At this year’s assemblies, we put forward our vision in our submission, For a Party Republic, which sets out what a genuinely socialist and democratic party should stand for in the 21st century.
At the Assembly, DSYP Executive Committee member, Chloe Braddock said:
“It’s a privilege to speak before you all today on behalf of the Democratic Socialist caucus of Your Party. Hopefully you’ve seen us around TWT, with our snazzy badges and leaflets, or maybe even sat next to you in this room. First I have to shamelessly plug our fringe event tomorrow afternoon and our new website, dsyp.org, where you can read our proposed constitution, our points of unity, and soon, our responses to the foundational documents. Today I’m going to give you the big picture of what we want.
“We were all excited when the new party was announced, and we’ve all been disappointed since then. A common feeling for us fighting for a better world. I don’t need to go through why in detail, we’ve all seen the tweets; many of us have indeed read left-wing journalist Archie Woodrow’s articles on the matter.
“We had hoped for, and were promised, a truly democratic, member-led party. One that could drive the capitalist far-right, from Labour to Reform, out of power. We now know that we’re not getting it without a struggle. Whatever you wanted out of the founding process, unless you’re Karie Murphy, it’s certainly not what’s been delivered.
“The plan laid out makes a mockery of that promise. A borderline unworkable four-shift conference by sortition. Feel-good rallies without genuine democratic deliberation and input. No transparency, no trust in the membership, and with a month and a half to go until the conference, still no draft documents.
“Comrades, we don’t need another party where the elected officials and bureaucracy operate a soft-dictatorship over the mass membership, with political manoeuvring happening out-of-sight. We need a transparent party where the mass membership are in charge, and staff and elected officials are committed to a programme determined by conference, serving at the behest of the rank and file. We need rigorous democratic structures to enable this to happen, to build a party that can unite the organised left, from left wing social democrats to revolutionary communists, along with the working-class masses outside our milieu.
“We need mandatory reselection for rank-and-file oversight of officials. We need guaranteed financial support for local branches to provide the resources that facilitate democracy. We need, we deserve, the party that we were promised.
“It’s clear that we’re not getting this without a struggle. That’s what we, the Democratic Socialists, alongside many other groups you’ve heard from today and others like Trans Liberation Group, are here to do. In the next 6 weeks we’ll work alongside those groups with the same aim – to create a truly democratic party that will build popular power and base build effectively – shout out to Organising for Popular power. To pull this off, we need enthusiastic, talented organisers everywhere to take part. We need you.
“If you’re ready to fight for real, member-led democracy within Your Party united around genuine socialist principles then join us. This party is a historic opportunity, and it’s not one we can afford to let slip out of our grasp. Thank you.”
We’ll be hosting our own fringe event at TWT:
📅 Sunday, 2:15–3:30pm
📍 The Proud Place (near the festival site) – an LGBTQ+ community centre and accessible venue.
Come along to hear from DSYP organisers, share ideas, and discuss how we can build a democratic socialist movement capable of transforming society.
Agree with our vision? Join us!