Nigel Farage is on shakey ground. The revelations about the millions pouring into Reform UK expose them for what they are - racist tools of the rich. But the threat from the far right won't disappear without a fight. For all his talk of change, Andy Burnham promises continuity with Starmer's fiscal policy and Shabana Mahmood's war on migrants.
 
Burnham's slight bounce in the polls means are seeing a greater pull towards "popular front" type politics, which pressures the left to prop up the political centre to stop the far right. This inevitably includes of dropping anti-racism, defending the continuity above, and de-prioritising mobilisations on the ground.
 
Our priority in the coming period is to build the united front, with militant anti-fascism and uncompromising anti-racism, as an alternative that builds an anti-racist movement up and down the country. This was on brilliant display in Glasgow on Saturday, as the Stand Up to Racism demo mobilised 4000 people to defy police repression and outnumber the fascists. Meanwhile on Sunday 25 people joined the SUTR leafletting in Clacton town centre to oppose Farage. 
 
A key task is initiating unity demonstrations in every area. Stand Up to Racism is calling for a wave of protests across Britain - but it is crucial we win social weight to building them. That means meetings with Greens, Labour lefts, trade unionists, mosques and more to get them on board.
 
In Oxfordshire, a key campaign is the Stand Up To Racism one to halt the surge in racism and far right activity in Bicester that is growing following the announcement of Labour's plans to house 1250 people seeking asylum on a MOD site nearby.  Anyone wanting to get involved in the "Refugees welcome - communities not camps" campaign can email contact@oxfordstanduptoracism.org.uk 

Organise Together summits: The summits organised by the Together Alliance are going to be important forums for the movement to come together, and should be built widely (see below for tikets and transport)  

NEXT OXFORD AND THAMES VALLEY OPEN MEETING

All welcome

Andy Burnham:  left wing saviour or Starmer 2.0?

7PM Wednesday 29th July

New Road Baptist Church, Bonn Square Oxford OX1 1LQ

or join via zoom https://oxfordswp.org.uk/zoom

Andy Burnham has just been sworn in as Prime Minister. His project is bursting with contradictions. On the one hand he is attempting to connect with the demand for action on the cost of living crisis and for better than what Starmer had to offer. On the other he faces the same pressures that Starmer and Reeves bowed to - the fiscal constraints imposed by the markets. Burnham's first picks for his cabinet suggest he offers continuity between the worst of Starmer (and even New Labour) rather than change. The unending war in Iran and fragile economy are likely to curtail even his mild plans for the economy. 

People are right to demand change - but can Burnham deliver?  Join this meeting to discuss Burnham's politics how socialists can intervene to ensure real change.

Words as weapons - recommended reading this summer

Oxford and Thames Valley SWP has an extensive bookstall that is accessible at our public stalls and meetings. We have stocks of the above new releases to arm people for the struggles ahead.  Each book carries crucial arguments to help understand the situation we face and the kind of politics needed to win the changes we need.  Also available for local delivery on request or online via Bookmarks bookshop

Oxfordshire Women Against the Far Right is supporting the Oxford Women March  organised by Oxford Intersectional Uprising. Join us to march in solidarity with all oppressed women. Assemble 6pm Bonn Square finishing at The Nest for speeches.

The far right are using women's safety as a weapon to spread racism and division. They are not defenders of women, they exploit violence against women and children in order to peddle hatred and division. It is important we can stand with all survivors and victims of abuse, while building unity against the far right and exposing their racist lies and scapegoating. 

Reform UK have made no secret about wanting to repeal hard won equal rights for women, as Trump has done in the US.

We urge all supporters of Women Against the Far Right to join our delegation in solidarity with all oppressed women  

On 28 March, half a million people marched together against the far right

We’ve shown the country that the politics of hate do not speak for all of us. 

But the local election results and the recent pogroms and racist riots in Belfast, Glasgow and Southampton are a wake-up call that our work is nowhere near done. Across the country, the far right is growing louder and more organised.

Those who push a message of racism and hate are getting more confident – and we will not stand back and watch it happen.

On Saturday 24 October, thousands of people will gather in London to organise, collaborate, and build the future together as part of two summits – North and South.

A space for organisers, campaigners, trade unionists, activists, creatives, educators, community leaders and local people to organise, collaborate and share strategies about how we stop the far right.

This is not a conference for people who sit back and listen.

It is a summit to build power and plan action.

Help us plan, organise and build together against the far right in local communities across the country.

Save the date and book your place.  

Book seats on the Oxfordshire transport

Stay tuned for speaker announcements and more details soon.