A POWERFUL grassroots movement has the potential to become a political party, the Merseyside Pensioners Association (MPA) heard as it launched its new manifesto in Liverpool on Thursday.

Former ANC MP Andrew Feinstein emphasised the need for a mass movement “built from the ground up,” helping local communities as MPA has, that could even go on to become a political party “of the people, for the people, by the people.”

He highlighted the case of the Belgian Workers Party, which went from having five representatives nationwide to 248, thanks to its decision to become “less factional” and its prioritisation of community work above votes.

“The world faces an existential crisis. Let’s get together. Let’s unify,” the South African expatriate concluded.

Marie Harrison, who edited the MPA manifesto, which asserts that Labour “can no longer be recognised as the party of the working class,” described the association as Liverpool’s “opposition,” fighting at the forefront on a number of issues.

She pointed out that while pensioners are referred to as the “most fortunate generation” because they had the benefits of the welfare state, they are also the generation that has fought to keep it.

“We favoured the NHS. We supported the strikes. We supported all those workers who were fighting to defend their rights and conditions they had fought for over the years,” Ms Harrison said.

“It’s sad for us now looking back and seeing the situation our grandchildren are in, where they are having to fight these the same battles over and over again,” Ms Harrison said.

The manifesto supports taxing the rich, an increase in pensions in line with best practice in the OECD countries, an end to arms sales to Israel and the restoration of council housing.

It includes a new section on animal welfare, calling for a ban on factory farming, and opposes corporatisation and freeports, which allow private firms to operate outside normal rules.

The document also demands the restoration of the NHS and the removal of private health firms, while the MPA has already spearheaded a campaign opposing physician associates.

MPA vice-chairwoman Mary Whitby said: “We have been really one of the only voices fighting for that, outside of doctors.”

Waiting lists being blamed on an ageing population has left pensioners “scapegoated,” she said.

“The population that built the NHS, who worked in it and benefited from it, are now being told that we’re the ones who are causing this manufactured crisis. The crisis is created by restructuring the NHS on the American model.”

Lee Hunter of the Fire Brigades Union commended the MPA for its important work, which has described as reflective of “Scouse exceptionalism.”

He said: “For the size of the organisation that it is, it’s absolutely outstanding.

“They are at every single rally, every single picket line.

“The MPA don’t just fight for pensioners, they fight for everyone.”