The Labour4Clause4 campaign invites supporters to its fringe meeting at this year’s Labour conference to discuss the bold socialist measures that a Corbyn government needs to fight for.
This year’s Labour conference will mark another important turning point in the fight for a socialist Labour government. We have had three year’s of Corbyn’s leadership – and three years of endless attacks from the establishment. Brexit is fast approaching. And the Tories are mired in a deep crisis, meaning another general election could be on the cards at any point.
In this context, Corbyn and McDonnell could soon find themselves in Downing Street. Once in power, they will face the full onslaught of the ruling class, who will be desperate to stop a Labour government passing radical policies. At the same time, however, after a decade of crisis and austerity, workers cannot endure any more cuts and disastrous privatisations.
It is vital, therefore, to discuss the bold steps and measures that a Corbyn government would need to take. These would have to include the nationalisation of the banks, big business, and major monopolies, in order to take back control from the billionaire class and plan the economy in the interests of the many, not the few.
At the end of the day, you cannot plan what you do not control; and you cannot control what you do not own.
100 years ago, Labour introduced Clause IV (part 4) into its constitution, which promised:
“To secure for the workers by hand or by brain the full fruits of their industry and the most equitable distribution thereof that may be possible upon the basis of the common ownership of the means of production, distribution and exchange, and the best obtainable system of popular administration and control of each industry or service.”
This was removed from Labour’s constitution in 1995 by Tony Blair, as part of his New Labour project. But today, with privatisation and the market failing all around us, this demand is more relevant than ever.
The Labour4Clause4 campaign therefore invites all supporters to our special fringe meeting at this year’s Labour conference, where guest speakers will be discussing why we need to restore Clause IV as part of the fight for a socialist Labour government.
BRING BACK CLAUSE IV – OUR FIGHT FOR SOCIALISM
Labour conference fringe meeting
Tuesday 25th September, 7.30pm
Novotel Liverpool Centre,
40 Hanover Street, Liverpool
Speakers include:
Ian Hodson – Bakers, Food, and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU) President
Steve Hedley – Railway, Maritime, and Transport (RMT) Senior Assistant General Secretary
Rob Sewell – Labour4Clause4 campaign co-ordinator
The Labour4Clause4 campaign was set up by Labour Party members and trade unionists. Our goal is to raise the demand for the restoration of Clause IV throughout the labour movement and to recommit Labour to a socialist programme.
