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From The Socialist newspaper, 21 February 2018
Tremendous determination on show at West Midlands conference
A small group discussion at the conference, photo Lenny Shail (Click to enlarge)
Lenny Shail, West Midlands Socialist Party organiser
With 71 in attendance from eleven branches or groups, a fantastic West Midlands Socialist Party conference took place on 17 February in Birmingham.
Alistair Tice, Yorkshire regional secretary, kicked off the first session on Britain and Sarah Sachs-Eldridge, Socialist Party national organiser, introduced the afternoon's session on party building.
Both discussions reflected the tremendous role of the party in the many local NHS campaigns, the Birmingham bin workers' strike and council cuts disputes as well as the Corbyn movement.
Bernadette O'Connor from Nuneaton set the scene for the party building discussion with a great report of the hard work put in by members in Nuneaton to build the organisation in a small town.
Many new young members reported on the hard work and success in building Socialist Student, Young Socialists and Marxist ideas among young people.
Commissions on left reformism, women and the Middle East and a final report of the work of the Committee for a Workers' International brought a tremendous conference to an end.
A marvellous collection for the building fund of £15,560, including three donations of £1,000, and £548 in the fighting fund collection reflected the growing strength of the Socialist Party in the West Midlands and the determination of our membership to build the forces of socialism in the current period.
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The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.
The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.
The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.
- The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
- When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.
Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.
We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to donate to our Fighting Fund.
In The Socialist 21 February 2018:
Socialist Party news and analysis
Chatsworth ward victory shows we can save our NHS
Tories raid £1bn from NHS facilities budget - unions must act
Blairite mayor faces open election after democratic 'irregularities' - fight for a no-cuts mayor
Facebook sides with state repression - reinstate the Tamil Solidarity page
Workplace news and analysis
Usdaw victory - Socialist Party member Amy Murphy wins presidential election
Bosses divided - university pension strikes can win!
After 80 strike days Mears workers achieve victory
Newham academies strike continues with three schools to strike together
What we think
Northern Ireland talks process paralysed
Socialist Students
How can students and young people fight the Tories?
Leicester Uni makes Tory fee tripler David Willetts chancellor - sack Willetts!
International socialist news and analysis
South Africa: Ramaphosa is a safe pair of hands for capitalism
Russia: Ali Feruz, journalist and human rights activist, freed from jail
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
Building the campaign against clearances of the working class
Northants council crisis - protesters demand an end to cuts and privatisation
Victory: Pontllanfraith leisure centre saved
Labour councillors push through savage cuts in Kirklees budget
May Day, May Day! Celebrate solidarity!
Bradford protests against kids' service cuts
Successful Socialist Party Wales conference sets tone for the year ahead
Tremendous determination on show at West Midlands conference
Lively discussion at East Midlands Socialist Party conference
Nottingham hospital black alert
Cardiff Refugee Rights gig success
Outrageous sentence for TUSC agent in 'misleading electors' court case
Opinion
German engineering strike puts shorter week on agenda - but could have won more
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