More than 80 people participated in the second Socialist Federation (SF) online conference on a hot and sticky 28 June 2026. The organisation had been formed by former Your Party members unhappy with the undemocratic processes and the barriers to the development of socialist campaigning put in place by that party’s leadership headed by Jeremy Corbyn.
At the inaugural conference, held four weeks previously (and as reported in The Left Lane), supporters voted to establish themselves as a federation and had chosen favoured motions on the twin sections of policy and organisational structure. The 31 May conference vote laid the basis for the provisional mission statement of the federation. This second conference on Sunday allowed for amendments to the document to be presented and debated. And they were for many hours.
After Your party experience, not ready to take plunge
Many socialists will be familiar with many of the debates that arose amid the discussion around policy and programme in the first part of the day. The opening amendment, tabled by the Democratic Socialists group, sought to insert a paragraph that explicitly agitated for the creation of a new socialist party. In voting it down, conference suggested that Your Party exiles are not ready to take that plunge at this present juncture, and it appeared that many other proposed amendments were being regarded as equally premature. An amendment hostile to the Green Party was seen as potentially alienating the many working-class people drawn to their platform and therefore was not voted onto the document.
Other statements were considered either too advanced or too contentious and will therefore not be added at this time. Some did find agreement. Terry Conway sought to extend and elaborate upon the basic initial statement to oppose oppression to women and her amendment was passed. So too were the amendments supporting proportional representation voting and greater sovereignty for potential socialist republics of Scotland, Wales and Ireland.
After the newly amended policy section had been accepted by conference Raz O’Connor, a member of the Socialist Federation admin team, outlined its purpose. He emphasised that it is merely a provisional platform and not a finished guide for the working class to take power. He added that the debates have helped clarify where the federation differs from both Stalinist and left-reformist politics, heralding the position of the federation as in advance of the thin Your Party statement on socialism.
Stressing simplicity over complexity
In the second session, a common theme of simplicity versus complexity emerged in the discussion around structure. The avoidance of jargon was advocated, so as to make the socialist movement more accessible to new people. In presenting his motion, Marcus Halaby advised against bamboozling potential recruits with endless procedures and structures. Others countered that changing the world is a process not easily simplified.
In one vote, attendees were presented a choice between members agreeing to a mandatory set of stipulated requirements upon joining the federation, or for an optional agreement. A majority voted in favour of the latter, more accessible position. The motion in favour of creating a civic body, a non-political community organisation aligned with the federation for the purpose of providing a gateway into activism was also discarded. It was reasoned that it would create another layer of organisation and one that the Socialist Federation does not have sufficient volunteers to manage at present.
The option of permitting executive voting rights to liberation caucuses was passed. The proposer reasoned it better ensures minorities (disabled, BAME, LGBTQ+ people etc) are adequately represented in socialist organisations.
An autumn conference prep team elected
All the successful amendments from both sessions will be added to the document ahead of the founding Socialist Federation conference planned for this September. A five-person conference arrangements committee of Lucy Campbell, Richard Gerrard, James Kulmer, John Urquhart and June Tobin was elected.
Will that in-person conference be a success? Detractors, who continue to support Your Party, have opined that the Socialist Federation will remain a small organisation of splitters and never become relevant.
The attendance at this latest event was not spectacular and the discussion was dominated by a small number of people, most of whom are based in London. However, Socialist Federation continues to provide opportunities for socialists nationwide to coalesce and develop a common political programme, a vital task that the Your Party leadership is consciously neglecting. You can read the full conference voting results here.
While the Socialist Federation is not yet a mass socialist party, its supporters remain totally committed to the process of working with others to build one.
Seven attend YP branch launch in Durham
Elsewhere on the left this weekend, the paltry attendance of just seven at the latest Your Party branch launch in Durham, plus two from the party’s HQYP HQ, further highlights the potential that continues to be wasted.
Sunday’s meeting of the Socialist Federation was also informed that a number of local groups have already expressed interest in affiliating to the federation. Perhaps the most inspiring part of the conference was the address from Sophie McAllister about the campaign against evictions being enforced on tenants in Southwark, London. Richard Gerrard later explained that the independent socialists in Southwark had met Sophie in the course of their election campaign in May.
The Socialist Federation, Connections and other organisations dissenting against the Your Party leadership will be significantly judged on their ability to mobilise working-class people around core economic issues.
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