Alex Sampson, Plymouth Socialist Party

The main discussion at our South West conference, led by Socialist Party general secretary Hannah Sell, looked at the changing and chaotic nature of British politics. Keir Starmer was still prime minister when we held this discussion.

Over 40 attended, with more joining on Zoom. Labour’s failures and the lack of a working-class alternative is leaving a gap that the right-populist Reform are exploiting. This is exacerbated by a weak or non-existent challenge from the left, thanks to the collapse of Your Party and the inconsistent nature of Green Party policies.

The key to fighting back is for trade unions to lead action, and work together to build a genuine party of the working class. One that will fight for jobs and services for all, rather than pandering to billionaires. This is the only route away from the anti-migrant, blame-based politics of the right.

We can build the Socialist Party, and get our ideas and programme out to the widest number of working-class people, who are looking for an alternative.

Everyone in the room was keen to continue taking the fight into their trade unions, universities, and workplaces. Support for our programme is evident in our impressive fighting fund appeal total, raising £2,620. This will help push the work further, not just in the South West, but nationally.

We left buoyed and ready to meet the challenges ahead, with clear perspectives and ideas about how to fight for a socialist alternative. If you are not currently a member, now is the time to join.

Bristol socialists campaigning

Mike Luff, Bristol North Socialist Party

Campaigning in Bristol, selling the Socialist paper on Friday 19 June, the day after the Makerfield by-election, we met a mixture of workers on their lunchtime break, locals, and tourists.

One person was challenging us on a lot of issues, and he was joined by a couple of others. He thought we liked Keir Starmer.

I said we do not support the Labour Party, and that we call for a new, mass workers’ party that represents us. I said that the austerity they struggle under is the same one I struggle with as well, which opened them up.

I met an old neighbour, a music teacher – cuts lost her work. She commented that I was continuing the tradition of socialists like her grandad, who was active from 1908, in the Labour Party and trades union council.

A Mexican woman in her 20s had just moved to Bristol. She discussed our demand to nationalise the top 150 companies and banks under democratic workers’ control, and what we are doing. She was interested. She shook my hand twice!

No one mentioned Andy Burnham. It will be interesting to see what impact there is on these workers, if any.