When you take a look around, what do you see? Climate change, crumbling schools, sky-rocketing inequality, and falling living standards.
A whole generation growing up in Britain today is therefore asking themselves: Is this really it?
As communists, we aim to answer this burning question in the minds of workers and youth. No, this is not it. But if we want to bring around real change, we have to get organised.
Different ideas float around in society about how to tackle these problems. In the main, at best, such suggestions simply try to make life slightly more tolerable.
The Revolutionary Communist Party (RCP) has a completely different aim. We stand for the complete overthrow of capitalism.
Our goals go far beyond what the current system can offer. We fight for a society based on needs, not profits.
If you share these revolutionary ambitions, then this is your party.
We are launching the RCP in just a few weeks time. At our founding congress, taking place from 3-6 May, we will discuss our perspectives for the coming British revolution, and agree on the necessary strategy and tactics for the period ahead.
The main barrier to our success, at present, is our modest size. A serious recruitment drive is therefore underway, in order to expand the forces of communism across the country. And this campaign will be given a renewed boost at the congress.
The RCP is a cadre party. We are looking for workers and youth willing to steel themselves as dedicated Marxists, and become active leaders in the class war.
We need comrades who can go into their workplaces, universities, schools, and neighbourhoods in order to raise clear socialist demands, and to find others who want to help us build, spread the ideas of genuine communism, and fight for revolution.
No one is born with these skills. We must develop them ourselves, through theory and practice. The launch of the RCP is therefore a declaration of intent: to educate and train a new generation of class fighters.
We welcome new members from every quarter, from any background, on one condition: that they commit themselves to the class struggle, and the task of building the revolutionary party.
To do this necessarily requires time and sacrifice. But above all, it requires conviction; a determination not to let any obstacle stand in our way.
To forge a force capable of transforming the world will not be easy. But no one else will do this for us.
In recent months, our comrades have intervened in occupations for Palestine, in campaigns against the closure of the Port Talbot steelworks, and in various local strikes and struggles up and down the country.
Through all of this activity, alongside our week-to-week recruitment stalls, we are meeting a steady stream of people looking for a revolutionary alternative to the crises they face.
The political and economic climate in Britain – and internationally – is producing thousands of potential new communists every year.
But we still need to grow further, in order to make an impact on, and eventually lead, these battles as communists – armed with a programme to unite the working class and bring it closer to its historic task: the conquest of power.
So, if you’re a communist, it’s time to get organised! Join the RCP today! Help us launch the Revolutionary Communist Party!
Recruiting for revolution
We are now three weeks away from the founding congress of the Revolutionary Communist Party. Up and down the country, our comrades are working hard to build the RCP.
Some of the essentials of building the RCP include recruitment, fundraising, and education. The reports below demonstrate all of the incredible tools at our disposal for these vital tasks.
Public RCP rallies and recruitment stalls are taking place in towns and cities all across Britain. These have drawn large crowds, and even the local press in some areas.
The excellent initiatives outlined below demonstrate the key reasons why so many workers and youth are now attracted to the banner of the RCP: our bold and fearless organising, combined with the strength of our Marxist theory and ideas.
All of the activity we undertake is designed to draw people towards our ideas: the ideas of genuine communism – the only ones that can explain the chaos and crisis of capitalism.
Theory without action is sterile. But action without theory is blind. The RCP is neither a talking shop nor an academic discussion club. We are a fighting revolutionary organisation that unites theory and practice, just as Lenin and the Bolsheviks did more than a century ago.
If this sounds like your kind of party, join today and help us build the RCP where you are!
Get your party building tools!
The historic founding of the Revolutionary Communist Party is within touching distance.
We know that there are millions of young people and workers in Britain today who identify as communists – all we have to do is find them!
Wherever you are, you can help us. Be on the lookout for workers and youth who want to get organised, and help us further build up our forces. Recruit them to your local branch. And if there is not yet a branch of communists in your area, then it is up to you to build it!
To do that, you’ll need tools. The communist cell starter pack, available from our new online RCP shop, has everything you need to find other communists, as well as to educate yourself in revolutionary theory.
There’s no time to delay! If we want to overthrow capitalism, we need to get to work!
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How to recruit
Over the last 12 months, we have seen spectacular growth across the country. Every member of the RCP, from the moment they join and even before, must see themselves as a recruiter.
Every sympathiser or supporter we meet should be treated as a potential new recruit. Many of them have been actively looking for a party like ours to join. All we need to do is explain who we are, and ask them to join.
Recruitment is a process, however. Not everyone will be convinced of the need to join immediately, or in the same way. Some potential new recruits will require a more patient approach. Comrades need to make the effort to have political discussions and answer any questions raised.
The answers you need are entirely contained in our paper, on our websites, and in our publications. The key is condensing these ideas and arguments, and explaining them simply and clearly, without any waffle or bluffing.
We should aim to directly and immediately speak to any potential recruits that we come across. Our comrades in Austria aim to speak to anyone who writes in within one hour of receiving their details.
On the phone, we must match the energy and enthusiasm of those interested in joining, and tailor the discussion to them. Knowing the details about a potential recruit is essential. We mustn’t reply like we’re reading from a script, but ensure there’s a genuine conversation and dialogue.
We must listen to what people say, and use this as the basis for a political discussion. There’s no need to discuss in depth or at a high level. Instead, we should link concrete questions and issues to the role of the RCP, and explain why they should join.
Like all new comrades, potential recruits should immediately be involved with the work. This can happen before they even have formally joined the branch. They should be given tasks, such as postering or selling papers. Ask if they know other people who might be interested in joining us, or if they can build in their workplace, school, or neighbourhood.
When pitching the party, be bold in stating that we are the Revolutionary Communist Party that is fighting for revolution in Britain and across the world, and we need help!
Make clear that we base ourselves on the ideas of Marxism, as outlined by Marx, Engels, Lenin, and Trotsky. Our serious attitude towards theory underpins everything we do as an organisation, and guides our activism.
The key to successful recruitment and contact work is to be bold and confident in our ideas, whilst projecting our enthusiasm and energy.
Throw aside any hesitations or inhibitions when trying to recruit new comrades. The attitude we need to have is that this party is what workers and youth are looking for – we just have to help them realise it!
Cambridge RCP launch
Cambridge recently had our RCP launch meeting, with around 30 comrades and soon-to-be comrades in attendance.
We discussed our perspectives for the coming British revolution and the role our party is planning to play in it. One person was so inspired that she asked to join during the discussion!
A real highlight of the day was the lunchtime march and rally in the centre of Cambridge, to loudly proclaim that the RCP has arrived!
We drew the ire of a few reactionaries, furious that the youth is turning towards communism. They were drowned out by our lively chants of “one solution – revolution!”
At the rally, comrades spoke about why we’re founding the RCP, and why they joined. We spoke to many interested and sympathetic bystanders at the rally, selling 10 copies of The Communist and meeting people interested in joining our brand new party.
On the back of inspiring discussions, comrades raised their monthly contributions to the party by a collective £100, alongside £500 in direct donations and contributions from our comradely social at the end of the day.
We spoke to the local press about our party, and a comrade who joined two weeks ago produced a fantastic video of the day.
Soon we will be an unmissable presence. Cambridge, watch out! The communists are here and we’re painting the town red.
Newcastle RCP launch
Thirty comrades from around the North East gathered in Newcastle city centre recently for the historic launch of the RCP in Newcastle.
The day’s plans had been extensively discussed by comrades in the lead-up to the event.
We kicked the day off at midday with recruitment stalls and sales all over the city. This was followed by an agitational mini-rally, with comrades giving speeches through a megaphone, addressing the crisis of capitalism and how it applies to Newcastle.
We had many passers-by talking to comrades around the rally, with several sticking around to listen to what comrades had to say. Leaflets were widely distributed.
The launch event consisted of two talks: one on the founding of the RCP, and the other on the life and ideas of Lenin.
Both sessions were followed by breakout rooms, allowing comrades to specifically address those who were interested in joining, and answer the questions they had.
The two sessions ended with a financial appeal and an inspiring rendition of the internationale by all comrades present.
Ely
Since recruiting our initial school student comrade, we have consolidated a cell and announced our emergence by painting the town red. The central streets of the cathedral city have been plastered with stickers.
We’ve made various public appearances with the paper. On one busy weekend, we sold 16 papers and met three potential recruits, one of whom joined the following week. We have also surpassed 200 followers on our Instagram page.
For some weeks running, we have been meeting in person to discuss political theory and tactics for further growth. We have been organising regular reading groups, recruitment stalls, and postering sessions.
Lancaster
Lancaster recently made a recruit on the strength of our document ‘Theses on the coming British revolution’.
This same brand-new recruit has also paid £150 in order to make it along to the RCP founding congress. They explained that they don’t want to miss out on such a historic event, and that the document instilled a sense of urgency, immediacy, and responsibility in them.
All that was needed was an inspiring discussion!
Norwich door knocking
Comrades in Norwich have been out door-knocking as an alternate route to making new recruits locally.
Where recruitment stalls are highly visible, as an essential part of our work, they require workers and the sympathetic public to approach us at our stall or in the street out of their own volition.
Door-knocking puts the onus on us to convince members of the public that do not fully understand what we represent to join, or to buy a paper.
Also, people at home aren’t usually busy, especially if you arrive on their doorstep at, say, 4pm on a Sunday.
We in Norwich received a positive response when door-knocking.
Where people were sympathetic, they had more time to listen to us, and more time to search for loose change or to grab their card to pick up a copy of The Communist.
In Defence of Lenin
In Defence of Lenin, our newly-published biography of the great revolutionary, is not meant to sit gathering dust on a shelf. Like the rest of our material, it is a practical tool to be used in the building of a Leninist party.
Comrades across the country have had immense success in organising around the book, and using its lessons to wage the struggle today.
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For example, in Preston, a study of the book has given an electric impulse to the work:
“We have now had an old comrade return who was out of activity and have made a recruit for the first time in months.
“We now sell the paper, poster, and door-knock nearly every day. This would not have happened so quickly and inspirationally if it wasn’t for the In Defence of Lenin book.”
In Lancaster, comrades have taken the initiative to get the book stocked in the university library as a magnet for young communists.
Comrades in Cambridge have also been using it as a focal point of their activity, and regularly meet to discuss their own successes and trials in relation to those of the Bolsheviks.
They aim to train comrades to think like Lenin, and to ask themselves: “What would Lenin do?”
Whether you’re a veteran or a freshly recruited communist – get your copy today from wellredbooks.co.uk
