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.
