Labour v Socialist Party – my experience is seismic

Labour leader Keir Starmer Photo: UK ParliamentCC

Labour leader Keir Starmer Photo: UK ParliamentCC   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

Steve Merriman, Sheffield Socialist Party

I’m a retired accountant, Unite member, NHS campaigner and was a Jeremy Corbyn supporter in the Labour Party from 2016 to 2020.

Selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty, and leadership – there is little evidence of adherence to these standards in the echelons of the major parties. To this extent, our so-called ‘democracy’ is a sham.

There are endless examples of institutional corruption in Westminster, such as false expense claims and ‘cash for questions’ lobbying.

So what to do? Answer – find a party and comrades that actually welcome new members, a party that is constantly active, gets things done, is on top of every issue, educates its members, and motivates them.

How joyful then to find these essential characteristics alive and blossoming in the fast-expanding Sheffield branch of the Socialist Party. My first few weeks in the Socialist Party could not be further removed from the stultifying existence I suffered in the Labour Party.

In Labour, few meetings took place, debate was not welcome, or worse, it was shut down. The objective seemed to be to do nothing.

The contrast has been seismic. My motivation is sky high in the Socialist Party.

How great it is to have something to look forward to 24/7. I learn new stuff every week – Marxism, internationalism, trade unions, NHS privatisation, or what’s happening in the world with US and China.

The revolutionary Che Guevara said: “If you tremble with every injustice, then you are a friend of mine”. In the Socialist Party I am much better placed to tackle injustice.