Laurence Dunn, Staines Socialist Party
Building from the action taken by striking teachers and civil servants on 1 February, the Socialist Party held a public meeting on the 15 February in Guildford. Before the meeting we paid respects at a large vigil for Brianna Ghey (see Trans rights: Brianna Ghey death sparks widespread anger), with Paul Couchman expressing solidarity to those gathered and all victims of discrimination, on behalf of Unison and the wider trade union movement.
Attendees of the vigil who saw the ties between violence, division and the capitalist economic system also joined the meeting. The mood of the evening, which began sombrely became uplifting as we each realised how large the meeting was in an area like Guildford – with over 20 attending. The majority of people who came to the meeting were young people, alongside union reps from Unison, UCU, RMT and NEU.
Nick Chaffey, Southern and South East Socialist Party organiser, opened the discussion by explaining what the Socialist Party is and how it has been active fighting for socialist ideas in the workers’ movement here and around the world with the Committee for a Workers’ International (CWI).
This was followed by a lively discussion where attendees expressed their thoughts and feelings on topics from frustrations in convincing people of socialist and socially progressive ideas, to concerns about right-wing populism and how to fight it, and questions around internationalism, imperialism and how to get involved and organised around fighting for a socialist programme locally.
At the end of the discussion there were talks about plans to organise campaigns, meetings and stalls in the area in the coming weeks. A number of those in attendance joined the Socialist Party or are in contact with local members. The Socialist Party is growing in Guildford with trade unionists and young people joining.
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