Comments on: The People’s Assembly – an absentee contribution http://www.redpepper.org.uk/the-peoples-assembly-an-absentee-contribution/ Red Pepper Wed, 18 Sep 2013 17:39:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.6.1 By: Neil Williams http://www.redpepper.org.uk/the-peoples-assembly-an-absentee-contribution/#comment-220359 Neil Williams Wed, 03 Jul 2013 18:20:51 +0000 http://www.redpepper.org.uk/?p=10457#comment-220359 There is just one problem with the idea of a Peoples Assembly at local level and that is that no asked the 1000′s of local anti cuts and anti austerity groups/campaigns, which have been working at grass roots level for years in many cases, what they thought about this. This is all so “top down” in organisation and not what so many activists at local level want which is a “bottom up”, democratic and “open” movement not one stitched up between some key people/unions.

Why do I need to be told to construct a local PA when in my part of the world we have a very effective anti cuts movement (I am the Chair)supported by most people on the Left and local trade union movement – just what would it add and why would it be needed? I just don’t get it unless someone is trying to build a movement which they hope to have control over rather than a movement which is democratic and hears the voice of ordinary working people (there were very few on the platform at the national PA I am told – I was not able to attend myself as I was on holiday).

Of course the PA was an important event, which deserved to be supported support and it is important we have a united anti austerity movement. And again we should support the NHS demo outside the Tory party conference in September as well as a day of disobedience against austerity in November, when we find out what that involves (but there you have the problem we are waiting to be told from on high what it means).

Surely local anti cuts groups and anti austerity campaigns – like the anti bedroom tax campaign should have been consulted in some way or form rather than being told by Counterfire the CP and some big name trade union leaders what we should be doing and all expected to “jump to it”! I do not expect the call for local PA’s to work unless there no local anti cuts or anti austerity groups already (and in which case who is going to build it). The work of the many successful and democratic local anti cuts groups and campaigns should continue and be supported by the unions with financial support which so far we have seen very little off (most local groups struggle to pay even for their monthly meeting room!!)- lets build on what we already have and yes lets unite at national level under the PA banner but lets build a movement that all can have a voice in and not just big names at a top table.

]]> By: Will Podmore http://www.redpepper.org.uk/the-peoples-assembly-an-absentee-contribution/#comment-219477 Will Podmore Fri, 28 Jun 2013 12:44:28 +0000 http://www.redpepper.org.uk/?p=10457#comment-219477 Mike writes, “there is no broad-based anti-austerity campaign.”
Doesn’t the trade union movement exist for you, Mike?
And, please, let’s stop using their terms – ‘austerity’ is an ethical, lifestyle choice, meaning sternness, moral severity, severe simplicity.
The government is enforcing not austerity but poverty.
What did the Assembly achieve?

]]> By: Alan Story http://www.redpepper.org.uk/the-peoples-assembly-an-absentee-contribution/#comment-219110 Alan Story Wed, 26 Jun 2013 10:48:00 +0000 http://www.redpepper.org.uk/?p=10457#comment-219110 Mike:

I enjoyed your piece on the PA a few days ago.

For an out-of-London view of what happened at the Notts PA a month ago re:the cancelling of a planned creche, perhaps the material here may be of interest:

http://nottingham.indymedia.org.uk/articles/5792

http://andreasbieler.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/on-realising-full-potential-of-pas.html

Best wishes
Alan Story
Nottingham

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