The World Transformed

Trade unions have played a central role in the Labour Party since its creation. Today, Labour has 12 trade union affiliates who provide funding, resources, activists and candidates, and who have considerable representation within the democratic structures of the party. As Labour moves in a new direction under Keir Starmer's leadership, what will this mean for the trade unions' relationship to the party? Join labour movement leaders and thinkers to discuss the role of trade unions within Labour, how the union link has shaped the development of both the party and the unions, and how the unions should relate to the new Labour Party leadership.

With Len McCluskey, Sam Tarry MP, Leo Panitch, Gemma Bolton & Jo Grady.

When TWT was formed in 2016, the Labour left were in the ascendancy. Now, within the space of six months things have turned on their head. Starmer pitched left during his leadership campaign with promises to maintain the radicalism of the Corbyn years. However, since taking over as leader he has set a rather different tone. How should progressives in Britain relate to the Labour Party under Starmer’s leadership? And what leverage do we have when Starmer allies are doing their best to marginalise the left?

With Patrick Maguire, Dawn Butler MP & James Schneider.

Support for nationalist politics is growing across the world. The campaign for Brexit catalysed a convergence between mainstream conservatives and the far-right behind an exclusionary vision of Britain. Meanwhile, we are seeing growing support for independence amongst progressives in Scotland, Ireland and Wales. What is driving support for nationalism and what are the differences between these distinct forms of nationalism? Join speakers from across the nations to discuss the remaking of the British isles.

With Adam Ramsay, Rory Scothorne, Harriet Protheroe-Soltani, Alex Niven & Allison Morris.

The Pandemic has exposed the underlying faults in our society and our economy. Ten years of austerity cuts have meant that our public services have been shockingly ill-equipped to deal with this crisis. Wage freezes, insecure work and lack of employment rights have left people facing potential hardship and an uncertain future. But as more and more people start to question how our society is organised, it is vital that the left is able to provide answers. If we don’t, then others will.

Claim the Future, led by John McDonnell MP, sets out to develop some of the solutions needed to reframe our economy and bring people together to secure change. This session will consider some of the policy interventions needed to ensure that people have the basics for a decent and secure life: enough to eat, a roof over their heads and the care that we need at different points in our lives.

With John McDonnell MP, Nadia Whittome MP, Apsana Begum MP & Ian Byrne MP.

Coronavirus has exposed the crisis in the world of work - from insecurity and poverty pay, to a broken welfare system. We now stand on the brink of mass unemployment, combined with an expanding gig economy and fresh attacks on workers’ rights.

But we have an opportunity: the crisis has underlined the value of unions and essential workers and demonstrated that government intervention in the labour market can work. In this session we’ll discuss the crisis of work and how the left can push, in workplaces and politically, for a more equal and sustainable future.

With Ian Taylor, Alice Martin, Shreya Nanda, Dan Carden MP & Will Stronge.

What have we learned on both sides of the Atlantic over the last 5 years about pursuing a socialist agenda using the vehicle of traditional political parties?

Taking a historical perspective, this session will examine the challenges and limitations of this approach and what we could have done differently. Asking the question of what would have happened had we achieved power, participants will map out a long view on socialist strategy and explore different avenues for delivering success.

With Kali Akuno, Joe Guinan, Richard Seymour, Mary Robertson & Laura Smith.

State surveillance, anti-terror laws and the rhetoric of ‘national security’ are being used to criminalise progressive activists and marginalised communities across the world. Speakers will discuss the colonial roots of policing and how histories of ‘anti-terrorism’ in the UK and ex-colonies, such as South Africa and India, continue to be linked before and after 9/11. We will also explore other colonialisms, such as China in Hong Kong. As states share and internationalise their repressive methods, we ask how we can build international coalitions of resistance.

With the COVID-19 eviction ban soon to be lifted in England and Wales, tens of thousands of private rental tenants and mortgage holders will face the life-destroying possibility of eviction notices and losing their homes. In this panel organised by Momentum, hear directly from tenants unions leading the struggle against evictions about how renters can fight back through collective power.

With Owen Polley, Harriet Protheroe-Soltani, Amina Gichinga & Ghazal Haqani.

Structural, institutional, systemic – racism prefixed as such points to a concept that was first used by black American activists in the 60’s. The wave of protests sparked by the killing of George Floyd by police in the US has brought the concept to the fore in recent months. Its potency, both as a means of analysis and as a call to action, depends upon a robust and widespread understanding of the concept. This session will see Angie Speaks, Clive Nwonka and guests demystify structural racism by considering the media as a battleground in which it rears its ugly head.

With Angie Speaks, Peter Coffin & Clive Nwonka.

For decades, the people of Palestine and Kashmir have struggled against violent military occupations which have denied them autonomy and statehood. Governments across the world have turned a blind eye or - in many cases - actively supported and resourced Israel and India's human rights violations. This session will look at what's happening on the ground in Kashmir and Palestine, and will also explore how the left can practice international solidarity - including fighting back against attempts by the right to crack down on these forms of activism.

With Ben Jamal, Dibyesh Anand, Inshah Malik, Ryvka Barnard & Yara Hawari