Manifesto
Introduction
Assemblies
Economy
Nature
Culture
Work together for system change
Whichever way you cast your vote, wherever you live, the General Election alone will not lead to solutions to the pressing issues of widespread poverty, gross inequality, the collapse of national and local services, climate chaos and the undermining of democracy. Our manifesto argues that the neoliberal political and economic system is broken beyond repair and urgently needs replacing. We propose that the way forward is to create a new, democratic network of Popular Assemblies which express the power of the people. The alternative is a collapse into authoritarian rule and outright dictatorship.
By prioritising big business and financial interests, the UK state has undermined the democratic process that people fought long and hard to create. The right to protest is severely restricted by laws that give police wide, arbitrary powers. Trade unionism is weakened by unprecedented limits on strike action. Independence of judges is undermined, while state-sponsored racism aimed at migrants and ‘culture wars’ are used to divide communities. ‘Extremism’ is now redefined as any form of serious opposition, such as shown in mass marches against the Israeli government’s horrific slaughter in Gaza, or actions against fossil fuels. The purpose is to criminalise resistance.
Yes, this is a new period of extremism – it is a period of extreme child poverty, extreme and obscene profiteering by global corporations and finance and extreme attacks on democratic rights. To see this simply as a product of prolonged Tory rule is to miss the point. The capitalist social system is in crisis, not just in the UK but globally. This is most acutely seen in mounting climate chaos, the result of uncontrolled exploitation of resources driven by corporate profiteering.
Confidence and trust in parliament, the system of government and the mainstream media have fallen to historic lows. Just nine per cent of the British public trust politicians to tell the truth, down from twelve per cent in 2022. Confidence in the Westminster Parliament is at an historic low of 22%.
Outside Westminster, the story is much the same. The Scottish National Party government has neglected to tackle child poverty, the housing shortage and the crisis in social care, but vigorously protects big landowners, oil companies and hedge funds. In Wales, the Labour administration has failed to protect health and local services, and watched hardship grow.
There is a real danger that likely disillusionment with a Labour government will lead
to a rejection of the established political process in favour of far-right populism organised around Farage and the Tory rump. Ultra reactionary, racist parties are already on the march throughout Europe, while America is facing another Trump regime more dangerous than the first.
Major wars like Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and Israel’s genocidal assault on Palestinians, stoke the danger of uncontrolled international conflict. Totalitarian rule in countries like Russia and China is strengthened by the inability of countries like the UK and USA to provide sustainable answers to domestic and global challenges or a democratic political alternative that enjoys popular support.
So what is to be done?
It doesn’t have to be this way. Our manifesto offers alternative visions and actions to make a transition beyond a system that deprives the people of power, to change things for the better. By working together, we can create a new, democratic economic and political system. In place of top-down rule, we campaign for a network of Popular Assemblies that will ultimately have the decisive say at community, city, town and regional levels.
Assemblies would aim to take ownership and control of essential economic and financial resources presently in the hands of shareholders, landowners, banks and hedge funds. Advanced technology, organisational innovation and knowledge-based creations around AI can be repurposed in a not-for-profit framework to benefit everyone in society.
Our revolutionary vision of a new political and economic set-up will empower communities to focus on quickly improving life chances and opportunities for the many. An Assemblies-based, new democratic system would express the power of the people and become the basis for international peace and unconditional support for countries struggling for their economic and political independence.
We won’t be starting from scratch. Citizens of all the nations of the UK have a proud history of struggle for democratic rights and social reform against a state hostile to their aspirations. Let’s build on that inspiring foundation. Read and support our Manifesto and take steps towards creating the power of the people!
Next: Build an Assemblies Network