On Saturday 23rd Jan, the Northern Region LRC (Labour Representation Committee) met in Gateshead to hear a speech from Ronnie Campbell MP for Blyth Valley in Northumberland.  Ronnie, who is a well known life long socialist and former NUM activist, addressed the 17 strong gathering of LP and TU activists and laid out his view of the Labour Movement, a view of its history and the perspectives for the coming election.  He spoke of the attacks being faced by working people from the government and under the current conditions of the crisis of capitalism, and stated that it was "always the working class who has to take the brunt of these attacks!" and that the Labour Party "needs to return to the socialist traditions upon which it was built!"

Ronnie, who has a solid record of voting against government policies which attack the working class, has long been a supporter of the aspirations of the LRC and was one of the MP's who voted for John McDonnell in his campaign to get onto the ballot paper for the leadership election two years ago.  Back then Ronnie spoke on the same platform as John and again, stood shoulder to shoulder with him on all the basic socialist demands of the left.

Another development this week saw the open list selection process confirmed for the next-door seat of Wansbeck where the current MP Denis Murphy is standing down.  NUM President Ian Lavery is seeking nominations to be the next Labour candidate.  Ian, who sent his fraternal greetings to this year’s LRC National Conference, is also a well known and outspoken campaigner on the left, and is keen to link up with other socialists in the movement.  If he gains the candidacy then the LRC will have two socialist candidates to get behind in the North East, two solid working class representatives who identify themselves with the LRC and welcome the support it can offer. 

With such an opportunity looming for the left in Northumberland and the Northern Region, the LRC can and will grow and could become a real rallying point for the left of the Labour Movement. The LRC in the region has been growing steadily and has held together very well in the face of some very difficult circumstances.  With the support for these two comrades in their campaigns to get into parliament, the LRC can play a crucial role in raising the flag of socialism and attracting a wider layer of Labour movement activists.