2015 Socialist Party Congress: Preparing the forces to fight capitalist austerity Hannah Sell opens the session on Britain: An upswell of anger Branch delegates and visitors gathered at 2015 Socialist Party congress to discuss and debate the key political developments internationally and in Britain, and to map out the party's tasks over the next 12 months. With all the main parties committed to pursuing savage austerity cuts in the new parliament, and the working class and middle classes facing a cost of living crisis for another five years, Hannah Sell, the Socialist Party's deputy general secretary, asked: 'Will Greece come to Britain?' Hannah told delegates that beneath a seemingly calm political landscape in Britain, a volcanic upswell of anger over public service cuts, job losses, low wages, insecure employment and widening inequality, is likely to explode whichever party - or more likely combination of parties - forms the next government. This prospect hasn't been lost on the super-rich, many of who can see the 'pitchforks' coming and are hastily buying up offshore island bolt holes! How is it then that the 1%, the wealthy capitalist class, continues to escape the wrath of the population? Hannah explained that the absence of a generalised fightback by workers is down to the baleful role of the right wing trade union leaders. Notwithstanding this road block to struggle, a number of coordinated strikes - the NHS pay campaign and the London busworkers' dispute - have recently broken out, giving a glimpse of widespread battles that could develop in the next year. Struggles against austerity can also develop in other arenas - as expressed by many yes voters in last September's independence referendum in Scotland. Pressing social issues such as the housing crisis especially in the large cities can also act as an outlet; witness the recent thousands-strong demos in London against sky high private rents, the New Era tenants victorious struggle against a rogue landlord, and the anti-eviction protests of the Focus E15 mums. No political voice The absence of a sizeable left political voice to represent the working class is also an obstacle to struggle but this hasn't stopped the fracturing of the traditional party political system in Britain. And as the rapid development of Syriza in Greece and Podemos in Spain shows, new left-leaning political formations can develop mass support very quickly. Labour is repelling potential electoral support by its slavish adherence to capitalist austerity measures. Yet many trade union leaders continue to spout the mantra: 'Labour is the only show in town'. Documents and motions outlining these perspectives and tasks were voted on, and a new national committee of the party was elected.

• published: 27 Feb 2015
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