Adam Herrington, Gloucestershire Socialist Party
I’ve always thought: “I’m not as involved in politics as I should be.”
I’ve always held strong opinions and beliefs, but have never had a movement, protest, or party to stand behind – only a vague, but very justified hatred of every government I’ve lived under.
I wanted to find a group reflecting my politics, that was involved in action locally. After meeting the Socialist Party last year at an anti-racist counter-demonstration against the far right, that they helped to organise, I found they fit exactly what I was looking for.
Even as a new member, I immediately felt able to throw myself into local activity, such as meeting with the Gloucestershire phlebotomists, who recently ended the longest strike in NHS history (see ‘Phlebotomy under threat at Gloucestershire hospitals’ at socialistparty.org.uk). Socialist Party members in the county, and Socialist Party members in the workers’ Unison trade union across the country, helped campaign and raise awareness for these important workers from the beginning of their strike.
Class struggle
In Socialist Party meetings, we discuss current events, and are given space to share our opinions. I feel I have a better grasp of important news stories week-to-week as they are happening. Our conversations are rooted in working-class struggle, and driven by socialist politics.
Another valuable part of joining the Socialist Party, which I hadn’t even accounted for, is constantly meeting people of different ages, who have all kinds of stories and experiences. The number of people I’ve met is amazing. I feel much more comfortable introducing myself to people now.
My political activism has gone from listening to Chumbawamba on my own, to directly feeling part of an active political group. Not discounting how much of a bop ‘Tubthumping’ is! Getting involved, and standing behind what you believe in, to my mind, is definitely worth it.
