POLITICAL IMAGINATION

May 11, 2025

Report, Hedd Goch, Y Seren Goch

Yesterday, socialists from across the left in Wales gathered to debate and vote on the progress made by the ‘Cymru Radical Left Dialogue’ – an open network of socialists who have been crafting progressive policies to campaign on for the 2026 Senedd Elections. This conference was called after an initial meeting in October 2024, which broke the mould of other socialist conferences by having open discussion in breakout groups, which was then reported back on. 

The conference focused on a Wales “for people, planet, peace, not profit” and called for the formation of ‘People, Planet, Peace, Cymru’, with eco-socialism at its heart. Two motions were presented to the conference, the first calling for a new movement and outlining the core programme, and the second on the organisation of the movement – both passed unanimously. 

To open the day, a host of speeches were heard from a mix of campaigners and activists from across Wales, highlighting the key issues we face as the left in Wales. 

This podcast features the speeches from the main speakers and the movement of the initial motion from the morning session by Len Arthur from CYMRU Radical Left Dialogue, the conference organisers.

Speech 1 - Kwabena Devonish, an anti-fascist and anti-racist organiser from Stand Up To Racism & Black Lives Matter Cardiff & Vale.

Speech 2 - Jim Scott of PARC Against DARC, which is organising against the AUKUS (Australia, United Kingdom, United States) plan to build a military radar station in Pembrokeshire.

Speech 3 - AJ Le Brun, the Secretary of Rhondda Cynon Taf Trades Union Council, spoke about the importance of disability inclusion and organising in any socialist movement, and how trade unions need to be active in working class communities, fighting for socialism at a grassroots level.

Speech 4 - Community organiser and former Labour Party MP Beth Winter spoke about the need for a new form of politics, drawing on the work she has done with Leanne Wood (former Plaid Cymru Leader) in South Wales communities, hosting open sessions to hear about local issues to build local solutions. 

Speech 5 - Len Arthur from the CRLD organising group put forward a motion to gain consensus from the delegates to begin work on a new socialist united alliance, which was passed unanimously.

The motion called for the establishment of a new movement – People, Planet, Peace Cymru, which focuses on an eco-socialist platform, on social transformation and national independence in Wales. The motion calls for an intervention in the 2026 Senedd Elections, by creating local groups who can put a collectively decided manifesto from the new organisation to their candidates and political parties. They also raised the option of putting in their own candidates as independents to potentially win a seat. This motion included 7 policy positions, developed through the Cymru Radical Left Dialogue’s open policy sessions, to form the initial basis of the programme. 

Live audio recording of readings by Red Poets at the launch of their 30th anthology at Caffi Soar in Merthyr Tydfil. Introductions between readings by Mike Jenkins.

My poem S T O P written on 27th May following the killing of Palestinians as they slept in their tents in Gaza.

Blood & Roses - (A message to Keir Starmer.)

A refugee from planet Earth
Came by my house today
He asked me if I had some work,
A place where he could stay.

I took him in, I gave him tea,
I made him up a bed.
I bandaged up his broken knee.
I washed his bloody head.

Set him onto mowing my lawn
Trimming my hedge, digging my veg.

I wash all the blood,
He cuts the roses.
My near neighbourhood
Look down their noses.

We are happy here,
With blood and roses,
The blood and roses,
Those blood red roses,

Harry Rogers, Harriboy’s Hut, 30th October, 2016.

This episode features a clip of a phone in to the BBC Radio Merseyside Lisa Marrey Show on July 22nd 2022 and features a fantastic contribution from a woman called Mary from the Save Liverpool Women's Hospital Campaign. It highlights exactly how this Government is destroying the whole of the NHS right before our very eyes. It is so well put and deserves to shared far and wide. If you are interested in the Take Back The NHS Campaign you can email them for information at [email protected] .

A view from the left as us three old red robin comrades from Undod Chwith Cymru/Left Unity Wales chat and rant about politics past and present, discuss current events, publicise campaigns, occasionally invite guests to join the mayhem, and generally try to bring their 250 years of shared life experience to bear on the issues that they want to. As Studs Terkel said "We live, we hope, we act.", We're not stopping just because we're in our eighth decade.  This first episode features Craig Lewis, Harry Rogers and Len Arthur having a chinwag about democracy and socialism. Solidarity comrades. 

Public online meeting held on Thursday 23rd June 2022 organised by Left Unity, chaired by Kate Hudson with Daniele Obono MP - La France Insoumise, Chris Hazard MP - Sinn Fein, Thelma Walker former MP - People's Alliance Of The Left. 

A view from the left as us three old red robin comrades chat and rant about politics past and present, discuss current events, publicise campaigns, occasionally invite guests to join the mayhem, and generally try to bring their 250 years of shared life experience to bear on the issues that they want to. As Studs Terkel said "We live, we hope, we act.", We're not stopping just because we're in our eighth decade.  This first episode features Craig, Harry and Len having a discussion about democracy and socialism. Solidarity comrades. This is a test and the discussion is not recorded yet. come back in a few days and it will be up here. 

Studs Terkel interview from 2003 aged 91. He speaks of his life and his latest book Hopes Dies Last. This is a joy to listen to and shows us all what radio can do. Much of what he says still rings bells today and we need his like in our lives. Truly an inspiration for us all in the days of turmoil. 

An interview by Harry Rogers with Adam Johannes from Cardiff Stop The War Coalition