Zarah Sultana’s march for Your Party represents real challenge to Labour in former industrial town

Zarah Sultana led the Northern March for Your Party in Huddersfield on Saturday 18 October. And it was a powerful, inspiring event signalling that Labour could be in serious trouble in next year’s local elections.

“Town of resistance” brings the energy – as does Zarah Sultana

Huddersfield was a powerhouse during the Industrial Revolution. But today it’s suffering. And its Labour council is just adding insult to injury. Challenging it from the left is the People’s Alliance for Change and Equality (PACE), which has been supporting and connecting campaigners, trade unionists, and politicians across Kirklees in West Yorkshire in opposition to war, cuts, and racism. PACE has been a big supporter of the project to build a new left party, and has received the backing of both Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana.

As PACE said before the event, “Huddersfield has a proud history of being a town of resistance”. And that is precisely the energy that surrounded the march. Starting off in the beautiful Greenhead Park with schoolchildren finishing off “a sponsored walk to raise much-needed funds for the children and orphans of Gaza”, it was clear that opposition to the genocide in Gaza was a key factor bringing people together. But as the march progressed down into the centre of Huddersfield, there were also chants against the austerity that Labour has shamefully passed on to local people.

In St. George’s Square, people heard speeches from local campaigners before marching around the town. The atmosphere was electric, and many onlookers appeared to be supportive. Returning to St. George’s Square, marchers listened to speeches from both Zarah Sultana and Independent Alliance MP Iqbal Mohamed.

There was a reasonably large and unnecessary police presence. But overall, the police kept a distance and were non-combative. There was also a small suggestion, via a couple of minor interruptions, that Reform is threatening to make some inroads in the town. But the march proved that, if the left stands firm together, the far right won’t be so confident.

In the coming days, the Canary will be sharing more content from the march.

Featured image via the Canary