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LAST weekend at Ruskin House in East Croydon, the Young Communist League (YCL) held its 51st congress. Over the two days, nearly 100 delegates representing their branches from across Britain participated in democratic discussion and comradely debate to decide upon the league resolutions to be implemented over the next two years.
The league reaffirmed its support for and connection with the Communist Party of Britain (CPB) and the importance of dual member participation in the upcoming CPB conference in November this year.
Three highlights of the YCL congress discussions were:
The league’s explicit commitment to combatting both neoliberalism and the harmful impact of postmodernism on the left;
The commitment to not just support but to engage in militant trade unionism, refining how to campaign to effectively build power, rather than borrowing power, in both the workplace and community;
And the reaffirmed commitment to Marxist-feminism, and fighting on women’s issues.
These came alongside our commitment to accelerate growth and activity for the league.
The congress received international greetings from 18 fraternal youth organisations based in Bangladesh, China, Ireland, India, Italy, Canada, Portugal, Venezuela, Kuwait, Germany, Britain, the former Yugoslavia, the DPRK, Sri Lanka, Syria, Turkey and Vietnam.
This included in-person speeches from Nikhil Matthew (Student Federation of India UK), and Aritz Rodriguez (president of the World Federation of Democratic Youth).
Robert Griffiths, general secretary of the CPB, addressed the congress near the end of the second day, discussing his many years dedicated to the struggle for socialism, and his continued commitment to the united relationship between the CPB and the YCL by telling the delegates “The Communist Party will be yours in the near future!”
This congress also saw the ageing-out of several outgoing Central Committee members, including the tireless general secretary Johnnie Hunter after serving five years in the position. Addressing the congress in its closing speech, Hunter said “I have never been prouder to be a member of the YCL than I am today!”
Twenty-three members were elected as the incoming central committee, made up of both women and men from all countries within Britain, tasked with carrying out and implementing the work and policies decided by congress over the weekend. The 51st congress closed with a rendition of The Internationale, before delegates returned to their branches, re-energised and steadfast for the struggles ahead.
