Andrew Feinstein, former ANC MP under Nelson Mandela and leading critic of the global arms trade, will use a momentous speech this weekend to endorse the launch of a new political alliance, billed as the foundation of the first organised mass movement of the left outside of the Labour Party. It’s called ‘Collective’.
Feinstein ‘Collective’: a new movement of the left
The speech will be the centre piece of a conference called by dozens of former Labour councillors and other independent candidates and will take place in Keir Starmer’s home constituency of Holborn and St Pancras.
Having lived in the constituency for over 20 years, Feinstein has already signalled his willingness to stand against Starmer as an independent candidate, attracting a groundswell of support both locally and nationally. Local campaigners say there is real vulnerability in Starmer’s majority, established under Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership of the party, especially given the controversies embroiling Labour over the war in Gaza.
The new movement – dubbed ‘Collective’ – has been established following months of deliberation amongst grassroots campaign groups and prospective independent candidates for both council and parliamentary elections. Though it is not establishing a new party to contest this year’s election, it is planning to eventually transform into a new party once it has grown a mass membership base.
Labour has abandoned… everyone
Andrew Feinstein said:
It’s not just Labour Party members who were the victims of Starmer’s entirely fictitious campaign for leadership of the party. The people of Holborn and St Pancras also elected him twice on a socialist platform under the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn.
Having lived in the constituency for over 20 years, I’ve been overwhelmed by the support and strength of feeling amongst local communities – and across the country – who are crying out for a response to the deeply corrupt, anti-democratic and out of touch Labour Party under Starmer.
Under his leadership, the party has now completely abandoned working people and marginalised communities in an escalating effort to out-Tory the Tories.
But this election must do more than just provide an alternative to the pro-genocide, pro-austerity Sunak-Starmer circus. It must also mark the beginnings of a new mass movement of working people that can challenge the Westminster bubble once and for all.
That’s why I’m proud to be joining Collective which is uniting sections of the left and will eventually transform into a new political party backed by an organised and democratic movement.
Collective: challenging our undemocratic system
Pamela Fitzpatrick, spokesperson for Collective and independent candidate for Harrow West, said:
Our political system – and now the Labour Party itself – is fundamentally anti-democratic and rigged against new parties, especially on the left.
The only way to address this is to build a mass movement outside of the Labour Party as a foundation for a new political party that is truly free of vested interests and which can offer a real alternative to the pro-austerity and pro-war two party system.
All around the country, independent candidates have and are coming forward to fight this election on a common platform calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, a real pay rise and decent housing for all, higher taxes for the rich, an end to privatisation of the NHS, and an end to unnecessary and unjust war.
That is the foundation which Collective will build on, and eventually transform into a political party that will change the face of British politics.
Featured image supplied
