Determined to struggle for a new mass workers' party

The Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) is an electoral alliance between the RMT union, Socialist Party and others to give an electoral alternative to cuts-making and pro-capitalist politicians, photo Socialist Party (Click to enlarge)

Cardiff

Socialist Party Wales moved quickly to respond to news of Corbyn's suspension, with all branches calling meetings to discuss what the working class must do next, now that it's clear that the road to transforming Labour is blocked.

Cardiff West branch managed to more than triple its usual weekly attendance at a meeting addressed by the Socialist Party's general secretary, Hannah Sell. 35 people attended, including 13 people with whom we'd had no previous contact. The branch had put up posters near supermarkets and sent everyone who liked our social media posts short, friendly messages inviting them to attend.

There was intense emotion in the meeting - some in despair, but mainly angry at the sabotage of the right wing while Corbyn was leader, and their ruthless witch-hunt once they gained the leadership. There was determination to find a way to get socialist ideas to the mass of ordinary people, and an understanding that this means standing independently of Starmer's Labour.

Several people that attended are interested in having discussions about joining the Socialist Party with, at the time of writing, one person having agreed to join already, and an inactive member restarting their membership subs. There was enthusiasm for standing Socialist candidates as part of the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition in the Welsh parliamentary elections next year.

Ross Saunders, Cardiff Socialist Party

North London

37 people came to the North London Socialist Party meeting on 4 November, together with Hackney branch. Ten of the attendees weren't members of the Socialist Party... yet.

Six days before our regular weekly meeting, Jeremy Corbyn was suspended from the Labour Party. We quickly changed our meeting topic to discuss it.

Throughout the week, we were constantly talking on WhatsApp about who else we could invite to our discussion. Dave Nellist, Socialist Party member from Coventry, introduced the discussion on how we can fight for a new mass workers' party. When Dave was a Coventry MP, he was expelled from Labour for refusing to pay his Poll Tax.

Our meetings are on Zoom. And although better than not meeting at all, it isn't as good as face-to-face discussion. We set up another WhatsApp group for a small team of Socialist Party recruiters. We messaged new people during the meeting to see if they liked what they heard, and if they would like to join the Socialist Party to help fight for it? Three days after our meeting, three new people have joined our growing Socialist Party branch.

Ian Pattison, North London Socialist Party

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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.

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