The Socialist 29 May 2013

767

Evict this millionaires' government

Campaign to stop bedroom tax evictions!

No to terrorism! No to racism! No to war!

Unite to fight racism!

Even the cutters say cuts aren't working!

This is what's 'not to like' about Free Schools, Boris

Nasty party exposed by equal marriage bill

Stop the NHS privatisation rip-off

Rotten greedy banks still threaten crisis

PCS conference sends defiant message to the government

PCS Land Registry delegates commit to action

Strike action needed to save Royal Mail

Wales TUC conference - a missed opportunity

No future with Future Directions

Fire service cuts

Workplace News in brief

Haringey TUSC: trade unions and communities prepare for 2014

'Brilliant' South West conference sees record turnout

Fund the fightback in the SP collectathon

Boosting South West Wales paper sales

Socialist Party youth organisers meeting Sunday 30 June, 10.30am-4.30pm, London

Oppose Kazakhstan regime's latest campaign clampdown

South Africa: Eye-witness to the developing struggle

Riots expose inequality in Sweden

Sri Lanka: Working class beginning to move forward

Salford Socialist Students help lead fightback against job and course cuts

London students fight union closure plan

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Building the Socialist Party

'Brilliant' South West conference sees record turnout

Robin Clapp, South West Socialist Party secretary

"It was amazing to learn from some brilliant and thinking people yesterday. It was inspiring. Capitalism must end and I'd like to learn a lot more about how I can go about bringing about that change."

That was the verdict from Chris, one of three young people who joined the Socialist Party (SP) at the end of the largest South West regional conference for a number of years.

Delegates and visitors from 19 different towns and cities heard SP deputy secretary Hannah Sell deliver a thorough analysis of the volatile situation unfolding in Britain and Europe.

Over 20 members followed this up with contributions that dealt with attacks in the workplaces, organising the fightback, a programme for opposing the far right, and lessons from struggles in Greece and Spain.

Workshops

Workshops on challenging women's oppression, youth and workplace campaigning followed. Each resulted in practical initiatives - a regional women's meeting in July, Sick of Your Boss campaign plans, and an Exeter trade union meeting in September.

I introduced the closing session that looked at the progress made in the last twelve months. With a 50% increase in the rate of new members joining, every area has new campaigners eager to help build the socialist fightback.

It was agreed to build a SP branch in Somerset, starting with a Saturday 'super stall' in June. At a similar campaign stall in Poole, members sold 82 papers in four hours, raised £46 in fighting fund, with two people joining since as a result - who are now out campaigning on Saturdays themselves!

The conference mood of optimism was expressed concretely by a magnificent fighting fund collection of £1,125.

The last word must go to Matt Stabb from Trowbridge, who is new to our ranks but a veteran in the struggles of disabled workers: "Cheers for a brilliant South West congress yesterday! Thank you for making me so welcome! It was so good to meet other members and feel part of the good work that is going on."

In this issue

Scrap the Bedroom tax

Evict this millionaires' government