CAPITALIST society is a class society where the relationship between workers and capitalists is based on the exploitation of labour power. In Wales today, this continues to generate huge inequality: poverty for many, alongside enormous wealth for a few.

This divided society fosters discrimination and provides a breeding ground for bigotry and xenophobia.

Wales faces a severe economic crisis once again. The cost-of-living crisis is the latest example of the impact of capitalism, with millions of working-class people facing hardship as gas and electricity bills rocket and petrol prices rise along with food, mortgages, rents and rail fares.

Household incomes in Wales are falling behind as a result of the deliberate policies of the Conservative government in Westminster and the Welsh administration’s lack of powers and resources in Cardiff. People reliant on the benefits system have seen their incomes fall in real terms and many have even seen cash reductions as a result of the Tories’ punitive welfare agenda.

In common with the rest of Britain, we face a housing crisis of unparalleled proportions because the construction, sale and renting of homes is largely driven by the quest for profit.

In a capitalist society, providing homes for people to live in is not the primary consideration. In Wales, too, local shortages of affordable housing are made all the worse by the proliferation of second homes, holiday lets and empty investment properties.

The capitalists argue that unemployment is necessary for a smoothly functioning labour market, but the consequence is human misery with 63,000 (September 2022) on the claimant count and a further 79,000 economically inactive people in Wales looking for work. With 69,000 children (13 per cent of the total) living in workless households, it is clear that the capitalist “market” is designed for anything but meeting human needs.

The “market” is also the motor force in the drive to deplete the Earth’s resources and usher in environmental disaster. Climate change is already a clear and present danger in Wales with increased disruption from flooding and the accelerating loss of species, vital habitats and biodiversity.

The Labour Party, with support from Plaid Cymru, is in office in Cardiff Bay. But the labour movement and progressive forces are not in power. The Welsh government needs to embrace an agenda that puts workers’ rights, employment, higher wages, equality, public ownership and planning front and centre.

Within Wales, many forces seek to challenge inequalities, call out bigotry, and foster understanding and collective endeavour for the common good. The Communist Party recognises the role that the capitalist system plays in thwarting even the best-intentioned programmes of government and campaigns.

We clearly see the economic basis of the contradiction between well-intentioned reforms and persistent unequal outcomes, because we recognise the class conflict that underlies the policy debates on issues encompassing the whole of political, civic and cultural life.

Unless we unshackle the trade union movement, end the persecution of community protest groups and place decision-making power in the hands of ordinary people, we cannot effectively tackle the big issues that matter.

The trade unions have demonstrated their determination to fight for better wages, terms and conditions against a renewed anti-working class, anti-union offensive by the Tory central government in league with big business.

The People’s Assembly — backed by trades unions — and other anti-cuts and campaigning organisations can play a major part in mobilising people in their communities against attacks on public services, benefits and pensions.

Broad-based local trade union councils are well-placed to act as a bridge between industrial action in the workplace and vigorous campaigning in working-class communities.

As revolutionaries, communists ask themselves, “What can be done to bring these contradictions to a head? How can these contradictions be resolved in favour of the great majority?”

In common with all progressives, we ask: “What can we do today to relieve immediate suffering? What can we do to improve the material conditions of the people today? And how can we ensure that the daily struggles build towards the wider goal of wresting power from the hands of the capitalist class and placing it in the hands of the working class and the people generally?”

Only through this extension of democratic class power can the interests of the people triumph over the profit motive, enabling our communities to direct investment into their chosen priorities, into public services and economic, social and cultural development.

We call for the reshaping of Britain through progressive federalism, committed to the redistribution of wealth and power.

The road to a secure, sustainable and socially just Wales can be built on the foundations of real power for the people of Wales.

David Morgan is the Welsh secretary of the Communist Party of Britain.