No Austerity Conference

The Friends Meeting House
Saturday 14th February, 2015

By John Owen

The most militant and most active forces in the city's campaign groups put differences aside and gathered together to help thrash out a policy to unify the anti-cuts movement against the growing tide of government cutbacks. All lines of inquiry, tactic stratagem and slogans - as well as the more traditional standing of candidates - wrestled against pro-cuts councilors. It was awkward, messy and protracted yet democratic and kept to the point.

With the day broken up into the 3 workshops, a nice donation-priced lunch, provided for the continuity of the debate. The mood was kept light as diners were amused by musical interlude during lunch break. It was the beginning of the beginning, the start of the end, not the end of the start, all the right questions were asked chewed over, talked up and down then gone over again. A third, fourth, fifth time; elections, alliances, candidates protest marches, campaigns, sit-downs street protest all the ways to put the heat back on the council. Or any future government thinking they can carry out more of the same on the back of the most oppressed and hard hit: the urban poor and migrants.

There was an issue of underrepresentation by the local black community and the clear age differential, in the lack of youth attending. But these faults were admitted and addressed; ways to practically involve and thus help invigorate the anti-cuts lobby itself were raised by speakers.

The who? What? Why? Where? And when? But then the actual change of tactics to orientate to these new forces that need to be drawn in, Scotland was no exception, the same processes involved there that stirred up youth apply here too.

The conference wrote and developed a manifesto in situ, held a live report from Greece where anti-cuts government has been elected. Also, Italian delegates and a Greek speaker gave an international flavour to the proceedings. With messages of support from Ken Loach read out, the FBU (Fire Brigade Union), RMT (Transport Unions) and PCU, plus other unions in attendance and speaking. The atmosphere represented the current level of thought and debate in the Labour movement, perhaps Unite and local campaigns like OSAC and Reclaim, claiming the lion's share of the credit.

As well as the LATC (Liverpool Against The Cuts), stalwarts and assorted others giving their time and energy to help organise the event, to make it a smooth running affair free from hiccups or constitutional irregularities of type at trade union conferences. In fact the hallmark of most of these show that it is a stage managed affair from start to finish, but this had the freshness and spontaneity, general uplifting tone and helped to galvanize opinion as to what to do next.

Many new faces and people were speaking for the first time, in front of a highly critical, experienced and politically mature audience. They passed muster and were patiently listened to and duly awarded their first clap. This is no small thing, as newer and newer layers will have to come forward take the lead, start the battles to come without a general in the fields, so to speak. They are the link to the next layers of fighters that will rise up to oppose the powers that be, Labour or Tory No More Cuts means NO MORE of anyone's cuts.

In conclusion, many are called but few are chosen, most are not allowed and others never got the chance due to class inequality, breeding, educational advantage or no silver spoon at birth. Here, however, all were enabled, here perfect, disciplined and totally incident free it wasn't, real alive fresh and in your face it was. Staying true to these aims to help it walk the distance to the next stage, a bigger stronger mass movement that runs and is ready to open up an account with the Con-Dem government.

No one then will break its stride; its task is unifying the whole of the protest movements in Liverpool, Merseyside and beyond. To help capitalise on the opposition to capitalism, whichever party wins the election.

News just in 3 popular nightclubs closed, people take to the street, others to Facebook and amazingly U-turn by mayor Andersen on the sure start closures. Money has been found to guarantee the jobs and centres for 2 more years, battles have been won victories achieved, but the war is not over yet. 28th February hands around the Cunard building protest 11-12 noon.nr Liverpool one. Bus terminus. Police dispersal protest afterwards.

This will go ahead as planned, though now more of a proud victory celebration than a protest.

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