At a second meeting of the left in Cambridge decisions were taken to establish an alliance of various political groups and individuals to stand in the local elections in Cambridge, and possibly the General Election in 2010, as well as co-ordinate our interventions into various campaigns in Cambridge. The meeting was attended by about 20 people with many apologies for people who couldn’t attend.
Three political groups, Respect, SWP and AWL, attended the meeting but they were outnumbered by the independents. In introducing the discussion, an NUT activist referred to the success of Die Linke in Germany and the Left Bloc in Portugal and the Wigan People’s Alliance, as well as identifying many of the decisions we had to take if we were to become a organised force in Cambridge. This was followed by a serious and comradely discussion which indicated a positive view of the project.
The meeting agreed to take decisions at its November meeting on a name for the alliance, a simple constitution and a basic political programme. We would also start to look at where we should stand in the Cambridge local election and consider the issue of the General Election. One problem was the decision of the local Socialist Party not to attend as their leadership had not agreed that local groups could attend such meeting. However, overall it was a very positive meeting.
6 comments
Nick Long · 15 October 2009
This is great news -local socialists and trade unionists coming together to develop a programme of defending jobs and services and standing in local elections -hopefully including the general elecion. This is the way forward -building local alliances and trust which hopefully can develop and link up with any national development. Not sure about the coments regarding the Socialist Party -in Lewisham Ian Page, Chris Flood and many members of their local branch have been attending meetings.
Nick Long
Lewisham People Before Profit
Charles · 16 October 2009
I hope it leads somewhere, but only 20 people at the meeting ...? I live near Cambridge and have felt disenfranchised more or less since New Labour appeared - pity there isn't a law to prevent them using the name "Labour" - which, with all its reformist faults, was certainly the least of two evils on voting day. I decided not to vote again unless there was a reasonable Green candidate- preferably a recognisable Socialist - some hope in East Cambridgeshire! But the need for solidarity amongst anti-capitalists has never been greater, as I stress on socialist websites whenever I can. We end capitalism or we get barbarism. quite likely eco-fascism.
Admin. · 16 October 2009
Hey Nick, are the SWP in your Lewisham meetings? I think the SP are fighting shy of meetings like this in places like Cambridge where the SWP are a big part of the discussion. Duncan.
Nick Long · 16 October 2009
Comrades from the SWP in Lewisham are attending -however they have been arguing for us not to launch or register anything until their own meeting on 31st and the RMT meeting. However the majority view is that we are not going to hang around and wait for something nationally but are going to proceed with our Lewisham People Before Profit launch with a website, leaflet and launch public meeting in November.
Duncan · 16 October 2009
Interesting: I think you're doing the right thing to get momentum now. There are no guarantees that anything will be opened up at the top, so local unity is key.
James Youd · 1 November 2009
I also believe the Left needs to work more closely together. This is why I also believe the Green Party of which I am a member should be included in these discussions. I am a recognised member of Green Left the pressure group within the Green Party as is our County Councillor and Chair former Labour Leader Simon Segdwick-Jell.
We need to have a conversation about electoral pacts or both of us will struggle to move forward.
Most of our new and indeed some older members in Cambridge are ex-labour or fairly far to the left. I hope that as our party leader Caroline Lucas is now beginning a conversation with compass and the good left within the Labour Party, or whats left of it!! So we to can begin this conversation.