A historic opportunity for the British left is being thrown away. This very public Your Party row must stop now | Yanis Varoufakis and Ken Loach

"The prospect of a new party lit up this darkness with new hope. It inspired hundreds of thousands to sign up. It ignited real hope, for the first time in decades, that a party based on socialist principles, and committed to grassroots democracy, could present a serious challenge to Margaret Thatcher's dictum that there was no alternative. Expectations were high, the hope was exhilarating."

"It ignited real hope, for the first time in decades, that a party based on socialist principles, and committed to grassroots democracy, could present a serious challenge to Margaret Thatcher's dictum that there was no alternative. Expectations were high, the hope was exhilarating. Communication from the centre was sporadic and increasingly unsatisfactory, but still the enthusiasm remained. Now the last few days have caused anxiety, confusion, despair and not a little anger. Many are at a loss to understand it, but the effect is devastating."

Keir Starmer's Labour party is depicted as having abandoned principles by aligning with corporate interests, cutting disability benefits, accommodating racism, rescinding political rights, and colluding with Israel's actions. The emergence of a new left party inspired hundreds of thousands, offering hope for a socialist, grassroots-democratic alternative able to challenge neoliberal dominance. Initial enthusiasm persisted despite inadequate central communication, but recent public disputes have generated anxiety, confusion, despair, and anger among supporters. The project now belongs to its mass supporters and must prioritize democratic organization, member power, unity, and an urgently convened democratic conference.

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