The main SWP motion called for a London march on 5th April, a national day of action on 9th April and national march on 12th April in London, a day that is gaining support as a day of action internationally. It also called
for events at Easter and on Mayday, although these were less specified.

It was broadly agreed that the war was going to be a lot longer than the warmongers had been suggesting and that public opinion could change significantly once people realised that the war was not going to be quick and painless. Anti-war activists needed to be clear that we want to force the government out of the war rather than just protest about it.

It was suggested that anti-war groups could challenge local MPs that voted for the war - 326 Labour MPs, 80% of the total, voted for the war - to public debates in their constituencies. Another suggestion was to get one million signatures on a petition to indite Blair and Hoon for war crimes at the International Criminal Court - the United States doesn't recognise the court but Britain does, and overwhelming legal opinion suggests the war is illegal. Upcoming elections, particularly in Scotland where Labour face opposition from anti-war parties, provide a good opportunity to express anti-war disgust at the Labour Party.

People argued that national events and local actions reinforced each other and that it was important to do both. One delegate suggested the TUC general council's "unanimous opposition to imperialist war" was unprecedented and needed to be built on. There was little talk of direct action except a reference in the SWP motion, stating that "national demos are essential in
creating the political atmosphere in which direct action and industrial action can be successfully built".

One delegate suggested that the vast majority of Labour MPs had supported the war, despite many of them saying they would not without a second resolution. He also suggested that STWC's concentration on persuading unions
and their leaders to take action against the war had not paid off and that union involvement in anti-war activity had been minimal and was dwarfed by school students. In contrast, actions at Fairford has involved thousands in action which the STWC had repeatedly refused to build support for but which had enormous potential for clogging up the war machine. The chair responded by suggesting that the rebellion by Labour MPs and union anti-war activity
was "unprecedented", that STWC had always supported actions at Fairford and that the delegate's comments were "sectarian" and "deeply divisive". The chair agreed that SWTC would promote the weekend of action against bases on 5th/6th April.

While this committee certainly serves a purpose, it is not where decisions are made and has very little representation from local groups or from outside London. It is also clearly dominated by one view of anti-war
activities that doesn't really understand direct action. Still, some useful ideas - and they do organise big marches (in London...)

I hope that's useful.