Politics at the Convention of the Left
Sunday 21st September
Mechanics Institute, off Princess Street and Friends Meeting House, Mount Street, Manchester

It’s true, New Labour is dead. But what will replace it? The challenge for The Left must be to provide a positive alternative to a resurgent Tory Party and a growing BNP. But can we work together? What does a democratic, pluralist and inclusive left look like? Is there one Left or many lefts? How do we achieve real equality - in society and on the left? Can we just unite in campaigns based on single issues or work across trade unions or should we seek greater unity? How can we share the lessons from different struggles? Can we learn from 1968 or should we stop living in the past? Can we overcome past divisions or will we always be divided? On this day we aim for open and honest debate about the POLITICS of left unity.

Working for Left Unity
11.00am, main hall, Mechanics Institute
with Tariq Ali and John Nicholson and, most importantly, you.

Fighting together for women´s equality
1.00pm, main hall, Mechanics Institute
How do we work together across the women's and trade union movement to
challenge sexism and win equality? with Maria Exall (Vice - Chair of the LRC / Left Women´s Network), Katy Clark MP, Linda Riordan MP, Amrit Wilson IMKAAN, Margaret Boyle, Charter for Women, Abortion Rights and many more...

Download leaflet here

Where now for the Unions?
2.30pm, main hall, Mechanics Institute
with Prof. Gregor Gall (labour movement academic), Mark Serwotka and Sue Bond * (PCS), Matt Wrack* (FBU), Jane Loftus* (CWU) and Carolyn Jones (Institute of Employment Rights) (*personal capacity)

Conclusions - Unity in Action - Probable? Possible? Potential?
4.00pm, main hall, Mechanics Institute
with John McDonnell MP and Cllr. Salma Yaqoob

Meanwhile over at the Friends Meeting House, Mount Street

The twilight zone: slavery in Britain today
4.00pm, meeting room, (NB) Friends Meeting House
with Rahila Gupta

'Is Tamil Liberation struggle in Sri Lanka a terrorist pogrom?
4.00pm, meeting room, (NB) Friends Meeting House
With Tamil activists

Discovering Mr Robeson: Tayo Aluko performing extracts, in words and song, from his award-winning play, ‘Call Mr Robeson’
6.00pm at Friends Meeting House

Labour Against the War
7.00pm, main hall, (NB) Friends Meeting House
with Jeremy Corbyn MP, Tony Benn and Alice Mahon

For those who just can't stop

Politics in Scotland today
with activists from Scotland discussing the national question and the state of the Scottish left at 7.30pm The Briton’s Protection pub, 50 Great Bridgewater Street, behind GMEX

Manchester No Borders presents: 'Punk and Poetry!'
7:30pm - late downstairs at the Saki Bar, 2 Wilmslow Road.
Music, magic and poetry