I’m currently looking for a party to join after leaving the Labour Party and have been eyeing up the CPB. Any comrades on here members at all that can give me some more info on there experience in the Party?
I’m currently looking for a party to join after leaving the Labour Party and have been eyeing up the CPB. Any comrades on here members at all that can give me some more info on there experience in the Party?
Yeah I’m a member of the CPB. My experience here has been very positive and I encourage you to join. We are quite active with meetings every 2 weeks and are always open to new members.
thanks for replying! i have a few Qs if you don’t mind me asking:
I’ve seen some transphobia from certain parts of the CPB before such as one of the YCL branches promoting transphobic material as well as the Morning Star publishing an honestly pretty vile transphobic cartoon. What have you noticed is the general vibe when it comes to trans and LGBTQ issues in the CPB?
What work does the party tend to engage in? I’ve heard that it encourages getting organised in trade unions but does it also do community organising and base building?
Post-Corbyn, what is the CPB’s relationship going to be to the Labour Party? Is it still the case that the Party thinks it is best to try and get a Left Labour government elected? As someone who has just left Labour, I want the next party I join to have a much more hostile and antagonistic relationship with it as after being in it for 4 years, I don’t believe the Labour Left will ever be able to form a government and the rest of Labour are absolute bastards.
And finally, how do you find the atmosphere among your comrades?
Sorry for the long post!
Hey, no problem.
I’ve been a member for a year and a half and I’ve never noticed any transphobia in the CPB or YCL, there are several YCL branches with trans and LGBTQ members in them. With the Morning Star, they published a transphobic cartoon but immediately apologised for it and withdrew the article containing the cartoon.
The party is heavily involved with trade unions, and hosts regular educational sessions. If you’re under 30 you can join the YCL, which I’m also a member of, and we work with our local food banks and collect for them. We have given supplies to homeless people and take part in marches and May day parades. There is also a more militaristic side that sometimes occupies premises, and graffiti tags but you are under no obligation to take part in that side.
The relationship with Labour has definitely deteriorated since their turn to the right, although there is still association with left Labour politicians. We are also trying to make the party appeal to those disillusioned with Starmer Labour and have seen a rise in former Labour members. I’m not sure yet, but there may be a few communist party candidates up in the next election.
The atmosphere is very friendly and I never felt left out of anything. I was helped with reading recommendations and was included in meetings, overall nothing negative to say about the atmosphere.
Hope you join, comrade.
Canadian comrade here, glad to hear that the transphobia was an isolated incident.