We, the undersigned, agree to campaign for the establishment
of a new mass workers’ party in England and Wales.
Labour Party
A
century ago trade unionists and socialist came together to fight for
independent representation for the working class: the result was the
Labour Party. In the past the Labour Party, however imperfectly,
provided a voice for the working class. Today, however, New Labour
is a party of the giant corporations, its policies a continuation of
Margaret Thatcher’s attacks on the lives and living conditions of
working-class people. Public services are being sold off; the
occupation of Iraq has led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of
Iraqis and thousands of ‘coalition’ soldiers; democratic rights are
being undermined in the name of fighting terrorism; and the Tory
anti-trade union laws, the most repressive in the European Union,
have been left almost completely intact.
At
Labour Party conference after Labour Party conference the trade
unions succeed in winning votes against New Labour policies.
However, the Labour Party conference no longer has any power and its
decisions are brushed aside by the party leadership. Gordon Brown
has made it absolutely clear that this will not change under his
leadership and that there will be no ‘shift to the left’.
We
believe that the chance to reclaim the Labour Party has long past
and there is no point in continuing to fuel false hopes. We pledge
to do all in our power to bring a new workers’ party into being in
England and Wales.
Structure
We
believe it would be wrong, at this early stage, to attempt to
predetermine the structure or every aspect of a new party. That can
only be decided on the basis of democratic debate leading to
agreement amongst the forces involved.
However,
if it is to be successful, it is crucial that a new party, and any
pre-party formations, be open, democratic and welcoming to all those
who want to work together against the neo-liberal onslaught on the
working class. This means that all groups and individuals, provided
they are in agreement with the basic aims of the party, should have
the right to democratically organise and argue for their point of
view.
Reaching out to workers
This
approach will help to ensure that the new formation is attractive to
trade unionists, community and environmental campaigners, and
anti-war activists. Most importantly it will assist in reaching out
to workers and to young people who are not yet active in struggle.
In this way we can unite the strongest possible forces to build a
powerful working-class party that is capably of effectively opposing
the anti-union laws, cuts, privatisation, environmental degradation
and war.
We believe that such a party would represent a fundamental break
with the big business parties which currently dominate politics,
giving workers the opportunity to resist the neo-liberal agenda and
fight for a socialist programme.
The CNWP believes that some of the demands which will be central to
the formation of a new party include:
-
Keep health and education public. Stop and reverse cuts in, and
the sell off of, our public services. For properly funded,
democratically controlled public services for all.
-
For decent, affordable public housing for all who want it.
-
No to racism and discrimination - oppose the divisive BNP. No to
the specific oppression that people suffer due to their ethnic
background, nationality, gender, sexuality, age, disabilities or
health.
-
For a living wage of at least £8 an hour, and a living pension -
restore the link with earnings now.
-
No to trident nuclear weapons - spend the £76 billion on public
services.
-
Ownership and planning of energy and transport, leading to massive
investment and expansion of renewable energy and clean, public
transport.
-
Immediate withdrawal of the troops from Iraq and Afghanistan.
-
For a democratic republic - a radical extension of democracy
including all representatives elected by proportional
representation, subject to recall, and paid the average wage.
-
No to the capitalist profit system. For a democratic socialist
society, based on public ownership of the major corporations that
dominate the economy, and run to meet the needs of all, and to
protect our environment for future generations, instead of the
profits of a few.
