It underlines the need to get involved to push for an open and democratic organisation
There were huge cheers as Jeremy Corbyn took to the stage in Blackburn, Lancashire, on Saturday for a launch event of Your Party.
The crowds filled the 1,500 capacity Grand Venue. They greeted the former Labour Party leader with a loud rendition of “Oh Jeremy Corbyn”.
There have been many events around the country for supporters of Your Party, the electoral initiative announced by Corbyn and fellow independent MP Zarah Sultana on 24 July. But this was the largest so far and the first to be formally organised by yourparty.uk.
The huge rally was hosted by Blackburn Independent MP Adnan Hussain and featured Independent Alliance MPs Iqbal Mohamed and Ayoub Khan.
Hussain was elected as an MP last July, on the back of the movement against the genocide in Gaza and the British state’s complicity. He smashed through the 18,000 vote majority once held by the Labour incumbent in a seat held by Labour since 1955.
He started his speech by talking about how Blackburn and the surrounding towns “have always been towns of workers, of families, of communities rooted in care, where values and the spirit of togetherness rise above all else.”
He said that Your Party would be a new movement, not for the elites, but for the working class and the “forgotten voices of Lancashire”.
He went on to discuss the rise of the far right and racism. He said, “a new monster is rearing its ugly head. Fascism is knocking at the door, threatening to come to power.
“We are living through an ugly moment in politics, where mainstream parties compete, trying to outdo each other on who can create an atmosphere of the most hostility.”
And he said the far right “use refugees and migrants to stab at the wounds created by years of neglect.”
He explained that Your Party is not just a party but a “grassroots movement”, one with “a new way of doing things”. He added that he hopes that Jeremy Corbyn will one day be prime minister.
Corbyn discussed the growing imperialist tensions and wars around the world and slammed the trillions of dollars spent globally on weapons.
He spoke about Israel’s brutal assault on Palestine, driven by a “Zionist ideology” that says that Israel “has a right to occupy Gaza and the West Bank.”
He said that the new party would back independent councillors and those fighting in elections in May next year.
He would insist that “every local branch has at least one open public meeting and forum where the local community can come together in demands, criticism and support.”
Corbyn also discussed how the party could work with social movements, including trade unions and housing organisations. And said that disability rights organisations should organise and lead any review into the benefits system.
Outside the venue, attendees spoke to Socialist Worker about their hopes for a new political party. Many were there out of curiosity.
Stella said, “It’s exciting to potentially have a new left wing party. I’m here to find out and see what is happening.”
College worker Leroy told Socialist Worker, “I just want to see what the new party has to say. It’s pro-Palestine, but what does it say about domestic issues, about the NHS, about nationalisation?”
Fatima spoke about growing up in the 1970s and witnessing the rise of the fascist National Front. She told Socialist Worker, “The state of the country now is appalling, I’ve never seen this level of degeneration. We need to do something about it.”
And several mentioned their support for Corbyn and the attacks he faced from the right of the Labour Party when he was party leader.
Susan said she looks to Corbyn because he sticks to his principles. She told Socialist Worker, “He has never changed. I hope they won’t try to fetter him again.”
Another long term Corbyn supporter said he was angry at the right wing of the Labour Party for their smear campaign against Corbyn. He said, “the amount of vilification directed at one person was unprecedented.”
But when asked about his hopes for the party he said “a good start would be the 2017 election manifesto”. It’s an argument for a warmed up version of a Corbyn-led Labour Party rather than a new way of doing politics.
The size of the event shows the enthusiasm for an anti-austerity, anti-racist and pro-Palestine party that engages working class people.
There are also real debates within the movement about the direction it should take. On Friday, Hussain, who is the company secretary of Your Party UK Ltd., shared a post on the X social media site from a trans critical Manchester organisation.
He said he “agreed” with the group’s demand for transgender women to be kept out of “women’s single sex spaces”.
Sultana—who was travelling in New York and not in Blackburn—posted her own view later that day. She said, “I’ve always stood with the trans community, and I always will.
“The same forces targeting migrants and Muslims are attacking LGBTQ+ people, especially trans people. That’s the new party we’re building. Bigotry has no place in it.”
It underlines the need for revolutionaries to get involved in the launch events, push for an open and democratic organisation and try to shape the politics of the new party.
We should fight for it to be a party that stands for liberation for all and doesn’t blame trans+ people for women’s oppression.
We have an opportunity to build an alternative to the Labour Party’s racism, austerity, transphobia and warmongering. We should seize the time.
Marilyn Perry
We need you to get up and running. I loath the flags that are appearing in the towns and on motorway bridges. I am ashamed. I hope the asylum seekers and migrants don’t think we are all racists.
Please continue to be a voice for the Palestinians. I fear the world will do nothing to stop the genocide.
Please keep us informed about meetings close to me.
Good luck and God bless.