the important thing is to be independent of center / left (ish) parties that seek state power (Labour in partic), and those others who trail them (SWP the main culprit here). Certainly, all independent groupings should be preparing to challenge the entire social order, which of course neither labour or the swp actually do...

The SWP is hardly comparable to New Labour, in either its politics, its influence or its ideals. In what sense do you believe it does? I'm for one, getting sick of this constant bickering on the left. All I hear is that whenever something goes wrong- it was the SWP types that ruined it. But whenever something goes right the SWP are just jumping on the bandwagon. You can't have it both ways. You only seem to want a united front whenever you want the SWP for their finance/ demo fodder. Make up your minds as to whether or not they are a legitimate body of people fighting for a different world(s) or whether they are part of the establishment- and by extension working to maintain the class structure. I for one find the latter hard to believe.