Left Unity: First Bristol Meeting
Bristol protest against the bedroom tax
Seventeen people attended the first meeting of the Bristol group last week, from a broad range of political backgrounds. There were also around a dozen apologies from those who couldn’t make that date. Some of those attending had previously been members of left groups or parties; others considered themselves to be independent socialists or anarchists; and a few had come along with the feeling that things needed to change, and that Left Unity might be a good place to start!
Everyone wanted to build a movement that would make a practical difference to people’s lives and there was agreement around the ideas of openness and localism – we wanted our Left Unity group to be of particular relevance to the situation in Bristol, and we wanted to be inclusive, encouraging participation from a broad spectrum of the left and avoiding sectarianism. We also agreed that we would like LU to be an organisation of individuals not a coalition of groups. Some quotes that summed up this general approach were: “Left Unity should not be defined by dogma”, “I don’t want to be told what socialism means to me”, “We should form an alliance, not act as an umbrella”.
There was a rather inconclusive discussion about how we should interface with existing left groups, with some people expressing concern over the tendency of some groups to dominate or take over, while others felt that we would need to embrace as many people as possible. It was pointed out that Bristol has a very large anarchist/libertarian left, probably much bigger than the total of members in more traditional left-wing organisations and parties.
Bristol Trades Council is organising a march on 4 May designed to ‘put May Day back on the map’ and we agreed to support it as a group, and use the opportunity to hand out the Left Unity cards. This demo, organised jointly with the local anti-cuts alliance and supported by Bristol First of May group and others, will focus on opposition to the cuts, and to the destruction of the welfare state.
The group plans to have monthly meetings, and will be sending two people to the national meeting on 11th May.
1 comment
One response to “Left Unity: First Bristol Meeting”
Left Unity is active in movements and campaigns across the left, working to create an alternative to the main political parties.
About Left Unity
Read our manifesto
Left Unity is a member of the European Left Party. 
Read the European Left Manifesto
ACTIVIST CALENDAR
Events and protests from around the movement, and local Left Unity meetings.
Wednesday 17th September: Trump not Welcome
National Demonstration against Trump’s state visit
More events »
GET UPDATES
Sign up to the Left Unity email newsletter.
CAMPAIGNING MATERIALS
Get the latest Left Unity resources.
I was given a card at the anti cuts march & demo in Bristol on 4th May. If Left Unity really does seek to be a broad church, and truly anti-sectarian, then I’m very interested. But I am not interested in any organisation which thinks it has an arrogant monopoly on socialism and the way to achieve it. A unity of the Left can only be achieved by co-operation through mutual respect between people and groups who aspire to achieve an equal society for everyone.