The Labour Representation Committee (LRC) was formed in 2004 by Left Labour MPs and supporters in the Labour and trade union movement to fight for socialist policies in the Party and campaign in the labour movement. Having formed a group in Cambridge that has been meeting since the summer, the Cambridge LRC was formally constituted on 12^th October, voting to affiliate to the national campaign. On a chilly night the Group managed to gather together 14 people and received a number of apologies for absence on top.

Susan Press, national Vice-Chair of the LRC, gave a report back from the Labour Party conference. There is no doubt that the mood at this year’s conference, or rather rally to endorse the leadership - which is what it has become, was downbeat. Susan felt that it was a missed opportunity for Gordon Brown, who could have used it to revitalise the government’s fortunes and win back the support amongst working class voters that has been frittered away over the past 12 years.

Instead, Brown decided to announce what is surely one of the most reactionary policy initiatives yet - to put teenage mothers in a latter version of the workhouse!  The official political discourse has become about cuts and Brown did not disappoint his big business pals on this score. The spin was that Labour will cut because we need to, the Tories because they have to. As Susan said, the outcome however is the same for working people and the poor! Moreover, in the last few weeks, in order to deal with the effects of the economic crisis and burgeoning debt, Brown has decided to offer up more of the family silver to the vultures in the private sector. There would be no need to sell off the Chunnel or the Tote if some of these people even bothered to pay their full taxes let alone return the billions they have stolen off the working class. 

However there are reasons to be optimistic which came out in the discussion that followed. Some noted that it is unfortunate that 12 years of Blairism have not managed to lead to the development of a serious left challenge, either in or outside the Labour Party. But this however is the point, according to Socialist Appeal! The link between the Party and Trade Unions is still intact, despite the efforts of New Labour and some of our friends on the left who fail to see that disaffiliation is pointless if the trade unions have not used the link to intervene in the Party in the first place. The task is to fight for a socialist programme – and a leadership which will defend it – within the organisations of the working class and to get these organisations to use their power not to hold the movement back but to rally the millions of workers who are looking for a way forward which they have not got from the leadership of Labour in power.

Susan’s view was that the main task for the LRC in the coming year is to campaign for the socialist MPs and for left Labour councillors where possible. Most importantly the campaign must support workers in struggle wherever possible. In Cambridge the campaign to save jobs at Marshalls Airport is high on the agenda and the LRC will be inviting Marshalls workers to address a public meeting along with Labour Group councillors who are campaigning  against the move out of Cambridge.

Reflecting on the Conservative Party conference, Susan outlined the reactionary nature of Cameron’s Tories, who she said are employing a high-risk strategy that is unlikely to capture votes outside their natural constituency. Indeed it was noted in the discussion that the Tory vote in recent elections has not gone up but that it has always been a question of Labour voter abstentions, staying at home out of disillusionment with Labour’s record in power. As such the Tories poll lead is ‘soft’ and with a change in policy on Labour’s part, this poll lead could be destroyed as voters see a reason to vote Labour rather than stay at home or even switch their traditional vote.

The LRC are actively backing the CWU in their dispute, which is set to escalate to national action on the back of a resounding ballot result. This is also an immediate priority for the local LRC. Paul Turnbull, a local CWU rep, was invited to address the meeting. Paul outlined the challenges for CWU members and a public postal service which is being undermined by privatisation, job cuts and attacks on terms and conditions and pay. Low paid postal workers have also had the pensions cut as a result of a ‘holiday’ taken by Royal Mail’s owner - the government - for 13 years! Meanwhile the CEO has been paid 1.5 million by the taxpayer. The Royal Mail continues to make profits - over £300 million in the last year. It is important not just for postal workers and the public that the CWU win the dispute. It is important also for the whole movement that these attacks are defeated. The CWU can win and LRC must play a part in helping that to happen. A collection was held for the postal workers, which raised over £40.

Brown and New Labour will continue to carry out the dictates of the banks and big business - and we will continue to fight for socialism in the Labour Party, the trade unions and amongst the working class and youth.  We have no other choice

Click here to find out more about the LRC conference