Robyn Martin
Robyn Martin is the sister of Stephanie Martin.
2024 Harry Pollitt School
Ruben Brett reports from the YC political school – named after famed British communist leader Harry Pollitt – held in April in his Manchester birthplace.
Some highlights from the weekend:
A fantastic panel including GMB organiser Helen O'Connor, RMT president Alex Gordon (RMT), Nick Troy from Unite, Stephanie Martin from UNISON and Gawain Little GFTU general secretary discussed the history and future of British trade unionism, the contradictions of British labour’s relationship to imperialism, the need for trade unions to adapt and work more closely with tenants’ and community unions, and more.
Paul Cockshott discussed Karl Marx’s Labour Theory of Value, its historical development and application. Fiona Edwards from No Cold War reported on Latin America’s struggles against US hegemony 201 years on from the Monroe Doctrine. David Broder analysed European fascism as ‘an intellectual movement, not a historical moment’ which did not end in 1945 and has continued to shape right-wing politics and governance, particularly in the context of the EU.
The emerging multipolar world order and it consequences for both the Global South and the developed capitalist states came under scrutiny from a panel including Fiona Edwards, Carlos Martinez and representatives from the Student Federation of India, the Communist Youth League of China and the Leninist Komsomol of the Russian Federation.
Steve Marsling enthralled participants with his experiences as a London Recruit in the secret struggle against apartheid. Praxis Press publisher Kenny Coyle dismantled anti-communist lies including the superficial analysis of ‘totalitarianism’ and emphasised that the way to defeat anticommunism is through unity, work and openness.
The history of the Communist Party of Britain was the core of party general secretary Robert Griffiths’ message in which he set out the party’s role in the next period. Scottish young communists womens’ officer Robyn Martin led an insightful workshop examining liberal feminism and the realities of the sex trade. Isaac Rose from the Greater Manchester Tenants' Union traced Manchester's contemporary history as a model metropolis for neoliberal models of development.
The final panel included Bassam as-Salhi, general secretary of the Palestinian People's Party discussing the culpability of the Israeli state in the decades leading up to the October 7 attack.
Closing the Harry Pollitt School young communist’s general secretary Georgina Andrews stressed the importance of the relationship between the Young Communist League and the Communist Party and the need to work more closely together in building the united front.[1]
YCL
In 2022 Robyn Martin, was Student Officer of the Glasgow Young Communist League.[2]
Supporting the strikers
Glasgow University Communist Society supporting the strikers Anagha Pavithran, Daniel Lambe, Jamie Fitzpatrick, Robyn Martin, Jack Davidson.