Political Economy for Beginners

About The Course

This political economy for beginners course is for anyone interested in the reasons why things are so bad for the workers and what can be done about it.

If you have questions like:
• ‘why are we working more, yet our lives getting harder?’
• ‘what are the bosses doing? why are they paid so much?’,
• ‘why is there so much poverty and inequality?’
• ‘why is there no housing and decent jobs available?’
• ‘what can be done to challenge the status quo?’
…then this course is for you.

The course is designed to develop a class understanding by making complex information and political language accessible. This course will diagnose the problem, propose a solution and the tools to fight. It will form the basis for a progressive alternative economic, political and industrial strategy for Britain, so we can start tilting back the social balance in favour of labour not capital. It is to help you within your own union, at work, and wider political/community campaigning and organising.

Participants will be encouraged to draw on their experience as active TU members to build and widen knowledge.

Sessions include:

Dire Straits: 3 June 2026, Quorn Grange Hotel, all day

For a Change of Direction: 24 June 2026, Online, 5-7pm

Overcoming the Obstacles: 15 July 2026, Online, 5-7pm

The Politics of Change: 5 August 2026, Quorn Grange Hotel, all day

The course material will be based on the upcoming book ‘Out of the Ruins: Rebuilding the British Economy’ by Larry Elliott, Costas Lapavitsas, and Doug Nicholls. The price includes food, a copy of the book and course materials.