Sir, - My attention has been drawn to a report in your columns (October 4th) regarding a change of name by one of the Trotskyist groups, from Militant to the Socialist Party. It may interest your readers to know that the Socialist Party has existed for some years in Northern Ireland and that, while currently we do not have any branches in the Republic, we do have members at large throughout Ireland.
Unlike Militant, under any name, those who are socialists would argue that the term "socialist" defines one who aspires to an alternative social system; one who takes the view that capitalism, being a system based on the exploitation of the working class, can not be made to function in the interests of that class irrespective of the name or ideology of the political party that administers that system.
The term "Socialist" was first used by Robert Owen and, later by Marx who (with Engels) used it interchangeably with "communism". Between the two (Marx and Owen) there was, of course, a great divergence of opinion but they concurred on their view that socialism was a society of common ownership where production would be carried out co operatively and solely for use, and where distribution would take the form of free and equal access to needs.
It is unlikely that Militant in its new guise will be telling this to those from whom it seeks votes. On the contrary, it is more likely that they will be suggesting that the fault with capitalism is that it is not being run by Militant in one or other of its guises! It is an old story, peddled by Labourites and Leninists throughout the present century - much to the detriment of real socialism and the working class. - Yours, etc.,
Media secretary,
The Socialist Party,
151 Cavehill Road,
Belfast BT15 5BL.