Salford Left Forum to hold Public Meet

By Stuart Owen


An array of important political figures such as George Galloway have given their backing to the freshly formed University-based left wing political organisation ‘Salford Left Forum’.


Wednesday 19th November will see their inaugural public meeting take place and they are in the business of recruiting any like-minded thinkers to join them.



Salford Left Forum (SLF) are a group comprised of varied supporters, from left wing Labour MP’s to the Communist Party of Great Britain, and have emerged under the inspiration of the recent event, ‘The Convention Of The Left’ which was held in Manchester in September.


Their members have convened in order to endorse a programme of left-wing action and campaigning, and are urging anyone with similar political views to join them on Wednesday to either have their say or simply listen.


Other important British political figures that have shown their support to SLF include:
● John McDonnell, Labour MP for Hayes and Harlington. Chair of the Labour Representation Committee.
McDonnell stood unsuccessfully against Gordon Brown for the post of Labour Party leader following Tony Blair's resignation as the party leader.


● Tony Benn, Labour MP from 1950 - 2001.
Held numerous cabinet positions and was formerly 2nd Viscount Stansgate. Benn is a British socialist politician and the current President of the ‘Stop The War Coalition’.


A quote from the SLF website outlines the aims and ambitions of the group:
‘Our aim is to encompass all left wing groups from the Labour Party to the Communist Party of Great Britain. The only way the left can find a platform is to stand together united. All we ask is that you get involved.’


A spokesperson for the group said:
“When the Labour Party conference was on in Manchester, all the other left-wing parties and groups in Britain got together and held the ‘convention of the left’.


"Basically, from that it was decided that we would set up groups in each university and area which participated in order to get more people involved, campaigns, more demos etc. The Salford Left Forum came from this.


SLF’s first meeting will be staged at the Crescent pub, facing the University’s Maxwell building, and will run between 7-9pm on Wednesday 19th November. Anybody who would like to be involved or are interested in what they may have to say is welcome to attend the event.


For more info on the group e-mail your enquiries to vollunteer@hotmail.co.uk or follow the link below.



this article was is available at http://www.salfordonline.com/localnews.php?func=viewdetails&vdetails=9455


the salford online newspaper


We are hoping to have it printed in the Student Paper or the Salford advertiser some time soon.


A big thanks to Top Hack Stuart Owen.

Protest at Northern Rock

On Halloween, Members of the Salford Left Forum and other left wing Activists challenged the Ghosts and Ghouls of the banking world outside Northern Rock, Manchester.


We were protesting at the injustices of a nationalised bank, paid for out of the public purse, actively increasing home repossessions. Since the take over northern rock as flown up the charts to the giddy heights of most ruthless bank in Britain.


Let this be a lesson to all Socialists…Nationalisation does not always mean Socialism…

Salford Left Ready For The Kick Off

The credit crunch is biting hard. We the people are feeling the worst of it. Houses are being repossessed. Rent rates are rising. Fuel and food prices are eating up our wages. Times are hard. All the Groups, Parties and Organisations of the Left should stand up together and try and make a difference. There is not enough time for the resentments of the past. We can’t go on if we don’t work together. The Tories are banging on the door of number 10. Can the Left cope with another Conservative Regime?



This is where The Convention Of The Left has stepped in. inviting all the left wing Groups to get involved in a debate on the future of the Movement. We came to the conclusion that yet another left Party isn’t the answer. Debate, representation, solidarity and direct action certainly are. Initiatives’ many on the Left would find hard to criticise. This is what the Convention Team stand for. Already there is a growing list of Campaigns affiliated.



African Liberation Support Campaign, Alliance for Green Socialism, Alliance for Workers Liberty, A World to Win, Campaign for a New Workers’ Party, Communist Students, Communist Party of Britain, Communist Party of Great Britain, Education for Tomorrow, European Left Party Network, Faith and Justice Commission, Greater Manchester Associations of Trades Councils, Greater Manchester Respect, Green Left, Labour Briefing, Labour Representation Committee, Left Alternative, Left Economics Advisory Panel (LEAP), Left Women's Network, Liverpool Trades Council, Manchester Green Party, Manchester No Borders, Manchester TUC, Morning Star, National assembly of Women, Newrad Communist Collective, North West Shop Stewards Network, Permanent Revolution, Red Pepper, Respect, Revolution - Socialist youth movement, Scottish Left Review, Scottish Socialist Party,
Socialist Alliance, Socialist Resistance, Socialist Workers Party, Solidarity: Scotland's Socialist Movement, Spokesman Books, Tameside TUC, Workers Power,



If we all agree on basic principals then solutions can be found. The convention has showed us that we don’t need to enter Party politics to work together. Through cooperation all the Parties are working on solutions outside of mainstream electoral contests. Real Socialist solutions for Societies problems.



Representing and awakening the massive Socialist Voice that is the Student Body should be a must for any progressive group. We are no different. We want all left wing Students to come and meet, take a chance and find out what we are capable of doing.



This is why we have started the Salford Left Forum, it is an Organisation committed to spreading the word of a united Left in Salford and the wider area. Our initial campaign is to initially target students and spread into the wider community.



We are going to arrange a meeting, probably at The Crescent pub(to be confirmed). An organising team will be arranged. every motion will be democratic. There will be no leader.



Everyone is welcome. politics is something that effects us all. There will be chance for anyone to speak if they want. There has already been talk about setting up a series of talks from serious figures of the left over the coming months as well as a coherent plan of action.



Hope to see you all soon



Salford left team