TUSC conference: Fighting for a new party under Starmer

Callum Joyce, Socialist Party southern regional organiser

‘Fighting for a new party under the Starmer government. And what role for TUSC?’ was the heading for this year’s conference of the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC), held over Zoom on 2 February. TUSC was formed in 2010 by the late Bob Crow, then general secretary of the transport union the RMT, along with the Socialist Party and others, to provide a banner for trade unionists, community campaigners, and socialists to stand candidates against the pro-austerity politicians of the establishment parties.

Nearly 200 trade unionists, socialists, student activists, and community campaigners joined the conference to discuss and debate the key tasks for those fighting for a new party of the working class in this period and the strategy needed to achieve it.

Dave Nellist, TUSC national chair and previous socialist MP, opened the conference by setting out what the new Labour government has already meant for working people in just six months – immediate attacks on pensions and benefits, continued support for the slaughter in Gaza, and the threat of more spending cuts to come. As Dave put it, there is seamless continuity with the Tories in terms of Starmer’s policies.

Unfortunately, as Dave explained, even the left-led trade unions have not yet taken steps towards combating these attacks with a clear political strategy. This leaves open a political vacuum which Reform is trying to step in to – albeit on a temporary, unstable basis – through their right populist, ‘anti-establishment’ politics. The key task therefore is the formation of a new party rooted in the organisations and communities of the working class.

Dave Semple, national vice-president of the civil service union PCS (speaking in a personal capacity), outlined the attacks that have been carried out against civil servants’ pay and conditions over the last 15 years. While many civil servants were thrilled to see the back of the hated Tory government, those with experience of the previous New Labour administration of Blair and Brown had warned that Starmer would not provide any serious positive change. This has been borne out, with major job cuts already threatened across numerous departments and another below-inflation pay rise being offered. All of this, Dave said, posed sharply the question of how civil service workers could get a political alternative to represent their interests going forwards.

Hannah Sell, Socialist Party general secretary, began by reviewing the history of TUSC and its record in the 15 years since its inception. The structure of TUSC has successfully allowed candidates from different groups and trends to unite around a common anti-austerity programme while still maintaining the freedom to put forward their own demands and campaign issues beyond that.

Hannah emphasised that TUSC has always been realistic about its role and that, rather than proclaiming to be a new mass workers’ party, it is meant as a lever to fight for steps in that direction, and has always welcomed collaboration with others pushing in the same direction. Hannah therefore welcomed the attendance of Andrew Jordan from the Collective. This has taken on new importance now, given that for the first time in TUSC’s history it is fighting under a Labour government.

Although many unions are still affiliated to Labour, they no longer have any means to put pressure on the government through the party’s structures. This was shown clearly by the motions passed at recent Labour conferences supporting the renationalisation of Royal Mail and the reinstatement of the winter fuel allowance, which were both ignored by the party leadership. Hannah explained that putting pressure on this government – like with the Tories before them – is going to require mass protests and strike action.

Hannah also emphasised the significance of Britain experiencing the biggest strike wave since the 1980s, showing that the working class is back and resurgent. Workers will not accept a new era of austerity and pay restraint just because it is delivered by politicians wearing red rosettes. This government was voted in by only 20.1% of the electorate and has become even less popular since.

Steps towards a new mass workers’ party could also have been taken before the general election and Hannah outlined the important experience of ‘Enough is Enough’, the campaign launched by trade union leaders at the peak of the strike wave. This attracted half a million supporters in months – more than the membership of Labour or of the Tories and Reform combined. Many of those who joined were looking for a new party that would fight for the interests of the workers’ movement in parliament. Unfortunately, as Hannah explained, that was not how founders of the campaign saw it and so it melted away. Despite that missed opportunity, the election of Corbyn and the four anti-war independents, along with the suspension of the seven Labour MPs who voted against the two-child benefit cap, shows the outline of a potential workers’ bloc in parliament that already could be the fourth biggest parliamentary group, ahead of the SNP and Reform.

A key factor in the election of those independents was the voters from a Muslim background who rebelled against Labour in outrage at Starmer’s backing of the slaughter of Palestinians. Hannah explained that, while that particular section of the working class was ahead of others, it was clear from the anger at Starmer after only six months in power that many other sections of the working class would follow their lead if a new party existed.

That is not to say that a new party can just be willed into existence – the example of ‘Enough is Enough’ was only possible because those trade union leaders involved had gained significant authority from being at the forefront of the strike wave. The formation of a genuine mass workers’ party would require serious sections of the working class entering the political arena.

Hannah ended by explaining the need to be confident that the experience of struggling against capitalism and the new government will lead to more and more workers drawing these conclusions. The Socialist Party and its members would see the formation of a new party as a serious step forward, but that would only be the beginning in terms of the struggle to change the world and overthrow this rotten capitalist system. The task of building a new society based on socialism, able to provide peace and plenty for all, would be posed more sharply and our class having its own party – where sharp discussions on how to achieve that change would inevitably take place – is a very important first step in that direction.

Suzanne Muna, Executive Council member of the general union Unite (speaking in a personal capacity), spoke about how since the election of Sharon Graham as Unite general secretary the union has been one of the most outspoken against Labour, leading successful strikes against Labour-run local authorities and campaigning for the reinstatement of the winter fuel allowance.

Suzanne explained that while these steps have been positive, Unite is still limited by its continued affiliation to Labour without any clear alternative on offer. A motion at Unite’s last rules conference to support backing any individual candidates who support Unite’s policies – regardless of what party they belong to – was defeated, but Suzanne argued that the debate over this key issue would continue now that the union is faced with a hostile Labour government.

Andrew Jordan, representing the Collective – a network of Jeremy Corbyn supporters, including various ex-Labour activists, independent councillors and candidates exploring the idea of establishing a new party – outlined the discussions it has organised so far.

Andrew acknowledged the role TUSC has already played in collaborating in these discussions and mentioned how the Collective endorsed a number of the TUSC candidates that stood in the general election last year. Andrew said that in his view the main task now for establishing a new party was to develop credibility in the eyes of workers so that any new formation can be seen as a serious vehicle that can be used to fight in their interests.

Tom Allen, who represents individual independent members on the TUSC steering committee, who aren’t otherwise members of the constituent organisations, outlined the statistics regarding the millions of people who didn’t bother to vote in the general election, no doubt feeling completely alienated from all of the main parties and the potential to win them over to a clear socialist programme.

Tom also cautioned against those on the left who might dismiss workers who mistakenly look towards the likes of Reform for solutions and explained how a number of them can be won over to the idea of class politics by engaging in their communities and exposing how the problems in society are due to the rampant profiteering of big business rather than scapegoated migrants. This was shown by the estimated over 1 million of those who voted for Corbyn in 2017 who had previously voted for UKIP in 2015.

Finally, Tom Porter-Brown from Socialist Students recapped the long list of U-turns that Starmer has carried out since being elected Labour leader in 2019, including his scrapped pledge for free education. The hypocrisy of raising tuition fees again while Starmer and most of his cabinet were able to attend university for free has not been lost on a large number of students today. Tom explained why Socialist Students has taken the initiative to launch the ‘Funding Not Fees’ campaign to help organise an initial fightback against this attack on campuses across the country. This includes putting demands on MPs in parliament, in particular the five anti-war independents, to take the demand for free, fully funded education in to parliament. Tom also stressed the importance of student activists supporting strikes and picket lines to build links between student activists and the organised working class.

After the main speakers, the conference was opened to contributions from other attendees. Eleanor Donne, Unison member in Basildon, explained the importance of the upcoming county council elections this May as the first electoral test for Labour and potentially a key battleground given the huge funding crisis developing in local government. Rae Cox, Unison rep in Oxford (personal capacity), explained how local TUSC supporters were working with others to organise a lobby of their council’s budget-setting meeting to fight for a no-cuts alternative to be implemented instead.

Chris Thomas, previous TUSC candidate in Broxbourne, outlined the positive development of tens of councillors resigning from Labour in protest over Starmer’s policies. She also explained the limitation of candidates standing in the election simply as ‘independents’, as this does not sufficiently distinguish them from those independent candidates who may be standing on a right-wing platform. Part of the benefit of the TUSC description is that it clearly outlines what kind of organisation and programme is needed on the ballot paper.

One such ex-Labour councillor was Shuguftah Quddoos, who spoke to explain how she had been suspended from the party after being the only Labour councillor on Nottingham City Council to vote against plans for tens of millions of pounds worth of cuts last year.

Dave Nellist closed the conference by highlighting the importance of continuing to campaign for trade unionists to stand in elections, independently of the Labour Party – even if their own union is still Labour-affiliated. The hundreds of trade unionists who have previously stood as TUSC candidates has been an extremely important way for them to put forward the ideas for what is needed politically in their workplaces. He also appealed for all those who want to take part in a stand against Starmer’s new austerity plans to apply now to become a TUSC candidate this May if there are county council elections in their area.

Overall, this year’s TUSC conference showed the continued enthusiasm to fight against war, austerity, and privatisation, and clarified the central importance of doing so now that we are faced with a new pro-capitalist Labour government. Socialist Party members will be taking part in the TUSC election stand this May as well as campaigning in our local areas against plans for more budget cuts and service closures. If you want to take part in that fight beyond the May elections and join the struggle to transform society, then join the Socialist Party today!