Socialism 2006 - another major step forward

In the age of instant information, when we are bombarded with issues ranging from tragedy and catastrophe to the most banal nonsense, Socialism 2006 was a revelation.

As part of a contingent from Liverpool who are familiar with political discourse about the nature of capitalism, our political batteries were given a massive charge by the young speakers and the veterans who spelt out in crystal clear and irrefutable detail the consequences for the working class of the policies of New Labour.

On key issues ranging from Iraq, the NHS, low pay and homelessness, ownership and control of the media, privatisation, racism and many more, all the speakers spelled out with compelling logic the gross character of this system. The fat cats, encouraged by Blair and Brown, have cast aside any pretext of fairness and gorge themselves - increasing the gap between the super-rich and working people.

The speakers, without exception, were excellent. Tommy Sheridan struck a chord with the rally with a rousing speech during which he denounced Rupert Murdoch and all his works. Peter Taaffe synthesised the main issues with a penetrating analysis and a call to action.

What separated this event from many others organised in the Labour movement was not just an exposition of the nature of modern capitalism - and the politically corrupt character of the Tories, Liberals and New Labour - but the clearly worked out socialist alternative. Central to this is the ongoing support for the Campaign for a new mass party of the working class.

A historic quote from Karl Marx became the keynote of the rally: 'Philosophers have merely analysed the world, our task is to change it.' That was an apt summing up of what was correctly billed as an "unmissable event".

Tony Mulhearn, Liverpool