Successful Socialist Party Wales conference sets tone for the year ahead

Socialist Party Wales conference 2018 (Click to enlarge)

Cardiff West Socialist Party members

The recent earthquake in South Wales pales in comparison with the shifts in the political landscape described at the Socialist Party Wales conference on 18 February.

Members from across Wales gathered in Cardiff to discuss the successes and challenges of the past year, while planning for the future.

Hannah Sell, Socialist Party deputy general secretary, introduced the complex but exciting times ahead.

There has been a seeming pause in the struggle after the excitement of the general election, with layers of the wider labour movement seemingly willing to wait for a Corbyn government. But the working class cannot afford to wait for an 'eventual' election.

The reality is that we do have a Labour government in Wales led by First Minister Carwyn Jones and his fellow Blairites who willingly implement the cuts.

This attitude is synonymous with Labour councils across the country where we are told there is no legal option but to become Tory policy executors.

Further contributions were made by trade unionists about the upcoming disputes and strikes planned by university workers and civil servants.

The importance of the #MeToo movement was also highlighted with a Welsh Socialist Party women's meeting scheduled for 2 March in preparation for International Women's Day.

Wales Socialist Party showed its unwavering commitment by raising a staggering Ł12,000 for the building fund (to help find a new national premises for the Socialist Party as we're being evicted) with more pledges to come. A further Ł360 was raised for the fighting fund appeal.

Socialist Party Wales is the largest left force in Cardiff and has been dubbed 'the unofficial opposition' by members of Swansea council.

Socialist Students and Young Socialists have led the youth movement in Wales, organising a show of solidarity with striking lecturers.

The success of this conference mirrors the way Socialist Party Wales acts in its everyday work and has set the tone for a year of solidarity and struggle to come.

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Finance appeal

The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.

The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.

The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.

The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.

Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.

We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to click here to donate to our Fighting Fund.