Statement of Aims and Principles

The CPA's activism is based on three key principles:

1.    Accountability and Transparency

• We are dedicated to holding our current elected representatives, officials and public institutions accountable for their actions and decisions while advocating for democratic reforms.

• We operate as a democratic, community-led organisation with clearly defined goals.

2.    Social Justice and Inclusivity

• We are committed to addressing systemic and social inequalities, including issues related to housing, health, education, the environment, poverty and wealth distribution.

• We promote principles of anti-oppression, anti-racism, internationalism, anti-imperialism and class solidarity.

3.    Political Engagement

• We act as a collective voice for the community

• We support electoral candidates who align with the CPA’s principles.

And we aspire to 5 key areas of activity:

1.    Campaigning

●      Campaigning for change in line with our principles

●      Campaigning to hold our elected representatives, officials and public institutions accountable for their decisions.

●      Advocating for transparency and better representation in local government and other institutions.

2.    Community Building and Empowering Grassroots Movements

●      Supporting campaigns on critical local issues, such as housing, health, education, the environment, poverty and wealth distribution.

●      Connecting individuals and groups to help build strong, cohesive networks and a powerful grassroots mass movement.

●      Establishing and reinforcing local networks to coordinate activities at the street and neighbourhood level.

●      Offering a physical space for campaigns to meet, plan, and collaborate.

3.    Political Awareness and Training

●      Providing resources and training to empower residents to campaign

●      Conducting political education to raise awareness about local, national and global issues.

4.    Support for Electoral Campaigns and Candidates

●      Preparing candidates for elections and supporting them with volunteers and resources.

●      Sharing best practices to enhance electoral success.

●      Facilitating and coordinating candidates who support our principles.

5.    Strategic Planning and Networking

●      Setting clear short-, medium-, and long-term goals, including specific campaign strategies.

●      Linking local activism to broader national and international movements for systemic and social change.

Candidate Pledges

The CPA has developed a set of pledges for all election candidates that it supports. 

1.⁠ ⁠We will stand alongside residents

We will fight for decent housing, wages, social rights, and will oppose attacks on welfare rights.

2.⁠ ⁠We will be accountable to residents

We will report back openly and regularly. By welcoming public scrutiny, making decisions with those we represent, not for them. We will give real power to local people.

3.⁠ ⁠We will oppose austerity

We will defend measures that support our local services and infrastructure.

4.⁠ ⁠We will campaign for improved services

We will oppose privatisation of council services and will campaign to bring outsourced services back in-house. We will oppose rent rises and will fight to ensure that the council’s failings on repairs are addressed.

5.⁠ ⁠We will hold to account corporate developers and landlords

We will defend public land, council housing and public services from exploitation, and will expose those who try to sell them off. We will oppose the continuing gentrification of our borough, which has caused housing costs to spiral, and working class communities to be forced out.

6.⁠ ⁠We will not take bribes

We will remain politically and financially independent from any interest that puts profit over people. We will not accept money, gifts, favours or jobs from corporate donors or lobbyists.

7.⁠ ⁠We will fight social and economic inequality, racism and injustice

We will use our platform to oppose all forms of oppression and exclusion with a focus on supporting particularly marginalised groups.

8.⁠ ⁠We will stand against genocide

We will support the campaign for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS), which works to end support for Israel's oppression of Palestinians. We will oppose all British complicity in global injustice and abuses of human rights.

9.⁠ ⁠We will support trade unions and workers’ rights

We will reflect the values of worker solidarity in all of our undertakings. We will work alongside trade unions to address social and economic inequality. 

10.⁠ ⁠We will protect the environment

We will work to protect the environment and tackle the climate crisis; fight to reduce carbon emissions and reduce environmental harm, especially from new construction; and campaign to divest completely from fossil fuels.

Democratic Structures

The CPA is currently administered by an interim Coordinating Group of local activists convened by Andrew Feinstein, but we are committed to implementing a fully democratic constitution. We aim to produce a draft constitution based on the principles laid out in this document, and will invite our members to debate, amend, and vote on the constitution at an inaugural Annual General Meeting before the end of 2025.