Tremendous determination on show at West Midlands conference

A small group discussion at the conference, photo Lenny Shail (Click to enlarge)

Lenny Shail, West Midlands Socialist Party organiser

With 71 in attendance from eleven branches or groups, a fantastic West Midlands Socialist Party conference took place on 17 February in Birmingham.

Alistair Tice, Yorkshire regional secretary, kicked off the first session on Britain and Sarah Sachs-Eldridge, Socialist Party national organiser, introduced the afternoon's session on party building.

Both discussions reflected the tremendous role of the party in the many local NHS campaigns, the Birmingham bin workers' strike and council cuts disputes as well as the Corbyn movement.

Bernadette O'Connor from Nuneaton set the scene for the party building discussion with a great report of the hard work put in by members in Nuneaton to build the organisation in a small town.

Many new young members reported on the hard work and success in building Socialist Student, Young Socialists and Marxist ideas among young people.

Commissions on left reformism, women and the Middle East and a final report of the work of the Committee for a Workers' International brought a tremendous conference to an end.

A marvellous collection for the building fund of Ł15,560, including three donations of Ł1,000, and Ł548 in the fighting fund collection reflected the growing strength of the Socialist Party in the West Midlands and the determination of our membership to build the forces of socialism in the current period.

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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.

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