COMRADES COME RALLY......

The most important gathering yet this year of the Labour Left is on Saturday May 10 in London. Supporters of the LRC will join readers and supporters of Labour Briefing ( and hopefully others broadly in agreement) for a post-election analysis of where we go next and how we stop New Labour leading us to defeat at the general Election. The key speakers are Tony Benn and John McDonnell MP and I expect this event will garner far more media attention than is usual - far more importantly, it's the start of what I hope will be a concerted and determined fightback bringing some hope to the many disenchanted and disaffected. Venue is the University of London Union in Malet Street (nearest Tubes Goodge Street, Tottenham Court Road, Russell Square) . Other speakers include Murad Qureshi of the Greater London Authority and LRC Vice-Chair and NEC member Christine Shawcroft I will also be putting in my three penn'orth about the local elections.

The Labour Briefing AGM starts at 11am and goes on till about 4pm.

ENDORSING THE LEFT CONVENTION

As I ponder whether can afford Visitor's Pass to Labour Conference, more political issues are likely to be discussed outside the ring of steel and expensive hotel bars.
Yards away, at the Friends Meeting House, there will be the Convention Of The Left, two days of debate and discussion and though plans are at the early stages the LRC is likely to be involved in debates on everything from climate change to globalisation and trade union rights. There are boundaries which Labour Party members cannot cross.
We do not support candidates standing in opposition to Labour and Left Labour still believes ( however impossible it seems at present) that our values can be fought for from within the Party ,
But that does not mean that we cannot find areas of common ground with those for whom joining Labour is not currently an option or, indeed, let's be honest, anathema.
The left is weak, we need to build it and we cannot afford to be sectarian. You can read my supporting statement here As stated, it is purely in a personal capacity and does not represent the views of any individual or organisation.
http://conventionoftheleft.org.uk/

SQUABBLING SECTARIANISM NOT THE ANSWER

An excellent post from comrade Ian on the Labour left Forum blog which I have neglected of late.Other lefties seem to get their sans culottes in a twist about the various machinations of the SWP, SP, CPGB and the ill-fated RESPECT George Galloway roadshow. I would rather, as Ian does, discuss how we actually start making progress instead of shooting ourselves in the foot. You all know where I'm coming from on this one so will leave it at that......