Globally

• 1 billion people living on less than $1 a day.• Spend 80% or more of their income on food

face malnutrition and ill-health. • Each year 3.5 million children die of

malnutrition. • A third of children in developing countries

under five have their minds and bodies impaired by hunger.

Neo-liberalism

• The World Bank's support for rapid import liberalisation and the dismantling of state support

• Exposing African farmers to subsidised competition and the demise of smallholder markets.

Europe

• Italy disastrous period of coalition with a centre right Prodi administration = Berlusconi

• France centre left government open the door to Sarkozy to power.

• In Germany Angela Merkel.

Ideology?

• Europe social democratic parties have moved to the centre ground

• Ideological difference between them and the centre-right parties has disappeared.

Local elections

• Labour’s local elections results the worst in 40 years

• 24% of the vote and coming third behind the Liberal Democrats

• Boris Johnson - 1,168,738 up 542,423• Ken Livingstone 1,028,966 up 340,358• A class vote

Reasons

• 10% income tax rate • Economic crisis the credit crunch, • Rising fuel and food prices• Low wages• Large numbers of Labour voters alienated by

right-wing policies of New Labour.

Modern politics

• Rivalry has become one of presentation and personalities.

• Opposition to privatisation and fear about the future of the health service and education.

• The wars and occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan

• Fears about crime and the issue of immigration used by the press and politicians to move politics rightward

Voting intentions

• When the threat arises of a Tory win most of its supporters will vote once again for New Labour

• Possibilities for building a left-wing alternative to New Labour.

• Will not be quick or easy.

Respect’s results

• Birmingham Sparkbrook - Nahim Ullah Khan won 3,032 (42.64%)

• Respect polled 25% in Springfield, 17% in Nechells and just under 5% in Moseley and Kings Heath.

• Possibilities of obtaining very good votes in elections.• In Manchester’s Cheetham Hill ward 14.4% • City and East constituency 26,760 votes (14.59%), an

increase of 7,085(36%) • Left List very good 37% and 25% in Preston and

Sheffield respectively to 12% and 10% in Manchester.

Limits

• Respect has a broad range of policies • Most people still see it as the anti-war party. • This needs to be addressed. What exactly is

Respect and what does it stand for?• Other than Newham and Tower Hamlets,

Southwark, and some pockets in North London and elsewhere, Respect does not exist as an active force

The end of new Labour?

• No. • Maybe will be defeated electorally.• Will not draw the conclusion that the neo-

liberal path has been wrong• Will not turn back towards some kind of old

Labour model.

Our response

• Build broad parties of the left, based on broad socialist policies across Europe.

• Basis clearly exists.• 3.6% won by the left parties on the London list

Tasks

• Consolidate in Birmingham and East London • Extend outwards into other areas• Establishing national spread.• Party-building work• Recruit and consolidate new members and

build branches

Then

• Conference in the early autumn• Work with all others on the left who want to

build a left alternative • Young people of the environmental

movement, those opposing racism and Islamophobia and local community activists.

Oh and...

• Approach trade unionists and other sections of the left

• For a regroupment broader than Respect• Participate in initiatives like the “Convention

of the left”. • Show ourselves committed to the project of

working with others to build a bigger, united left-wing party.