One of the national demonstrations standing with Palestine in 2024 - Photo: Lucy Nichols

The Stop the War Coalition held an important AGM on February 2, 2025. At the AGM, which was online, some 140 delegates took part representing the organisations of Stop the War across England, Scotland and Wales.

Birmingham demonstration in 2024 - Photo: Palestine Online

The AGM had been postponed from the end of last year. This was due to the ongoing actions in standing with Palestine, especially in its joint work with the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, CND, Friends of Al-Aqsa, the Palestinian Forum and the Muslim Association of Britain. This vital joint work over 16 months had ensured the successful organising of 23 mass national demonstrations in London involving some hundreds of thousands of people at most of the demonstrations whilst opposing the provocations of the Westminster state to try and stop the people's voice being heard, both with the government's attempts to stop the demonstrations and the media blackout and lies about them.

The demonstrations have been and are a constant barrage of protest of the British people speaking out together in their thousands across all communities, religions and political opinions, demanding an Israeli ceasefire and an end to British support for the genocide. The demonstrations have seen people speaking in
Demonstration in London Whitehall which the state banned from going to the BBC and then attacked and arrested peaceful demonstrators including Chris Nineham the chief steward - Photo: Stop the War their own name to take up responsibility towards the fate of the Palestinians and the rights of all in the world. Even now the ceasefire has come about, there continues to be a barrage of protest with people speaking out that Israel's compliance must be maintained, as well as to demand an end to Britain's criminal support for Israeli genocide and arming Israel in its war crimes in Gaza and the West Bank. At the same time, this anti-war coalition has and is supporting the organisation of almost daily actions in so many towns and cities in England, Scotland and Wales.

At the AGM, delegates taking part represented the organisations of Stop the War across Britain, organisations that have been active standing with Palestine and the anti-war movement. As the Stop the War office team put it the following day after the AGM in an email to delegates, they gave "massive thank you to all Stop the War groups that managed to send delegates to yesterday's AGM. We had a fantastic day, with some interesting discussions on a wide range of topics, with many fascinating contributions from delegates."

There were 10 motions that were debated and passed [1]. A motion of the Stop the War officers on the general political situation noted: "The world faces conflicts and rising tension in many parts of the globe. While each war has its own causes, at the root of global instability is imperialism in general, and the growing incapacity of the US to maintain its worldwide hegemony in particular. This is a driver of both the continuing war in Ukraine and the widening conflict in the Middle East."

This conference resolution went on to prioritise the following issues in 2025:

• Solidarity with the Palestinian people including an end to the Israeli aggression in Gaza.
• Opposition to a wider war in the Middle East, and to British support for Israel and direct military interventions against Yemen, Iran and elsewhere.
• A ceasefire in Ukraine, followed by peace negotiations without preconditions. A halt to British involvement in the conflict, and no further expansion of NATO.
• Opposition to a new nuclear arms race and to Britain's own nuclear arsenal.
• Resistance to any increase in military spending and any cuts in public services to fund militarisation.
• Opposing any escalation of tension against China and North Korea, and any deployment of British forces there.
• Establishing a foreign policy independent of Washington.
• Defending the right to demonstrate.
• Challenging Islamophobia and other forms of racism.

Demonstration in Manchester, January 16 2025

Another important resolution came from Lewisham Stop the War against NATO expansion. The resolution pointed out: "NATO expansion has made eastern Europe more dangerous than ever before. The UK government is recklessly providing missiles and other weapons which will prolong the war in Ukraine, killing many more Ukrainians and Russians without affecting the final outcome. The UK has given £12.8 billion to Ukraine and has committed to £3 billion per year that would be better spent on education, health and winter fuel allowance."

London demonstration, October 28 2023

In a vital emergency resolution and another resolution from Cardiff, the conference highlighted the necessity to defend the right to protest. The emergency resolution condemned the "arrest of around 77 people including our vice-chair and chief steward Chris Nineham on the Palestine coalition demonstration of January 18; the charging of PSC Director Ben Jamal, and the questioning of two MPs about the demonstration." It condemned the "routine restrictions on these and other demonstrations under the Public Order Act, which have the effect of criminalising normal protest activities. The increasing attempts to limit the right to protest through legislation and police action. The pressure from Zionist groups and some politicians to ban or severely curtail the Palestine marches. That one of the founding principles of Stop the War is defence of civil liberties."

The resolution stated: "Conference believes: That there have been increasing restrictions on protests in recent years. That such restrictions are a denial of our rights and freedoms to protest, which must be defended. That the charges against central organisers of the mass Palestine protests are an attempt to criminalise a movement which has shown such powerful solidarity for 16 months. That the best defence of civil liberties is to keep mobilising and organising in the face of such attacks." The resolution resolved among other measures to "organise a demonstration outside Chris Nineham's hearing on February 13".

The Cardiff Stop War resolution pointed out that "activists face a surge of authoritarian measures targeting our rights to protest, assemble, and organise for Palestine". It gave the examples of "the arrest, trial, and acquittal of Marieha Hussain for a placard depicting Sunak and Braverman as coconuts. Suppression of discussion of Palestinian resistance. Incarceration of around 20 Palestine Action activists. Arrests for slogans like 'From the river to the sea' or 'Victory to the Intifada'."

The resolution further mentioned: "The targeting of journalists such as Richard Medhurst, Sarah Wilkinson, and Asa Winstanley with arrests and house raids. Charges against 20 activists in South Wales: the 'Cardiff 19,' for non-violent protests, plus terrorism charges against anti-racism campaigner Kwabena Devonish for a speech at a Palestine protest."

Conference further condemned that "for over two decades, the British state has weaponised anti-terror laws and anti-extremism policies to suppress dissent, including:

London Palestine demonstration, March 2024

• Conflating criticism of UK foreign policy with extremism, disproportionately targeting Muslims.
• Expanding counter-terrorism from police and intelligence into demanding schools, universities, libraries, and other public institutions monitor 'extremism'.
• Undermining protest rights through laws like the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 and Public Order Act 2023, granting sweeping powers to criminalise protest.
• The 'spy cops' scandal."

The motion went on to resolve that "Stop the War, within the national office's capacity and resources, will explore ways to strengthen the coordination across the UK of campaigns in defence of our right to protest for Palestine."

At the end of the conference, officers and a new steering committee were elected with the new steering committee now holding monthly meetings instead of every three months. In addition, all Stop the War groups were encouraged as entitled to send one delegate to the Steering Committee and conference closed with a new optimism to take its anti-war work forward in 2025.

In fact, this year's Stop the War Coalition conference was characterised by even more open discussion than previously and had more the character of people speaking in their own name and enriching the considerations of this long-standing and important anti-war movement organisation.

Note
[1] For the full text of all the motions, see: https://www.stopwar.org.uk/article/stop-the-war-coalition-agm-2025-resolutions/

(February 8, 2025)

Fareham bus strike - Photo: NSSN

The beginning of 2025 has seen a wave of industrial action sweep across the country, as workers in multiple sectors continue to develop their militancy and take stands in self-defence against attacks on their claims and conditions of work, and for the dignity of labour. It is workers who have borne the brunt of years of austerity, generalised crisis, and the anti-social offensive. They are defending their interests in conditions of profound disequilibrium in the social relation between employer and employed, where imposition and arbitrariness have become the norm.

In the education sector, the NEU has announced an indicative ballot for teachers in England, focusing on the government's derisory 2.8% pay offer for 2025/26. The ballot, which will run from March to April, could pave the way for strike action if the government fails to address the growing discontent among educators. Meanwhile, NASUWT members at Coventry School Foundation are already on strike, resisting attacks on their pensions. The NEU has also opened strike ballots in eighteen Harris schools, targeting excessive workloads and unfair pay progression systems. In Scotland, the EIS is pushing the Scottish Government to reduce teacher contact time, warning of a formal dispute if no action is taken.

NEU, Bristol - Photo: NSSN

The transport sector has become a flashpoint for industrial action, with workers across the rail network taking a stand against pay freezes, unsafe working conditions, and union-busting tactics. The RMT has been at the forefront of these struggles, with strikes planned at Avanti West Coast and Unipart Rail. Workers at Avanti West Coast are set to walk out after talks broke down, while Unipart Rail employees in Crewe are striking for collective representation and better conditions. Elizabeth Line and Rail for London Infrastructure workers are also taking action over pay and safety concerns. The TSSA has launched a campaign against ScotRail's plans to cut ticket office hours, citing accessibility and safety concerns.

In the public sector, workers are continuing their fight against pay cuts, outsourcing, and the erosion of working conditions. Unison members at Swansea Bay University Health Board have suspended strikes after securing an improved pay offer, but the battle is far from over. NHS workers across the country are resisting the outsourcing of jobs, with over 350 staff at East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust facing the threat of privatisation. The FBU is demanding an above-inflation pay rise for firefighters, while the POA is negotiating for a 6.5% pay rise to address recruitment and retention challenges in prisons.

Local government and housing workers are also preparing for action, with bin workers threatening strikes over pay cuts and the abolition of safety-critical roles. Unite is leading the charge, demanding a significant pay rise for council and school staff to address the rising cost of living. In Belfast, Unite members at leisure centres are threatening strikes over pay disputes with outsourced management company Greenwich Leisure Limited.

In the private sector, workers at companies like Princes Foods, Bidfood, and Sanctuary Housing are striking or balloting for action over pay, conditions, and union-busting tactics. The GMB has secured a significant victory for Amazon workers, forcing the company to pay workers during planned warehouse closures. However, the fight for fair pay and conditions continues, with potential shortages of tinned goods in supermarkets as workers escalate their actions.

Cultural workers are also in action, with Equity members at the Welsh National Opera striking over job cuts and pay.

As the economic crisis unfolds, particularly felt at this time in the cost of living, this wave of industrial action underscores the growing determination of workers to resist attacks on their livelihoods and rights. They continue to sustain their action, asserting that there is to be no let-up in their stand that Enough is Enough! Workers' Weekly plans to cover these actions over the coming weeks.

(Source: National Shop Stewards Network)