Northern Region, Revolutionary Communist Party of Britain (Marxist-Leninist)

The 140th Durham Miners Gala is taking place on Saturday, July 11, 2026. As we march in our thousands, in the columns of the heritage miners' banners and those trade union banners of the workers fighting for their interests, we also march for our programme and for the alternative. The Durham Miners Gala shows this: that the working class is still here, and the future is in our hands! This gives heart to the working class who are marching against war, marching for their claims on society, claims for health care, for education, and so on, and for the dignity of labour.

The context of this year's Gala is clear to all with the deepening political crisis of the cartel party system of government. Government of whatever cartel party is now openly a system of police powers wielded by the Executive on behalf of the rich. This disempowers the whole of society. Today, it is a system that firstly represents the war industries and the warmongering oligarchies and especially of Britain, the US, EU, Israel and NATO. In other words, whatever the personality of the leadership, it is this cartel party system that brooks no change in its attacks on the people in favour of its warmongering aims, whatever the change of party leader, or change in government.

In this situation the fight for the alternative to this cartel party system is an historical imperative. The future we build must be in the here and now. What is going to remove the block to the torrent of the workers' struggles to allow the working class become front and centre in setting the direction of society? It is the working class which upholds the banner of peace, justice and democracy. Let us make this ever more effective, so we do not keep handing over power to representatives who always claim that it is they who will bring about change. Sure, we have our allies. But let us affirm and declare in this Gala, being still here, that we are going to build a peaceful and pro-social alternative. It is the call of history to the working class.

Today, the working class and people in their thousands are proclaiming that Enough Is Enough! Let us continue to discuss and plan to meet those challenges and build the solidarity of the workers fighting for their rights and interests and build the opposition against this system of direct rule by the rich both in Britain and internationally. The people are resisting the attacks on the rights of all in society. They are especially heroically resisting the criminalisation of protest of those who opposed Britain's support for Israel's continued genocide of the Palestinians. They are resisting the further escalation of war in Europe with the US, NATO and other European powers in Ukraine and in West Asia against Iran and Lebanon. They are further building the anti-war movement internationally and opposing the further militarisation of the British economy at the expense of wrecking the social programmes and welfare of the people. The necessity is to stand as one with all those internationally in the struggle against the extreme violence and dictate and arbitrariness and anarchy, such as against Venezuela, Cuba and the DPRK. It is a stand in solidarity with all those defending their sovereignty and their right to choose their own social system.

The alternative is taking shape as people resist, speak in their own name and reject the existing conception of authority. It is organising and fighting to constitute the working people as the new authority at each turn of events. It is intervening to make sure whatever the ruling class is implementing at their expense cannot succeed.

A change in the direction of society and the economy is a must for the whole of society. This change calls for the democratic renewal of the political process and institutions, to envision and build new forms in this transitional period. The cutting edge of this work at present is the challenge to bring into being an anti-war government. The necessity is for worker politicians, for the working class and people to speak in their own name, upholding mass democratic methods and principles. The disillusionment with the cartel party system and the sentiment for a new society means that there is no cause for pessimism or for panic, but rather demonstrates that the way forward is working for the creation of a new society and a world of socialised humanity.

What an historic turning point if the inherent nature of the working class and the workers' movement can get consolidated moving forward from this Gala. The working class must constitute itself the nation, and not these oligarchs and war apologists who claim that theirs is the direction society should take. Rather than these oligarchs leading us ever deeper into the danger of war, conventional, nuclear or through drones and AI, the working class can vest sovereignty in the people. Yes, together we can achieve success! Hold high the banner of the working class!

Fight for an Anti-War Government!
Build the Resistance! Build the Voice of the People!
Take up the Renewal of the Political Process!
Together We Can Achieve Success!

PDF format: Durham Miners Gala 2026.pdf

RCPB(ML) Home Page

Workers' Weekly Online Archive