ONCE activists and campaigners have had the chance to catch their breath following Thursday’s local elections and before the next general election gets into gear, a Morning Star and Manifesto Press-sponsored Red University will be held, where ideas can be explored and policy developed, to meet the major challenges faced by the peoples’ movements.

Eyes will turn east as Morning Star Readers and Supporters Groups across the East of England respond to a lead given by supporters in Cambridge who are organising a day of discussion, debate and mobilisation. The Red Uni has the support of a wide range of organisations, including local trades councils and the People’s Assembly.

The event will be held in the famous neo-Georgian Guildhall in Market Square — you cannot get more central to the city or accessible than that — on Saturday June 1. The Guildhall is the seat of government in the city and its most prominent civic building, which has deep historic roots having housed a synagogue as early as the 1220s, a prison and a Franciscan convent.

Organisers have kept the cost of entry right down and popular Caribbean-style food store Orlene’s Kitchen Cafe are supporting the event by giving food and drink discounts to those sporting their Red Uni discount voucher available on the day.

The main focus of the event will be sessions on: Who are the people? What is state power? Why socialism? These sessions will be steered by local activists and there will be equal time for guest speakers, drawn from the front line of the battle of ideas and activism, to discuss and debate.  

We invite you to join with Morning Star international editor Roger McKenzie, one of Britain’s best-known campaigners only recently returned from a study tour of China, who will speak on “Who are the people?” 

He will be joined by historian Professor James Crossley. James has written books on John Ball and Jesus and is currently writing a biography of treasured local historian and communist councillor AL Morton, who wrote A People’s History of England. Trade union leader and author of Our Trade Unions Nigel Flanagan will talk about the special role that organised workers have in creating social change.

To discuss “What is state power?” nationally acclaimed peace campaigner Andrew Murray, vice-president of Stop the War will join Johnbosco Nwogbo, lead campaigner of We Own It and union leader and anti-privatisation campaigner Helen O’Connor. They will discuss how the state reacts to challenges to its monopoly of power and the importance of public ownership opposed to privatisation. Andrew has been a leading voice calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and in Ukraine, Johnbosco and We Own It have set the pace in national debate on the parlous state of the water industry and Helen has been organising workers in the NHS to oppose privatisation.

We will also welcome climate activist Suzanne Jeffery, chair of the Campaign Against Climate Change and a seasoned union activist, along with author and union leader Dr Lucy Burke, who is writing a path breaking book about disability and climate change. They will argue that action is needed and that local struggles can have an impact on decision-makers.

Finally, youth campaigner and local government worker Maise Riley will join Young Communist League general secretary Georgina Andrews and London Recruit Steve Marsling to lead a discussion on “Why socialism?”

A major focus of the day will be on the role of the Morning Star in breaking the multi-billionaire media monopoly and internationalism and there will be a Star stall with copies of the weekend edition available. Attendees can contribute to a retiring collection for Medical Aid For Palestine.

Organisers warmly welcome long-time readers of the Star and the many new activists from across the East of England who have emerged in the wake of the strikes of 2022 and 2023. 

The Red Uni will be held at the Guildhall Cambridge on June 1 11am-5pm and is sponsored jointly by the Morning Star and Manifesto Press. Manifesto titles will be available on the day at a special discount for attendees.

The event is ticket entry only, price £2, £5 and £10 (solidarity). Register at https://tinyurl.com/RedUni24.