grip on Welsh politics. Differences over the national question were fudged - a fatal mistake with hindsight - but it also emerged that revenge and spite was a more powerful driving force for some of the ex-Labourites than any real desire to build a radical political alternative for Wales."
Forward Wales, which was almost exclusively concentrated in Wrexham and Clwyd South, managed impressive results in those areas in the council elections - standing candidates in more than half the borough's seats and gaining 23% of the vote. It also played a prominent role in campaigning against the sale of school playing fields and housing stock transfer, which Wrexham tenants rejected decisively.
The ex-member said: "The party was a very real threat to Labour in the north-east and had the potential to win over disillusioned left-wingers throughout Wales. But the party's dependence for its finances on John Marek meant it was vulnerable to an undemocratic clique surrounding him. This led to decisions on candidates being pushed through with no real debate or discussion - what Marek wanted, he got.
"There's no doubt Marek was very generous with his money - he stumped up many thousands personally to pay for the Assembly and the Westminster elections. But he failed to realise that real political change is based on building parties between elections - there was never any money forthcoming for that. The national secretary couldn't even get stamps to mail out to members at times!"
A picture emerges of key members quitting and many more peripheral members drifting away disillusioned with the party's failure to build on its early promise.
It's possible FW will limp on to the 2007 Assembly elections, partly because Marek can afford to fund another set of candidates and partly because Ron Davies wants a last crack at returning to political power. But a party that can't even stick to its own rules and keeps its few remaining members in the dark over key decisions does not have a credible future.
Attempting to build a party round a rebel ex-Labour politician ultimately proved to be a quick-fix solution that came unstuck. Respect should take note.
06:24 Posted in Cymru Fach | Permalink | Comments (15) | Email this
Comments
No surprises here. Speaking as a Green, I knew Backward Wales was in serious trouble the moment it took on board Klown Armstrong-Braun. He has no credibility locally, he was rejected as a candidate by the Greens (even we knew he was bad news) and only joined Marek in order to stand as a candidate in the last elections. FW has become a refuge for political failures and mavericks.
Posted by: bruce | 14/09/2005
Its pretty sad that all the lessons about democracy, grassroots involvement, political consistency and the need for a vision go by the wayside when the opportunity for a little fiefdom comes along. I suppose that can work when you are operating within the labour movement but when you are outside it the political rules are a lot harsher something Marek et al were unfortunately unable to see. Its not like there are no models for flourishing in what for some people is an unfamiliar environment. The SSP, Green Party etc. have shown what can be done and that it takes: hard work and time. Quick fix solutions do not work. Simple as that.
I also have to say that i am very disappointed but not surprised by the reaction of the left activists who have posted on this development in Urban75 etc. Childish celebration seems to be the order of the day. Our green friend adds to the marginalised culture of the left in wales. "Backward Wales" - yes very good for the playground we are forced to exist in. Unfortunately there are worse and more pathetic insults flying around. More analysis and less sectarian crowing would be nice.
Nice blog by the way although the link for Cardiff Alternative News is wrong - it should be org.uk not co.uk and I don't think the Cardiff Social Forum website will be up anytime soon.
Posted by: Jeff Baxter | 15/09/2005
Cheers Jeff
The CAN link has been corrected and I hope we can continue to debate in a more constructive fashion than the left in Wales has shown so far.
Posted by: seren | 18/09/2005
How close to the truth are your articles?
I read with interest about the supposed Forward Wales fall into oblivion. Is this true? Where do you get your information from? Is it from these activists who have left? I am a political analyst and yet there have been no rumours to say that Forward Wales is failing, actually it is the opposite. Close sources from the press have told me a whole different story to the one I have read. So who am I to believe. Is it these same 'activists' who have fed you this story? It seems to me that if you read between the lines you read something totally different. Naturally you have now got my interest as I will be following this story but if my instincts and press sources are correct then it will be viewed as today's news and tomorrows chip paper.
Posted by: clare | 20/09/2005
The Forward Wales article is largely a statement of fact. It's a fact that leading members including the only councillor have quit; that the name has been changed at a National Council meeting; the website has not been updated for five months; membership in Wrexham and South Clwyd has collapsed with no corresponding rise elsewhere.
The decision to stand a candidate in Cardiff North - Marek's assembly assistant - was made at the very last minute despite not having a single member in the constituency. A political analyst would wonder why.
If you believe the party is flourishing then you have a different source of information than I do. Feel free to enlighten us but I fail to see why a report that can be verified by a few phone calls should be dismissed just because it's new news. Ever heard of exclusives?!
Posted by: seren | 20/09/2005
As the former web secretary for Forward Wales I can confirm "Forward Wales heads for oblivion" is, as far as I know, true. On the Cardiff North election, Dr Marek wanted to stand a candidate there long before the elections and even hinted that the Torys would give us money on the quiet to help us stand. This wasn't taken seriously at the time, we were having enough trouble geting candidates to stand in Wrexham, South Clwyd and Caerphilly. Then at the eleventh hour, a candidate was found and with no consultation she was standing.
The question must be asked why Cardiff North? We were far more likely to get a good vote in a safe labour seat as the result in Merthyr shows.
I am reliably informed that the Torys supplied Forward Wales with information regarding target areas for leaflets. It is my belief that the decision to stand in Cardiff North was based on spite rather than any sound political analysis and the relationship between Dr Marek and the Torys is a symptom of something deeper.
From what he said prior to the election he definately thought a grand coalition against Labour was on the cards and he was to be a minister. This was again done without consultation. Fortunately Plaid seem to have put a stop to any coalition that includes the Torys.
If we are going to learn anything from this experience, it is that we must always keep the closest of scrutiny on our elected representatives, people in elected positions are often isolated from the people that put them there; and end up having more in common with other MPs or AMs than their own party members. Being sold out by your leadership is an age old problem. Lets hope we won't get fooled again, although we probably will.
Posted by: Maurice | 21/09/2005
Maurice, so a name finally to the terrible web site that Forward Wales had. No wonder it has been closed. I am surprised mate you put your name to that.
As far as the oblivion stuff... it just seems like sour grapes. We in the know, know who you are and to be honest, nobody is listening. But now you have gone on record with the above and involved the Tories all I can say is, be careful what you put in writing because it is always there to come and kick you up the arse!"
Posted by: peter | 21/09/2005
As Peter is "in the know" he will know that the Forward Wales website was withdrawn by myself when I resigned. Generally the web site had a very positive response, the only exeption was a clique centred around Dr Mareks payed employees.
As for the oblivion stuff I don't see it as "sour grapes" just a point of information. Let what I say come back and kick me up the arse if it may. What happened happened and Dr Marek and the press know who I am and I stand by what I have said.
Peter on the other hand is not so forthcoming. What is his interest in trying to talk down Dr Mareks collabiration with the Torys? Is his Job at stake here? He knows who I am; but who is he?
Posted by: Maurice | 22/09/2005
I am a socialist like you maurice but with a lot more common sense. I do not work for Dr Marek, am not a member of forward Wales and I don't need to be to make a comment like the latter.I am neither a member of the Tories as I said I am a socialist.
What are you on about 'what is my interest in trying to talk down Dr Marek's so called collaboration with the Tories' isn't this what your web site is for? or is it just to have your say and nobody allow to comment and disagree with you. which is it maurice? can you not help yourself but to accuse people?
What I am careful of though unlike you maurice is what to write and what not to write. If you are going to make wild accusations about another political party especially one you have just left at least have the intelligence to cover your tracks. You cannot go making statements like the one you made about money possibly exchanging hands without the sound, solid and failsafe evidence, not hints and I am reliably informed, and by who another 'activist who has left the party?' it just makes you sound like a fool and probably a desperate one from what I have read so far from you and your mates, who is grasping at straws.
As far as 'your web site' is concerned, well maurice, get your head out from your ego. From someone who does it for a living your web site was an embarrassment to forward Wales and I am surprised it was allowed to stay on for so long, If you go on Google.com you will see enough who agree with me.
Your last sentence, maurice you really are making me laugh, am I talking to a child here or a man or is it just you maurice? You are not worth my effort or time.
Posted by: Peter Thomas | 22/09/2005
Personal comments aside comrade, you still have to ask yourself, WHY did Marek put a last minute candidate in Cardiff North?
Posted by: Maurice | 23/09/2005
Could you tell me who exactly is seren; who runs it, who is the seren editor?
Posted by: clare | 23/09/2005
Seren was set up a couple of years ago as a monthly tabloid newspaper by a group of people wishing to reflect the anti-war and other struggles. We are - as the name explains - socialist, environmental and republican and it attracted cross-party support.
Financial and technical constraints mean that we are currently publishing on the internet. That's life.
Posted by: seren | 23/09/2005
Thanks, but it didn't really answer my question.
Posted by: clare | 23/09/2005
Why make a fuss about Political betrayals? That is the nature of all politicians. Democracy is a dirty big con trick that enabled Bush to thieve the Florida then the Ohio vote, and in the UK enables Fascsists to lead the Labour Party.
Those who call themselves socialists had better define the term. Are they supporting the betrayal of the 1920s when the Labour party went for Nationalisation? Or are they aware of the Anti-Parliamentarian root that was bringing the idea of Socialism to Wales back around 1890, used "The Miners' Next Step" to empower the Fed, and was betrayed by the TUC in 1926.
Look out for "Anti-Parliamentary Passage: South Wales and the Internationalism of Sam Mainwaring (1841-1907)" By Kenneth John. Unfortunalely, there has been so little support for Plebs' College that it is not yet available on the Educational CD.
Posted by: Ilyan | 26/09/2005
Are you Marc Jones of Wrexham? Are you the editor of seren? Do you also go by the names of: Bruce, Mike Davies, LewisLewis or Lewis.
On the whole, you write some good stuff.
But it will be interesting to see if my comment stays on this page.
Posted by: clare | 27/09/2005
The comments are closed.