Why I joined the Socialist Party
Huw James, Aldershot and North Hants Socialist Party
It was the financial crisis of 2008 – or more specifically, our government’s response to it – that turned me into a socialist. I saw ordinary people being punished for a crisis they did nothing to create, whilst those who created the crisis got away scot-free.
This was socialism for the rich, and capitalism for everyone else.
Fast forward to 2019, and Labour had just lost two general elections under Jeremy Corbyn, who was then forced to resign. I realised that, paradoxically, the hysterical overreaction of the capitalist class to this mild-mannered reformist politician demonstrated just how tenuous the capitalists’ grip on power really is.
I was already convinced of the need to overthrow capitalism, and replace it with socialism. But now I started to believe it might actually be possible.
The problem was that the election of Keir Starmer as Labour leader left me politically homeless. Thankfully, two years ago, I joined the Socialist Party.
I found out about the Socialist Party when searching online for socialist groups in my local area. I discovered that there was there a branch in my local town, Aldershot, and they held meetings there every Wednesday. So I decided to go along to the next meeting.
I am struck by how much I have learned in such a short space of time. I was a socialist when I joined the Socialist Party, but had little experience of political activism. Since then, I have taken part in countless Socialist paper sales, demonstrations, and stood for the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) in local elections.
It was only after I joined the Socialist Party that I began to fully understand that, whereas I as an individual might be powerless, the class of people to which I belong – the working class – has enormous power. The working class has the power to transform society. It just needs to harness that power in the right way.
The thing I like most about belonging to the Socialist Party is being around people who not only analyse the problems with capitalism, but are actually motivated to do something about them. The Socialist Party has a vital role to play in raising class consciousness, and unlocking the full power and potential of the working class.
