One of the more positive developments that has been ongoing, along side The World Transformed (TWT) this weekend is the great news that now, the Greater Manchester For Your Party (GMFYP) originally spearheaded by Stockport Socialists For Your Party (SSFYP) is now heading towards a meeting next week where all of the existing branches within Greater Manchester will be meeting together to form a body to represent the entirety of Greater Manchester.
As someone who has been at the formation of this, it is very exciting. We had our meeting âWhat nextâ, in the center of Manchester last month, and since that point the movement to create a cross-GM body has picked up a lot of steam. Weâre now at the point where each of the branches concerned are now in our WhatsApp group and are preparing to meet next week. All of the branches, with some minor exceptions have been enthusiastic about the prospect.
The reason for this is, I think I can state most of the branches and a lot of the membership do not like the random sortition. My own personal view is that is a way that the MP group at the top can chop everything up in their favour while their structures are preserved, which, in Northern terms - can do one, mate.
What next for Greater Manchester? The Three Pâs.
The answer is: we move forward together. We now have all of the branches together, ready to make a start at working together. We will use the resources of SSFYP and others to ensure that each of the branches within the Greater Manchester area is well-equipped, well-educated, well-organised and well-prepared for the tasks that lie ahead. To do that, we must act together.
And that task as far as I see it is the 3 Pâs, we will be:
- PROACTIVE - Proactively strengthen the branches within GM to make them more effective, and more organised, and ready to face the tasks ahead.
- PROTECTIVE - Protecting grassroots arguments through positive action and effective means of making our voices heard, and protecting our communities from fascism.
- PREVENTATIVE - Preventing Your Party from recreating the Labour Party and from succumbing to neo-liberal or liberal nonsense.
A note on the various national efforts - branch-led or GTFO!
I have been messaged about around 5 different efforts which are trying to connect the branches together in various configurations, as networks, as communities of YP groups. These on their face seem to be based from well-meaning leftist groups of whatever stripe, which are attempting mostly to try and shift power away from the existing self-appointed groups and shift it towards, trust-me-bro leftist groups who, fo-sho will have the rights of all of the branches in mind, absolutely.
Any leftist worth their salt knows â the only way grassroots works within YP is from the branches themselves running efforts. Thatâs why Joe from SSFYPâs idea of a branch-led delegate structure is the only way to go. Donât let some other group come in and tell you how to run your own party.
Your areas can do this too - Kill all the yapping, letâs make it happen!
We are not alone, and you should not be too. The fight for the soul of the party is in the offing. If nothing is happening in your area, then you have all you need to get started. Contact the branches in your area, discuss the need for a regional group, and get going. We started our effort with nothing and it is on the verge of being something.
To quote Talib Kweli in his phemomenal album:
This ainât the time or place for you to prove something, cut the stargazinâ yo, move somethinâ!