Workers' Liberty

This AGM notes the decision of Labour Party affiliated TUs and CLPs to disenfranchise themselves at the Bournemouth conference, the failure of John McDonnell to get on the ballot paper for Labour Party leader and the collapse of the SSP. We believe that this has brought our class to a position of crisis regarding political representation.

The RMT has been active in trying to halt developments like these for several years by supporting at all levels socialist candidates from the LP , the SSP and some independents. What matters most to us is that candidates are democratic socialists fighting for the working class to have its own party; not which party they belong to.

Currently our major effort in this area has been through affiliation to the Labour Representation Committee. Although it is primarily a Labour Party body its federal structure has meant that while still supporting Labour Party socialists our union has also been able to back socialist candidates against Labour where necessary. If the LRC itself was to adopt such a flexible approach regarding elections we believe that the most significant barrier to its growth in the coming period would be removed and it could become a strong pole of attraction to all those who share our strategic goal of working class political representation.

The RMT will use its positions within the LRC to campaign for it to adopt this course of action.