Pictured: NCP East Anglia banner on the march.

THOUSANDS of workers gathered again in the beautiful Norfolk village of Burston for their annual trade union rally last weekend. Like those courageous teachers Tom and Kitty Higdon, who defied the power of the local gentry and church authorities in 1914 to defend socialism and trade unions, today people once again assembled to show their own determination to fight the class struggle. Unions are as alive and vital as ever they were to defend the rights of working people. And appropriately enough this successful event was well organised by the Unite trade union.

After an absence of a number of years the New Communist Party was back with its New Worker stall supported by young comrades who proudly carried the party banner on the traditional march. The gathering was an important opportunity to build unity, support each other and demonstrate working class power. A wide range of trade unions including Unite, Unison, RMT, NASUWT and USDAW were represented in addition to the Norwich trades council. Stop the War, Palestine Solidarity, CND, pensioners groups, hunt saboteurs and antifascists were in attendance. And along with the NCP were other left parties including the CPB and the Corbynistas’ Your Party, the Greens and the CPGBML and a number of sectarian Trotskyist parties whose chief interest appeared to be their opposition to key aspects of Marxism-Leninism!

A well received keynote speech was given by Jess Barnard, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign TU Organiser. She spoke about how Israel continues to make life impossible in the occupied lands and highlighted the inaction of Andy Burnham in ending military co-operation with the aggressor. Political pressure was needed to force the government to act as had been the case in Ireland were the government now opposes Israel’s actions. People were urged to support the forthcoming International Day of Action events. The call ‘Free Palestine’ resounded across the village green.

Another important speech was given by Clive Lewis, the Labour MP for Norwich South. He made strong criticism of Keir Starmer and criticised Andy Burnham for not including more left-wingers in his Cabinet. The speaker made rousing calls for supporting the NHS, taking water back into public ownership and investing in infrastructure. But what he failed to say how this could be achieved without cutting military expenditure and ending total subservience to US hegemony.

The rally enabled good discussions to take place between parties and individuals to develop trust, cooperation and friendship. A comrade from Syria, who visited our stand, said that that China had done more for his country than anyone by constructing a metro system in Damascus and other infrastructure projects. Friendly exchanges took place with CPGB-ML members who share our concerns over important issues including Gaza peace and the NHS. The message is clear – Workers of the World Unite! The spirit of Burston can move this process forward!

by John Maryon