Myles Hatcher, Devon Socialist Party
The annual Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival honours the sacrifices of the six labourers sentenced to transportation to Australia 200 years ago. Mass protests forced the authorities to pardon them for the crime of being a member of a trade union.
Socialist Party members from across south west and southern England attended this year’s three-day festival. We used this platform to raise our proposal for a new mass workers’ party, backed by the unions.
This was met with enthusiastic support. There is a clear need for a party that can challenge Labour, one that is dedicated to workers’ rights, and unafraid to confront capitalism.
Starmer’s Labour
Many were uncertain or suspicious about Keir Starmer’s Labour. Others remain hopeful.
This sentiment will be tested, as Starmer attempts to manage British capitalism, during this time of deep crisis and volatility.
Our stand, displaying Socialist Party books and newspapers, attracted attention from trade union members. Many shared stories of picket lines and strike actions, such as those at Amazon in the Midlands (see page 7). Festival-goers, disenfranchised former Labour voters, and even former MPs visited our stand, recounting their struggles, and purchasing our publications.
Socialist Party members actively participated in panels held across the festival that focused on current issues and the fight for working-class rights. Topics included NHS healthcare workers, the renationalisation of rail, the potential threat and rise of fascism, and other pressing matters. A central question we posed to the speakers of the panels was: “Will trade unions support a new mass workers’ party to challenge Labour?”
On the last day of the festival, we joined the march and distributed our materials. Over 140 people bought our Socialist paper. By the end of the festival, most attendees were familiar with our programme.
The festival concluded with the traditional march through Tolpuddle. The sky was awash with red as people proudly marched with flags and banners raised high, accompanied by chants and brass bands. Our party joined the procession, chanting for better pay, and advocating for a new mass workers’ party.
What did the union leaders say?
Trade unions leaders also spoke. Southampton Socialist Party member Sue Atkins reports what messages they had for the new Labour government.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham explained that inequality is a political choice. “Labour must decide which side it is on… Britain is broken. It’s on its knees. and tinkering around at the edges is not going to be good enough”.
Trades Union Congress (TUC) general secretary Paul Nowak said that Labour must nationalise, start a massive wave of insourcing so that we fund public services, not private profit, and save the steelworks in Port Talbot. He also called on Labour to ignore the employers’ lobby, and deliver workers’ rights in full.
Fire Brigades Union (FBU) general secretary Matt Wrack said that Labour must use its overwhelming majority to deliver “significant change”. He noted the historically low vote for Labour, and the support for Reform in the general election. His remedy was that the new government needs to offer hope, and that the job of the trade unions is to campaign with a Labour government for our members to restore our rights and improve our wages.
Workers’ MPs
However, what was not addressed by any of the speakers was what needs to be done when Labour acts in the interests of the bosses instead of the working class. The refusal to support lifting the two-child benefit cap, and the suspension of seven MPs is a clear expression of intent.
Even a small group of MPs who fight for workers’ interests is an improvement. The trade unions leaders who spoke at Tolpuddle should call on the ‘suspended seven’, Jeremy Corbyn, the other independent MPs, and perhaps with the Green MPs too, to form a ‘workers’ bloc’ to campaign for the policies they raised.
A new party of the workers’ movement would offer real hope – a channel though which workers, socialists, and trade unionists can start to organise and fight for our own programme for socialist change, an alternative to the continuing attacks that Labour seems to have in store, and put the nightmare of the last 14 Tory years really behind us for good.