THREAD

You know, I've been here for a couple of years. A part of things. And yet, always on the periphery really.

That's no-one's fault. I live in Northern Ireland. I'm not in any "factions". I just basically came in and starting campaigning. I wanted Corbyn in, badly.

I've mentioned it before, but I've been on the left for quite a long time. Nearly twenty years. But I've only been a member of the Labour Party for a couple.

I used to be with the Socialist Party, long ago. That was between around 2001 until 2006, I would think.

I was a very active member, and took part in a lot of campaigns. I was a voice against the Iraq War, and organised rallies. I spoke in schools about racism. I fought against low pay and dodgy employers.

I'm proud of some of the work I did in those days, and I never won't be.

But honestly - I was a mess. As you all know, I'm a recovering alcoholic. And my reputation in the Socialist Party declined over years.

I haven't really spoken to my former comrades about this. But it is a source of deep shame for me. I became a literal shadow of myself.

My comrades deserved better. Some of them went to great lengths to support me and help me through something that ultimately, I had to fix myself.

I'll never not say thank you in my heart to each and every one of them for that. Good, good people.

So, in 2006 I left for Belgium and my life after that became less political.

I still had an interest and turned up at the odd event, but I was disillusioned. Sad. In a way, I was already finished. I believed that I would never stop drinking and that I would die an alcoholic.

I could elaborate. But that isn't what this is entirely about. Years passed, I moved back home, lived in Belfast, sat in a room drinking whiskey for five years and almost killed myself doing it.

And then this. https://medium.com/@chrishenrysw1969/jeremy-corbyn-kinda-saved-my-life-c69358479cb8

I've now been sober for 38 months. The hope and enthusiasm generated by our movement and Jeremy Corbyn's inspirational leadership had something to do with that.

Not everything, of course. But it gave me the spark I needed and filled a gap where hope used to lie.

Now, to the point of this thread. Because this isn't simply about me getting personal. But rather explaining where I'm at politically.

As I've said. I've been on the left a long time. In that time, I've debated across the left, against representatives of many parties.

Also, many years have passed. I've changed as a person. I've seen many takes over the past few days that I would have had five, ten, even fifteen years ago.

The Socialist Party is my past. As I say I value the time I spent with them in my youth. But I'm in a different place now.