The Workers Party held a successful conference in Rochdale on Sunday 8 February. A resolution was adopted which reflected on the decisions taken to date and the path forward with regards to the independent movement and other "Left" forces.
Resolution from Political Committee
"Conference recognises the hope which greeted the initial announcement of Your Party in the summer of 2025 and sees in this the potential for a significant break in the camp of social democracy and the undermining of support for Labour. As a strategic aim the break between the organised working-class movement and the Labour party remains the principal task of socialists in this era. Labour must be destroyed, it acts as prop of imperialism, waging war on working people at home and abroad.
Conference approves of the decisions of the Political Committee since Summer 2025 which have worked to achieve a broad electoral agreement with Your Party and other disparate independent political groupings which have emerged as a result of this rupture in left social democracy and the development of a broad movement sympathetic to the Palestinian people.
Conference applauds the significant diplomatic steps taken by the Workers Party to secure joint descriptions with independent forces, registered with the Electoral Commission and the ongoing negotiations with independent groups under the leadership of the party. These negotiations are aimed at forging the widest possible unity in the electoral arena against Labour candidates. In practice and not merely in words we have helped to construct a real united front against the Labour party in which many large and serious independent forces will participate and which remains open to the participation of others.
Conference notes that the Workers Party allows members to hold dual membership of organisations, so long as those memberships do not contradict the broad Aims of the Workers Party set forth in our Ten Point Programme, Rules and policies adopted at Congresses. In light of developments since Summer 2025 the party recognises that no arrangements have been established for collaboration with Your Party and there currently exists no electoral agreement. Whilst continuing to seek such an agreement with Your Party we shall place as much emphasis on unity with all other independent groups that can help break the Labour party and its grip on the British working class. It remains our belief that the Workers Party of Britain represents the most united socialist organisation suited to the work of undermining and finally unseating corrupt Labour politicians across Britain, the success of this task is crucial if the working people of Britain are to be able to develop a radical economic programme and independent foreign policy suited to a multipolar future."
Awards
At the close of Conference a number of awards were presented to friends of the party and prominent community members.
Manchester Branch news
The Conference also heard from Manchester councillor Shahbaz Sarwar and new branch secretary Bilal.
Building on the historic success achieved with the election of councillor Shahbaz Sarwar, our aim is to deepen our roots in local communities, expand our membership, and implement robust processes and campaign strategies that will deliver meaningful results for working people across the city. A stronger branch structure will support Shahbaz and other councillors whom we hope to elect in May.
As part of this next phase of growth, we intend to contest no fewer than twelve local council seats in 2026. Our focus will be on developing strong local candidates, enhancing grassroots organisation, and ensuring that the voices and concerns of Manchester residents remain at the heart of our work.
To support these ambitions, we announced the appointment of Mohammed Bilal Samed as Branch Secretary for Manchester. Bilal previously stood as a prospective parliamentary candidate in Rusholme during the 2024 General Election.
NMC Resolution on Digital ID
The following was proposed by Mark Rowe and unanimously adopted.
That this NMC agree that The Party oppose the mass introduction of Digital ID and note the soft roll out of Digital Identity has already begun in airports and other security checks. For Example the police now actively use facial recognition to identify Protesters.
Whilst this is not new the link to constant monitoring of an individual is now within the grasp of the State. This type of monitoring could if used by a malign government restrict the freedoms of citizen and law abiding people. I move we oppose the drip, drip, drip of more Digital ID and seek political means to raise awareness with the general public.
