Convention of the Left debate 2008

This bold venture comes as a result of people from different left and radical traditions - or none - getting together in greater Manchester to say that there IS an alternative to Labour's policies of war and privatisation

March 19, 2008 · 2 min read

We are from green, left, internationalist, communist, socialist, radical and anarchist backgrounds. We are involved in civil liberties, anti-deportation, trade union, climate change, peace and public service campaigns. What we have in common is that we believe the wealth exists in society to pay for our essential needs – but we do not believe that an unbridled free market is sustainable.

We cannot have socialism if the planet has been destroyed, but we (probably?) can’t save the planet unless we have socialism.

So when New Labour comes to Manchester for its so-called conference (an event generally believed to be without debate or decisions), we have decided that we want to host a ‘Convention of the Left’ – just a stone’s throw (or a balloon’s flight) away from the security-surrounded official event, we will be holding a full day conference, a day of action, and four days of themed debates and discussions (20-25 September 2008).

  • Our convention will be both a protest at Labour’s war and privatisation, racism and pollution, authoritarianism and inequality, and a practical demonstration that there is an alternative.
  • Our convention will be about an entirely different world – one that can be built by working people for working people.
  • Our convention will be united in our determination to combine our strengths and develop through open and participatory debates the rebuilding of the Left today.

    For more information www.conventionoftheleft.org.uk

    Convention of the left: statement of intent

    • Share this article  
      share on facebook     share on twitter  

    Workers unite online

    They're logging on to combat lagging labour laws, costly court proceedings, and outsourcing management, writes Gaia Caramazza

    Review – Finding a Voice: Asian women in Britain

    Finding a Voice: Asian women in Britain, by Amrit Wilson, reviewed by Maya Goodfellow

    The political whiteness of #MeToo

    We need to confront how the movement is shaped by the power of whiteness, write Alison Phipps

    Trumpism goes global

    Trumpism is capitalism’s Plan B, writes Nick Dearden

    Brexit’s drug problem

    For all the talk of free-trade, why is ‘Global Britain’ still behind on drug law reform? By Kojo Koram

    What happens if a university fails?

    David Ridley reflects on the Augar Review