THE Young Communist League held its 49th National Congress on Saturday 24 November 2018 at Ruskin House, in London.

The Congress saw delegates from YCL branches across Britain meet to discuss, debate and agree on the organisation’s policies, priorities and strategies for the next two years.

For the majority of delegates this was their first time attending a YCL Congress with many branches only having been established in the last two years. YCL outgoing general secretary Owain Holland stated “this reflects the reality that we are a growing and increasingly active militant organisation.”

Key points of discussion included Tory government austerity and Brexit. Delegates noted that the two were intrinsically linked and vowed to redouble their efforts to remove the Conservative government and deliver a People’s Brexit.

Delegates warned that Nato and US imperialism, which is increasingly reckless under Trump, remain the greatest threat to world peace. On the floor of Congress delegates agreed that the unfolding climate crisis presented a threat to the very existence of humanity and directed the YCL to increase campaigning on environmental matters.

Resolutions were passed committing the YCL to increase its involvement in the student and trade union movements. A resolution calling for increased representation of women in the YCL and campaigning on women’s issues was unanimously approved.

Congress also elected a new executive committee to carry out its decisions over the next two years. The newly elected committee includes: James McLelland, Holly Morcos, Owain Holland, Johnnie Hunter, Julio Romero, Gary Steele, Peter Ward-Stoddart and Robin Talbot.

A fraternal delegate from the Connolly Youth Movement, the YCL’s sister Communist youth organisation in Ireland, brought solidarity greetings and, in addressing Congress, thanked the YCL for its longstanding support for Irish unification.

Gary Steele, a member of the newly elected executive committee attending Congress for the first time said that “it was a great experience and there was excellent debate between delegates. I’m looking forward to two years of building the YCL.”

Below is an excerpt from the opening address of the outgoing YCL chair.

“The importance of the Congress to the democratic lifeblood of our organisation cannot be overstated. Our constitution provides that: “The Sovereign Body of the League shall be the Congress.”

As Communists we are democrats in the fullest sense of the word. Indeed we have all been led here to our membership of the Young Communist League, to our participation in this Congress, by a lifetime of dedication to the class struggle and by a fundamental belief in democracy.

We believe in a truly democratic society. A society controlled by working people. A society which operates not only in the interests of the working class of Britain but also our planet and all humanity.