LRC AGM

So I am putting together my overall impressions of yesterday’s LRC AGM. Tony Benn made a good speech at the start of conference. John McDonnell set the scene about what needs to be done with an election looming. He also stated (with much applause) that he would stand again if there’s a leadership contest and especially if the alternative is a Kinnock-style compromise character (I certainly agree with that political position). Also, the importance of the canvassing and supporting Labour MPs who haven’t kow-towed to warmongering NL and the ideology of neoliberalism. It was a good rousing speech which then led to the resolutions.

I don’t want to go into too much detail as wanna keep this short but the resolution that stands out for me is the one on sex work (and as a Socialist feminist and supporter of decriminalisation and unionisation was pleased to see the resolution), Mary Partington made an extremely powerful speech which argued for solidarity and self-organising of sex workers, pragmatic and integral to this is support for decriminalisation and unionisation. And as Nicky Adams (English Collective of Prostitutes) during a lunch time discussion on sex work said NL has brought in the oppressive Policing and Crime legislation which will further criminalise sex workers (it will not ‘protect’ sex workers) against the current political backdrop of welfare reform and a recession! How the hell does NL think people will financially ‘exist’ faced with limited choices?

So on this resolution the LRC passed it pretty much unanimously.

Briefly, there was resolutions on the industrial situation, economic crisis, Royal Mail and postal dispute, media, opposition to the cuts in the Civil Service Compensation Scheme, welfare benefits, transport, People’s Charter, local people’s conventions, Iraq and Afghanisation, Iran, social ownership, Labour Party democracy, the BNP, general election campaigning, LRC recruitment.

You can see the wording of these resolutions here.

In the afternoon there was an international speaker, Cristian Dominguez (United Confederation of Bolivian Campesino Workers). Christian gave an inspiring account of the Bolivian masses’ fight against their ruling classes. Their struggle involves facing tremendous hardship. It started with a fight against water privatisation. Christian stressed that these struggles are not something limited by international boundaries: they are for the whole of humanity.

The final speech of the day was by Katy Clark and it was an exceptionally rousing and impressive speech about the way forward.

 Election results: Maria Exall and Susan Press were re-elected as Vice Chairs. Commiserations to Marsha-Jane Thompson.

Two representatives selected to go forward to the Centre Left Grassroots Alliance slate are for the Labour Party NEC:

Christine Shawcroft

Susan Press

I can’t find my notes which included the names of the new LRC NC, though I am sure they will be published on the LRC website (I was re-elected btw).