Lluís Bertolín, Birmingham Socialist Party
When I first came to the UK from Catalonia in late 2017 the recent independence referendum, in which I participated, was a hot topic. By chance I saw a taped leaflet, no larger than a quarter of a sheet of paper, advertising a Socialist Students meeting on that referendum. I attended out of pure curiosity not knowing what to expect.
I was wonderfully surprised when the speaker, a member of the Socialist Party, spoke of the complex issue of Catalan independence, which has been a large part of my life, with an incredible amount of knowledge and insight. I was convinced he must have had family in Catalonia. I later found it was Coventry not Catalonia! This chance meeting marked the beginning of my involvement with Socialist Students and the Socialist Party.
The thing I most appreciate about Socialist Students and the Socialist Party is the combination of active work and on-the-ground action, with a very clear and thought-through analysis of events and situations, avoiding just going with the currents by putting forward a programme for united working-class action. Through the Socialist Party I have gained invaluable insight into the underpinnings of the modern world and of the modern workers’ movement, which has allowed me to make sense of the turbulent world of today. I have gained confidence in socialist ideas and, more importantly, in how to fight for them in a messy and complicated reality.
I have also have had the pleasure of meeting a host of excellent Socialist Party members from all around the country (and even the world!) from whom I have learned much and are always a source of inspiration. The Socialist Party is a great place for students and young people to develop their political understanding and find like-minded people with which to change the world one picket line at a time, one demonstration at a time, and one campaign stall at a time. There is not only much to be done, but also much we can do together.
