Dave Nellist, Socialist former Labour MP (1983–1992)
Stagnant wages, underfunded public services, the scandal of the housing crisis, Labour councils pursuing fire and rehire, cuts to pensioners’ winter fuel allowance, reductions in disability benefits, and continued government support for Israel’s murderous campaign in Gaza – all under a Labour government.
Keir Starmer’s hints at mild reforms to eligibility for the winter fuel allowance or partial relaxation of the two-child cap on benefits stem from working-class anger shown by Labour’s crushing defeat in the May local council elections, and the continuing fall in the party’s position in the opinion polls. Both are a consequence of Labour, like the Tories before them, cutting funding for our services.
But worse austerity and cuts to public services loom as the economy stagnates, and the government already plans to spend billions of pounds more on arms and armaments.
If, at the NATO summit later this month, Labour commits to the target of 3.5% of GDP for core defence spending by 2032, plus an extra 1.5% of GDP for military infrastructure and cybersecurity, that would entail tens of billions taken from essential services and hit the living standards of the working class.
The recent council elections showed that millions of working-class people don’t trust the Establishment parties, and Reform UK is becoming a significant beneficiary of that anger at the ballot box.
The elections next May are much bigger, and for many areas, including all London boroughs and major cities such as Birmingham, all councillors are up for election and will stay in office for four years, beyond the latest date for the next general election.
If Reform UK is not challenged by a new party, it could end up with thousands of councillors, failing to fight Labour austerity, exploiting the genuine grievances of working-class people, and sowing divisions among workers.
It is the organised working class in the trade union movement which has the numbers, coherence, reach and resources, that is the key to a new party of the working class which can cut across support for the millionaire-funded Reform UK.
Our movement will suffer if workers view us as a voice for pro-austerity Labour. That’s why 25 senior trade unionists, supported by over 1,000 activists so far, have come together to call on the trade union movement to seriously discuss founding a new anti-austerity, anti-war party.
They are arguing for urgent discussions within our unions and across unions to organise a conference to establish that political voice for working people. Could you join them?
The Establishment has its parties – it’s time the working class had its own.
Add your name to the call for the trade union movement to discuss founding a new party
