give money to political candidates who reflect the union's views and said that the RMT has already massively cut its Labour Party funding.
George Galloway expressed the hope that we would all leave the meeting as comrades, members not at this stage of a party but of a popular unity movement. He said that he was ready to stand on a unity list in London, Birmingham or anywhere that he could be useful in next year's Euro elections. He said that we could and should look to deal a decisive blow in those elections.
There was a tangible excitement at the meeting - and the speeches all called for the maximum unity across political division. The plea was not that groups or individuals abandon their principles for the sake of unity, but rather that we look to find the common ground we share and come together as fully as possible to challenge New Labour.
The feeling was that the meeting heralded the start of a process of discussion and debate. Activists left to go back to their own areas to canvass views and build the opposition. - John Rees "We must change the face of the working class movement and of politics in this country." - John Rees "To those who say they are going to reclaim the Labour Party I ask, "How are you going to do it?" - Bob Crow "I wouldn't pay for my own assassin." - Bob Crow "This meeting is about the state we're in, about the crisis of democracy in our own country." - George Galloway - George Galloway "You can invite George Bush here but he can't move when he is here" "It's not looking promising, this 'reclaim the Labour Party' campaign"