Link to this page: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/689/12968
From The Socialist newspaper, 12 October 2011
Coventry by-election helps build socialist alternative to cuts
Lenny Shail, Coventry Socialist Party
The Socialist Party reaffirmed its strong position in Coventry, coming third in the Lower Stoke ward council by-election on Thursday 6 October on 254 votes (10.06%).
The Socialist Party finished ahead of the racist BNP (149 votes, 5.9%), Greens (114 votes, 3.13%) and Lib Dems (79 votes, 3.13%). On a 18.5% turnout, 2,525 overall votes, Labour retained the seat on 1,366 votes (54.1%) ahead of the Tories on 563 votes (22.3%).
In what was a short campaign period a total of three leaflets and three weekly canvases went out across the ward for Rob McArdle, the 'Socialist Alternative' candidate. Only our day-glo posters could be seen in the ward, thanks to the many discussions that took place on the doors (the only party to do so!) and the concrete work that the Socialist Party and its councillor Dave Nellist have done over many years in defending jobs, homes and services across Coventry.
The Unite union convenor of one of Coventry's last motor manufacturing factories, London Taxi Company, was one of the people who nominated and displayed a poster for Rob.
The pre-election public meeting attracted 40 people to hear Rob and Dave speak, and inspired people to join the Socialist Party.
On election day, Socialist Party teams were out all day leafleting, campaigning on stalls, knocking doors and driving round in a loud-speaker equipped car.
The result and work done in the by-election is an important step forward for the anti-cuts movement in Coventry and support for socialist ideas.
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In The Socialist 12 October 2011:
Socialist Party youth and students
Interview with a Jarrow marcher
Marching in the footsteps of history
International socialist news and analysis
US: Occupy Wall Street - Demanding jobs not cuts
Socialist Party workplace news
Strike on 30 November - no secret talks
'We have not gone away' say Southampton council workers
60 printers sacked as bosses make a million
Socialist Party news and analysis
Sovereign debt crisis, recession... No way out under capitalism
Cameron's big 'them and us' society
Fox takes cronyism to new level
Wales Assembly budget: Labour piles on the misery
Con-Dems' policies increase poverty
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
NHS protesters occupy Westminster Bridge
Health campaigners take Ascot by storm
Coventry by-election helps build socialist alternative to cuts
London elections - more support for TU/anti-cuts stand
Socialist Party fundraising
Socialist history
Battle of Cable Street 1936 - When workers stopped the fascists
The Socialist - readers' comments
Portrait of a pension pilferer
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