Dave Warren, Swansea and West Wales Socialist Party
The 2025 conference of Socialist Party Wales took place in Cardiff on 1 June. There were lively and optimistic discussions on the political situation worldwide, in Britain and specifically in Wales. We went on to apply our conclusions to the main tasks that face us as a party in the months ahead.
In Wales, we have had a Labour-led government ever since devolution in 1999, yet we still face the same problems as workers throughout the UK. The current Labour Welsh government was silent at first on all the attacks on working people carried out by the UK government. But with elections to the Senedd less than a year away, and the collapse of support for Labour and the Tories in council elections in England, Welsh Labour has been forced to speak out. Also, a recent opinion poll put Labour at an historically low 18%, with Plaid Cymru at 30% and Reform at 25%.
‘Clear Red Water’ or same Welsh Labour?
In response, the Welsh First Minister, Eluned Morgan has criticised Starmer’s government on the cut to the winter fuel payment, and the proposed cuts to disability benefits. She has used the phrase ‘Red Welsh Way’, echoing the slogan of ‘Clear Red Water’ of former First Minister Rhodri Morgan in 2002, attempting to distance Welsh Labour from unpopular policies emanating from Westminster. This opportunism will fool nobody.
The conference vowed to redouble our fight to defend workers in Wales against these attacks and to campaign for a new mass workers’ party with a socialist programme to combat Reform and to fill the void of workers’ political representation.
In recognition of our deceased former general secretary Peter Taaffe’s immense contribution to the struggle for international socialism, a financial appeal raised a fantastic £2,825 to help the work of the Committee for a Workers’ International (the international organisation we are affiliated to). This reflected the determination of the conference to build on Peter’s legacy and bring about a society that works for all, not just for the privileged few.
