The 139th Durham Miners’ Gala – an annual gathering of trade unionists and activists in the former heartland of the North East coal mining industry – falls one year into Starmer’s government of counter-reforms and crisis.
A clear difference was noticeable both in the overall tone of speeches, and the mood on the ground compared with last year. Back then, people had some hopes that Starmer’s government could put an end to 14 years of Tory austerity.
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Since then, however, workers and young people have learned through painful experience what the Starmer government represents.
Comrades of the Revolutionary Communist Party (RCP) were out in force talking to workers and youth, who came with high expectations for a real alternative to the status quo.
Any illusions in the Labour Party have been shattered, and many were instead looking towards Zarah Sultana’s proposed new left party.
Optimism that a vehicle for change was on the horizon burst through. This anticipation – a sure sign of widespread disgust and anger with Labour – was palpable, as well as the desire for clarity and direction about the way forward for the left.
Crowds listened patiently to the line-up of left stalwarts taking the platform, waiting for what they wanted to hear. While some leaders, such as Matt Wrack of the NASUWT pleaded with Starmer, Sharon Graham sensed Labour’s weakness and went on the attack.
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Union militancy
Hot off the heels of Unite’s Policy Conference, where members voted overwhelmingly to ‘re-assess’ the union’s ties with the Labour Party, Graham called for “a union that follows its own path”.
Speaking on the Birmingham bin strikes, she said “If you are a hostile employer, we will come for you no matter the colour of your rosette” to huge cheers. “Some have asked us, ‘why are you attacking a Labour council?’ Because they are attacking workers!”
She went on, “Angela Rayner is missing in action”, drawing loud boos. “We do not want any politicians in our union who do not back workers”. Unite Policy Conference also voted to suspend Rayner for her role in the council’s despicable attacks.
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On the vote for an arms embargo on Israel, she added “Any worker who refuses to handle goods for Israel, Unite will support you”, again to rapturous applause.
This could be a significant development for the Palestine movement. Coordinated workers’ boycotts, combined with the mass movement on the streets, have the power to grind the war machine to a halt.
The mood certainly exists for such action. Instead of passively offering support, however, Graham and other union leaders should spearhead a national campaign to mobilise the working class against austerity, militarism, and genocide.
With Starmer’s Labour stumbling from one crisis to the next, the union leaders have an opportunity to turn their radical words into action!
New left party?
Later, the moment everyone had been waiting for with bated breath was arriving: Corbyn’s speech – his first since 2019 – where presumably he would give details about the new left party announced by Zarah Sultana earlier this month.
He spoke broadly, touching on austerity and Palestine. Backing the Birmingham bin strikes, he said “this will be a warning sign that the next local authority… that decides it wants to lower wages is going to have a big fight coming to it”.
Now was surely the time to announce the new left party. But just as soon as it seemed like Corbyn would reveal all, he made a pointed statement. “Political change never, ever came from the top… it was always campaigns outside Parliament“.
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While it is true that real change comes from the initiative of the masses, this vague pronouncement sidestepped the question on everyone’s lips: ‘what about a new party?’
A new left party could act as a reference point for workers and youth to rally around. It could provide a voice for the hundreds of thousands radicalised over the genocide in Palestine, and link up and organise campaigns against austerity and imperialism.
Revolutionary alternative
Ending his speech, Corbyn said “hope is on the way, change is on the way”. But many workers were clearly left thinking ‘from where?’ and ‘what now?’ A general sense of confusion and bewilderment hung in the air.
At the end of the day, RCP comrades held our own discussion on ‘which way forward for the left?’.
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We explained that we support the proposal for a new left party, but that it needs to go beyond the limits of reheated Corbynism. It must fight on a bold anti-capitalist basis to be able to channel the deep radicalisation in society.
The appetite for a revolutionary alternative was revealed in the number of people who registered their interest in joining the RCP – a record high of more than 50! We also sold over 100 copies of The Communist, and £454 in revolutionary literature.
It is still unclear how and when Zarah Sultana’s new left party will take shape. But what is clear is that there is a yearning for radical change everywhere, and the RCP is connecting with that mood like never before.
