£109,315 - a record year for the fighting fund!

Last Friday (6^th Jan) was the last day that money was accepted for the October to December 2005 Fighting Fund quarter.

We knew that we had superseded the target of £22,000 but once the last cheques, cash and card payments were added up the total of £36,472 was announced.

This means we raised £109,315 in 2005, the highest amount since 1996, nine years ago!

Jane James, National Treasurer, reports on a record fund raising year.

We would like to thank all members and supporters who have donated to our funds; our branches which have been campaigning throughout the year; and of course the Fighting Fund organisers.

But it is not only the success of the Fighting Fund that we can congratulate ourselves.

Appeals

This time last year England and Wales raised £14,000 for the Sri Lankan appeal to assist the victims of the Tsuanami. How many other organisations can declare that the money and shipments of medicine, tents and blankets reached those that were affected ?

Members of our sister party in Sri Lanka not only distributed these donations but initiated and are still involved in the campaign for all relief and rehabilitation to be controlled by elected committees of those affected and of workers’ and poor people’s organisations and not the bureaucrats, soldiers and self-seeking politicians.

Our members and supporters responded later in the year to the appeal launched by our Pakistani and Kashmiri comrades to assist the relief efforts following the devastating earthquake in Pakistan and Kashmir. £ 10,580 has been raised so far.

As the General Election approached we stepped up our appeal to fund sixteen Socialist Party candidates which began in the autumn of 2004.

Not surprisingly we don’t receive donations from big business as the major parties do to fund our election campaigns. So our members and supporters had to raise the election deposit of £500 per candidate and leaflets.

Every member was asked to donate a weeks income where possible (a considerable commitment) and the response was excellent.

We raised £ 52,617 and were able to donate £5,000 to the CWI from this appeal.

No-one who attended Socialism 2005 can forget the tremendous Fighting Fund appeal at the rally. We quadrupled the amount raised at the 2004 event with a total of £ 27,614.

Campaign

The last months of 2005 saw members pledge increases of £ 3,600 a month in membership subs following campaigning work by our treasurers.

The increase in finance raised for our party reflects a commitment to struggle for socialism as well as a pride in what the Socialist Party has achieved.

As more young people join our party we see the next generation taking up the ideas of Socialism and Marxism; our influence and achievements in the Trade Unions reflect the hard work and correct strategy of our members and supporters in this crucial field.

If we want to achieve a socialist society to rid the world of war, poverty and inequality then we need to get involved in the struggle.

Helping to finance the Socialist Party ensures we have the resources to combat the consequences of this rotten capitalist world and continue to struggle for a socialist society.

However, having congratulated ourselves on an excellent financial year for the party, we need to draw up plans and campaigns to ensure that 2006 is just as successful as 2005 !