The People's Charter (21st century)

The People's Charter was a campaigning document in the United Kingdom devised by a commission of trade unionists with the intention of uniting the left and providing an alternative to the neoliberal political agenda.[1] The Charter demands public control of the banks, along with energy, water and transport, ensuring that there is investment in these services instead of money being creamed off to corporate shareholders. It also calls for a fairer tax system, with the wealthy and big business paying their way, investment not cuts in public services, the creation of millions of new homes, and sustainable jobs with decent wages.[2]

The People's Charter
CreatedSeptember 2009
LocationUnited Kingdom
Author(s)A commission of British trade unionists
SignatoriesSee: Endorsements section
PurposeUniting the British Left and providing an alternative to the neoliberal political agenda

Points covered by the Charter

Using the six demands of the People's Charter of 1838 as a template,[1] the demands of the People's Charter are:

  1. A fair economy for a fairer Britain
  2. More and better jobs
  3. Decent homes for all
  4. Save and improve our services
  5. Fairness and Justice
  6. A better future starts now

Endorsements

The People's Charter has been endorsed by the following Trade Unions: the RMT, the CWU, the FBU, the PCS, the NUT, the NUJ, the BFAWU POA (Scotland), the UCU, and the TUC.[3]

The People's Charter attracted support from various high-profile politicians including Jeremy Corbyn, Tony Benn and John McDonnell, and a number of personalities from the arts world including Billy Bragg, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Mark Thomas and Ken Loach.[4]

It has also been endorsed by the Communist Party of Britain,[5] Labour Representation Committee,[6] the Scottish Campaign for Socialism,[7] and the Socialist Party.[8]

Criticisms

The People's Charter has been criticised by some parties on the left, particularly Workers' Liberty, for being too limited in its scope, and for being social democratic rather than revolutionary.[9]

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References
  1. Richards, Andy (26 May 2010). "A people's alternative". Morning Star. Archived from the original on 11 May 2012. Retrieved 24 June 2010.
  2. The People's Charter for a fairer Scotland (PDF). Scottish Organising Committee for the People's Charter. 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 November 2016. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
  3. "Congress Decisions 2009, Resolutions Carried: 32 People's Charter". Trades Union Congress. Archived from the original on 14 December 2010. Retrieved 24 June 2010.
  4. The People's Charter a charter for change (PDF). Plymouth TUC. 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 May 2018. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
  5. "People's Charter - getting organised locally". communist-party.org.uk. Communist Party of Britain. 13 February 2010.
  6. "People's Charter Convention - Sat 21 Nov". l-r-c.org.uk. Labour Representation Committee. 20 November 2009. Archived from the original on 3 March 2012. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
  7. Campaign for Socialism Exec (23 February 2009). "Launch of Scottish Labour Representation Committee and People's Charter". www.thecitizen.org.uk. Archived from the original on 16 February 2012.
  8. Sell, Hannah (26 November 2009). "Is the People's Charter a step towards workers' political representation?". socialistpartyscotland.org.uk. Socialist Party Scotland. Archived from the original on 26 May 2018. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  9. Saddiq, Amina (21 February 2009). "The problem with the "People's Charter"". workersliberty.org. Workers' Liberty. Retrieved 24 June 2010.

Further reading
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