Birmingham Socialist Party hosted a public meeting to discuss the recent council elections, and the need to build a working-class alternative to Labour. At the meeting, some asked how Reform had attracted so much support, and how socialists should respond.
During the election, Socialist Party members spoke to many Reform voters who, unsurprisingly, felt abandoned by the mainstream parties. Reform channels this frustration towards immigrants, while issues such as council cuts, nursery closures, low pay, and collapsing local services are sidelined.
Matt Reid, Unite the Union convenor for the Birmingham bin workers, spoke about the ongoing strike, and the role Socialist Party members have played on the picket lines. Matt said that through consistently turning up and supporting workers, Socialist Party members had helped shift the mood among bin workers.
Matt noted: “Farage and other Reform MPs didn’t turn up to the pickets to support us, but trans activists with Palestine flags did”. He said that’s how you cut across support for Reform among workers.
When socialists speak to working-class people directly, many agree that the real problem is not migrants or other workers, but councils, government, and bosses for falling living standards.
The meeting also looked at the continued failure of Labour councils, imposing austerity, as well as the role of the Greens. At the meeting, there was strong engagement from Socialist Party members and other members of the public, with contributions in addition to the introduction by Birmingham Socialist Party member David Ellis on how socialist policies and campaigning can offer a real alternative for local people.
The Greens now form the second-largest group in the council. Questions were raised, based on the Greens’ past positions, on whether they would adequately fight austerity, and how we can challenge them and other independent councillors to fight for an alternative to cuts.
The meeting highlighted that working-class support is won through solidarity, direct involvement in local struggles, and offering a socialist alternative that speaks to people’s real conditions.
Read more here from our magazine on the fight for a workers' alternative after the May elections