Socialism has a moral purpose. This moral purpose sits alongside our primary concern for working class outcomes and opposition to imperialism as the ethical base of the Workers Party of Britain. Socialism is not only about economic planning for the benefit of all, it is also about a belief in the value and worth of every one of us on equal terms no matter our personality, gender, lifestyle choices, intellectual capacity or disability. Those who are disadvantaged do not need identity activism to establish their worth. They need practical support to be free to make their own choices in life.
Disabled workers are a part of the working class
We will concentrate on actively improving the material situation of all those who are disadvantaged starting with the condition of the poorest in society, the mentally disadvantaged and the physically disabled. We do not accept the dog-eat-dog aspects of liberal individualism. We are one class but also one nation. While we do not and will not countenance able-bodied and mentally fit abusers of the system, we do think the good society requires all of us to contribute to helping the least well off and disadvantaged so that they can take their full place in society and demonstrate their capacity and talents. If this means reasonable and fair redistributive taxation of the wealthier elements in society, so be it.
We will do this through ensuring a minimum decent income both for those who can work and those who provenly cannot. Where someone cannot work, we will expend resources sensitively to bring them into society as fellow workers where we can. We will continue to uphold access provisions for the disabled and invest in technology to enhance their capacity.
Pensioners are retired workers
Security in old age is a fundamental value for the Workers Party of Britain. We will commit at once to the triple lock or similar arrangements designed to maintain pensioner purchasing power and increase these provisions as growth strategies start to bear fruit. We will undertake a major review of pensions policy with the ultimate aim of restoring a life-long commitment through earnings to adequate pension provision and making pensions eventually tax free.
We also commit to a process of reducing the pensionable age over time and as economic circumstances permit so that all workers have the option of retiring at 60 with a decent minimum standard of living. We also support the ‘Back to 60 Campaign’ in order to rectify a fundamental injustice regardless of the recent court judgement as well as supporting the efforts of WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality).
Julie Lowe 