At an historic Conference of Resistance in Huddersfield on 10 May, leading figures from across Britain’s left came together to launch the People’s Alliance for Change and Equality (PACE) — a new movement bringing together community campaigns, trade unionists and social movements in Kirklees to build a working-class socialist political alternative.
In addition, the conference became a powerful rallying cry for a new left party on a national level, a demand echoed by several keynote speakers with the enthusiastic support of an audience of over two hundred people.
Guest speakers included Jeremy Corbyn, Claudia Webbe (former Independent MP for Leicester East), Salma Yaqoob (Stop the War), Jamie Driscoll (Former North of Tyne Mayor), Alan Gibbons (Liverpool Community Independents), Iqbal Mohamed (anti-war Independent MP for Dewsbury and Batley), Linsay Taylor (MEND) and Abubakr Nanabawa (Muslim Vote).
This was the largest political meeting in the town for decades. Many spoke out on the need for an alternative, based on working-class struggle and ready to challenge both the poisonous threat of Reform UK and Labour’ new austerity attacks, which are worsening the cost-of-living crisis faced by millions of workers in their everyday lives.
Chaired by Socialist Alternative and NEU National Executive member Louise Lewis in a personal capacity, the conference began with a speech from Mike Forster on behalf of PACE. In a passionate contribution, he outlined the need for organised resistance to war, condemned the greed of the bosses and excoriated Kirklees’ Labour minority council, who have relentlessly eroded essential services.
Mike called for a movement based on solidarity to fight for justice and socialism, as working-class people get off their knees in struggle to maintain services and oppose the increased drive to war internationally. He pointed to amazing local campaigns in recent years which mobilised the power of working-class communities to save the local hospital, sports centres, and dementia homes from closure. In addition, Mike called for a clearout of the council in the 2026 elections, with PACE candidates determined to stand up for working people and against Starmer’s Labour.
Salma Yaqoob spoke warmly of PACE, and how it has “started something”, giving an example to be followed across the country. It is working-class people who generate the wealth of this country, and Reform must never be allowed to divide them. Salma finished her speech by urging solidarity with the Birmingham bin workers, whose ongoing fight against the Birmingham Labour council must be taken up by the workers’ movement across the country.
Claudia Webbe made a rousing speech, gaining one of the biggest rounds of applause of the day when she said “the time for polite appeals and patient waiting is over. The time for a new left political party is now!” Starmer is waging class war against working people with his policies. People want something different, however the absence of such a working-class political alternative has created space for Reform UK to fill the vacuum.
Claudia emphasised the scale of disaster for Labour in seats across the country in the local elections, losing even working-class Durham for the first time in decades. In 81 wards, Labour was not even able to get a single vote!
Alan Gibbons explained the need to build grassroots support by being involved in local campaigns. Alan called for a class-based party, which stands in solidarity with the oppressed. He summed up with the immortal words: “Let’s get this party started!”
The last speaker, Jeremy Corbyn, spoke movingly about the appalling suffering of children in Gaza, of starvation and surgeons having to operate without anaesthetics. He laid into the arms trade and its waste of workers’ skills, who could instead use them for socially useful production. Jeremy denounced Starmer, whose austerity agenda is closely tied to the new drive to ramp up military spending. Importantly, Jeremy heard the call for a new party, finishing his speech by calling for a political alternative in time for the May 2026 local elections. Louise Lewis summed up the day, capturing the mood of the conference with her battle cry that this is just the start, urging the hundreds in attendance to get involved.
The driving force behind this significant meeting has been Socialist Alternative, who have campaigned tirelessly for resistance by the trade unions, activists opposing oppression and for the new party we need — one which is democratic, based on struggle and fights for socialist policies.
