Heather Rawling, Leicester Socialist Party
This was our third public meeting on developments towards a new party for the working class since July. And it was the best yet.
In fact, it was the best public meeting we have held in years. This meeting was jointly organised by the Socialist Party and Socialist Students.
23 attended, with 12 new people. Everyone’s contributions elevated the meeting.
A taste of the meeting
A student who said this was his first political meeting, and said he wasn’t used to speaking, made an outstanding contribution. He clearly understands the importance of a party based on the organised working class, and also a party like the Socialist Party, fighting for the socialist transformation of society. We agreed with him.
Another student argued for checks and balances on the leadership of a new party, to ensure democracy and genuine representation of our interests. In reply, we explained our demands on workers’ representatives to be subject to the right of recall, and to take only the average wage of the workers they represent. We also emphasised the role that the Socialist Party has played in campaigning for a new party for decades. We are determined that we will assert our right to be an integral part of the new party
