*Trigger warning- rape and sexual harassment.*
It has come to our attention that Martin Smith – who resigned from the Socialist Workers Party following rape and sexual harassment allegations – is now based in the Social Work department at Liverpool Hope University.
The accusations against Smith were covered up by an internal investigation from the party’s disputes committee. This was set up by the central committee – a body largely consisting of Smith’s friends – who at this point were referring to him as “Comrade Delta“. The specifics of the case and the handling of the case can be read here, here and here.
However, to summarise, not only were the survivors disbelieved and their cases not heard, but party leader and academic Alex Callinicos claimed that the party – and the wider movements of the working class generally – were being damaged by what he termed “creeping feminism“.
A faction was formed in opposition to the central committee, which led to the expulsion and resignation of dissenting members.
Martin Smith resigned from the party in July, after spending several weeks in Greece ‘researching’ for the party’s front campaign Unite Against Fascism.
Over the summer, there were rumours online that the children of party founder Tony Cliff were asking SWP members to donate to a fund for Martin Smith to study an MA.
It now seems that rather than have an educational ‘break’ funded directly by the SWP, Martin Smith has been awarded a funded PhD in the Social Work, Youth and Justice Department of Liverpool Hope University, which happens to be headed by fellow SWP member and Preston Councillor Michael Lavalette.
If Smith were searching for sympathetic academics to shelter him, Callinicos may have been a too obvious choice, while Lavalette might just have been expected to slip under the radar of ‘creeping feminism’.
Though the levels of student activism at Hope are depressingly low, the same is not true for feminist activism in the wider city. We have also been made aware of a poster campaign which took place at Hope last night, with the aim of informing female students of the danger on campus.
This is a danger which Professor Lavalette, as head of department, bears responsibility for bringing to Hope, in a department which is supposed to have welfare as its primary concern.
The University have chosen to take on Martin Smith, despite the coverage of the case in the national press. This is arguably a significant breach of their duty of care, and will massively harm the University’s image. We call up on feminist activists nationwide to ensure that this man is unable to remain either at Hope or in in activist circles.
If anyone would like to get involved in building a campaign, please contact Delta.Removals2013@gmail.com
AWOL is a feminist group that meets in Liverpool on the first Monday of the month
AWOL 
AnarchoBastard
21 October 2013
Reblogged this on Anarcho-bastard.
fullcommujism
21 October 2013
Reblogged this on FullCommujism and commented:
SWP Rapist Shitbag Martin Smith Given a funded PHD and teaching post at Liverpool Hope Uni.
Stroppybird
21 October 2013
Hi , it’s not that I don’t believe this, I do . But is there some solid evidence around the role of the SWP in this ? They will deny it . I’d like to be able to strength the arguments around this . Do we also know what the PhD is in, given the dept it’s quite concerning.
John Mullen
21 October 2013
This page is libellous
uplandtrout
21 October 2013
I see that Lord Acton has sent out one of his flying monkeys…
marian moreorless
21 October 2013
You might be correct John Mullen, so let’s see if Martin Smith or Prof Lavalette sues. Or rebuts the allegations.
Ned
21 October 2013
‘Survivors’? As in ‘Holocaust survivors’?
Anna
21 October 2013
As in rape survivors.
Zelig
21 October 2013
Has this man been found guilty of any crime? (Sincere question.)
luther blissett (@Blutherlissett)
21 October 2013
“This page is libellous”… It is a matter of public record that he has been accused of rape, This article does not say Smith is a rapist, just that he has been accused of rape. So how is that Libellous? The Guardian and Daily Mail have also reported on the case! Wake up John, and have another look through your ladybird book of law!
Elfin Artenius Brook
21 October 2013
Actually, the article more than sugests that he has commited the crime by using terms like ‘survivors’.
He may or may not have commited that crimes he stands accused of, but this article is an absolute discgrace
Concerned onlooker
21 October 2013
Actually you will find that neither the Daily Mail not the Guardian report the name of ‘Comrade Delta’. Nor do they name the accusers. The purpose of these articles is to report on concerns about the practices of the SWP not to make judgements about an individual’s reputation.
That is why these articles are not libelous while this one arguably is. The individual names in this article has not been accused of an offence in the way that we would normally understand such an accusation to be made. He has not been, to the best of our knowledge, questioned or charged.
I would recommend taking this article down right away. Anyone sharing it it with other people is potentially guilty of libel and deserves to be taken for every penny they possess.
Natasha
14 May 2014
“Anyone sharing it it with other people is potentially guilty of libel and deserves to be taken for every penny they possess.” Bullshit. Simply not true. Read up on the Single Publication rule. Anyway, this isn’t at all libellous. For it to be, there’d have to be substantially more than what has already been reported in the press. Now that we’ve established everything you’ve said is utter trollop, can I ask why no one is getting more angry about Alex Callinicos? The worst thing is how this was dealt with and we simply mustn’t be rushing to these men’s defences so quickly. I notice that the comments are quick to defend Smith and quick to ignore Callinicos and even quicker to generally discredit/ignore the survivors’ experiences. And yes, we are survivors. Men have no right to dispute the label we choose to give ourselves.
Elfin Artenius Brook
21 October 2013
Given the lack of citation, and acidic tone to this article, one could be forgiven for assuming they were reading some trash article from the Daily Mail… Sadly though, this isn’t the case. With its lack of chronology, poorly choiced wording and generally bad composure, this article severely discredits the feminist movement.
Regardless of the fact that the crimes may have been committed, using an aggressive tarnish campaign in order to get a point across is a pretty low blow by all accounts.
Feminism is more intelligent than this
Concerned onlooker
21 October 2013
The standard of journalism on the Guardian website is shocking. At no time do they suggest that actually either the SWP or the alleged victims ought to have spoken to the Police. Political parties have no jurisdiction to try rape or indeed any serious offence. The claim that someone failed to report a rape because they feared being kicked out of a political party is a stunningly stupid admission to make. There are all sorts of understandable reasons why someone might not want to report a sex crime but this isn’t one of them and for this to go unchallenged by a journalist makes the rest of the piece laughable. Whatever a kangaroo court did or did not decide the victims can still report the matter to the Police. Until, they do then we should. to be deciding the guilt of someone who has not been charged with anything. Jullian Assange was found guilty by liberal opinion even though he is only wanted for questioning and has not actually been charged. This individual is not even wanted for questioning as far as the information published here goes.
If a university denies him the opportunity to study or work on the basis of allegations from people who won’t even go to the authorities then they would be guilty of discrimination.
I am not a member of the SWP or any political party or organisation.
Morten
21 October 2013
I’m not in the SWP or anything, but isn’t it rather dubious to make such a campaign against an individual if he hasn’t been convicted for anything? I mean, if the woman concerned is holding up the claim (and it’s pretty obvious that she does), she should make an official dennouncement at the nearest police station.
Otherwise anyone can make a claim for the rest of his/hers life and simply ruin another individuals position. The idea of a “special” socialist justice is just ridiculous and its a real pitty that the matter hasn’t been investigated seriously at the police
Laia Odo
22 October 2013
Well, it seems the trolls are out in force today. I’m now moderating comments on this post because my understanding is that it was published for information rather than discussion. I’ll only let through comments that ask a genuine, relevant question or add information not covered by the article. I apologise for not getting to it sooner, but contrary to popular opinion we at AWOL do more than sit around on the internet all day.
There’s an e-mail provided for those who wish to get involved, and anybody else with strong feelings on the matter is no doubt perfectly capable of crying themselves a Freedom-of-Speech river on their own blog. The legitimacy of complaints made against “Comrade Delta” (what a stupid codename, by the way) is not up for debate here.
To anybody concerned about libel: Other than the appointment to Hope University, this post tells nothing that was not long since in the public domain. It does not name survivors.
To anybody who didn’t know that “Comrade Delta” was Martin Smith: Welcome to the internet.
To anybody concerned about citing sources and journalistic integrity: Funny you didn’t mention that one of the links was broken. Almost as if you didn’t even bother to follow them. It’s fixed now. You’re welcome.
To anybody concerned about the legitimacy of rape claims not made to the police, or not being tried in a court of law: Do you know what, I wrote a lengthy response to this but it comes down to get yourself a clue. If you don’t know what’s problematic about expecting survivors to go to the police or shut up, you are not ready for this conversation.
To anybody concerned about false allegations: See above re: the acquisition of a clue.
To anybody concerned about Julian Assange: What are you even doing here? Get to fuck.
To anybody concerned about tone: You were perhaps looking for the Acquiescent Women of Liverpool. Wrong blog.
To anybody else: Welcome to AWOL. Sorry about the trolls.
Marian
22 October 2013
Dear Emma
Brilliantly said in every way. Thank you for the work you are doing.
Zelig
22 October 2013
Emma, you don’t seem to have answered my question which was asked in good faith. I can’t speak for the other comments, but in my case I am genuinely curious to know whether this person has been convicted of any crime. This will help guide my response to the events you describe and my getting involved.
Laia Odo
22 October 2013
Zelig, I don’t know the survivors, I don’t speak for them, I don’t know whether or not they went to the police or, if so, what happened next. I only know what has been publicised about the SWP’s attempt to deal with the issue internally. There is plenty of information about this online, some of it linked above, and I’d encourage you to investigate this to inform yourself of the background of these events.
In good faith, and with respect, I’m not an information service on Martin Smith, and Google is your friend.
wessexsolidarity
27 October 2013
Reblogged this on Wessex Solidarity and commented:
Incredibly, the university is issuing ‘safety advice’ to its female students whilst employing this creep. Our advice is to steer well clear of comrade delta.
Sarah Gillborn
6 January 2017
If it’s any help, the SU’s women officer’s contact details can be found here: http://www.hopesu.com/meet-the-officers/womens-officer hopefully she can support a campaign around this. Solidarity. Sexual violence is endemic in higher education.