Build the Campaign for a New Workers’ Party

THE LAUNCH meeting of the Campaign for a New Workers’ Party (CNWP) in
Liverpool on 28 June attracted 49 people. National CNWP secretary Roger
Bannister opened the meeting by saying that the loudest cheers at UNISON
conference were for delegates demanding an end to the Labour link.

Youth speaker Alex Waterville explained: "It’s time for a party
representing all the working class, with all members including young
people taking part and valued". New Labour has just attacked the youth,
"the New Deal turned out to be a raw deal", while young people have been
to the forefront of recent movements including against racism and racist
attacks on Merseyside.

Alec McFadden, Merseyside TUC, stressed attacks on trade unions and
the rise in racism and the far right, especially the BNP. Alec called
for Respect to work together with others on the left, including the CNWP.
"I support any project challenging New Labour’s Thatcherism".

Tony Mulhearn is a member of the "47 Group" of councillors who were
surcharged for their role in Liverpool council’s momentous battle with
the Thatcher government from 1983 to 1987. Tony said how encouraging the
turnout of young people was at the meeting. Previous attempts at
stepping-stones towards a new mass party had not measured up.

Developing viable representation for working-class people isn’t about
individuals or groups abandoning their identity, but about "reaching out
to young people, rebuilding the ideas of socialism and solidarity,
linking with campaign groups fighting cuts in the NHS… It’s about
uniting radical forces in a campaign of action."

Socialist Party members highlighted September’s New Labour conference
as a target for mobilising and building the campaign. Paul Astbury
explained the role that a general city-wide working-class organisation
could play in bringing together working-class people, as a point of
contact for campaigns and action.

Becci Wild explained how to get young people involved. "No-one speaks
to young people in language they can understand. We need to respect and
encourage youth, to explain what we’re talking about. Lots of young
people don’t understand about Labour and the history of politics, and we
have to explain it".

The meeting agreed to another meeting later in July. From there, as
Roger said, we can go "to a loose body pursuing concrete objectives".
The meeting agreed that we’ll aim to each bring another person to it, to
get over 100 people turning out. Given the authority of some trade
unionists attending the launch, and the enthusiasm of the youth, this is
definitely possible.