CNWP conference 12 May

Wanted - a new mass party for workers

THE CAMPAIGN for a New Workers' Party (CNWP) conference will bring together trade unionists and community and environmental campaigners who want to see the building of a new mass workers' party in England and Wales.

Discussions and debates will take place on building an electoral alternative to the big three capitalist parties, combating the far-right BNP, fighting to break the trade union link with New Labour, and much more. Below some of the speakers explain why you should attend the CNWP conference:

New Labour - my arse!

Ricky Tomlinson explained the case for the CNWP to the Liverpool Echo:

"Tony Blair has disembowelled the Labour Party. It's not New Labour, it's the New Phoney Labour Party and a growing number of people are fed up with it. We've now got to stop the rot.

"There's got to be one unified, left wing party that has the interests of the working class at heart."

Tony Mulhearn, of the Liverpool 47, who led the mass struggle of Liverpool city council against the Thatcher government from 1983 to 1987, explains why he will be attending the conference:

"I'll be attending the CNWP conference to underline my total opposition to the Blair/Brown New Labour neo-liberalism. They are free to go to war, privatise anything that can turn a profit for their already well-heeled friends and treat the working class with contempt, because there is no mass organisation capable of forcing a retreat.

"A formation which genuinely represents the disenfranchised millions must be built as rapidly as possible. A successful conference can act as a beacon to all working people seeking a political alternative to the three main capitalist parties."

Dave Nellist, Socialist Party councillor, explains why he thinks environmentalists should attend the conference:

"Imperialist wars and the threat of climate change are two of the biggest dangers facing us in the 21st century. On both issues the three establishment parties operate not so much as three different organisations but more and more like three wings of a single, pro-market consensus.

"Socialists, trade unionists, environmentalists and young people have a relatively short time to bring together large enough forces to build a new workers' party that can challenge a capitalist economic system which, unchecked, could lead to catastrophe."

Mel Mills, Huddersfield nursery nurse, who is standing against cuts and privatisation in this May's local elections explains why she is standing and why she will be speaking at the CNWP conference:

"It's time for the working class to make a stand. I am an ordinary working-class parent, concerned about the deterioration of public services in our area. I have been to the Town Hall fighting to keep our nurseries open.

"Most of the current councillors are completely out of touch with our lives and are either feathering their own nests, or toeing Tony Blair's line. I am not going to be dictated to by this government, nor will I be playing the mainstream parties' games. I want to give ordinary people a voice on the council and fight to ensure public services are protected and improved."

Roger Bannister, secretary of the CNWP and UNISON NEC member, explains why he is attending the conference:

"UNISON members are sick and tired of giving millions of pounds to New Labour only to see them attack public services, their jobs, pay and pensions. I'm going to the CNWP conference because I want to see a viable electoral alternative to New Labour, a party that supports public services and working people generally."