Link to this page: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/619/9321
From The Socialist newspaper, 7 April 2010
Socialist Campaign launched in Coventry
Coventry Socialist Party councillor and TUSC candidate Dave Nellist at the TUSC Launch rally, London March 2010, photo Alison Hill (Click to enlarge)
The Socialist Party in Coventry officially launched its election campaign on 21 March, with well over 100 people cramming in to a meeting. Though this was the 'official' launch, campaigning for both the local and parliamentary elections has been taking place over a number of months.
Peter Chase
Many different workers and ages were represented in the audience - postal workers, workers from the council, members of the RMT railworkers' union, school and university students, pensioner activists, veterans of the anti-poll tax campaign, the unemployed, and many others.
Dave Nellist, who will be the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) parliamentary candidate for Coventry North East against defence minister Bob Ainsworth, gave a rousing speech. He explained how the three establishment parties disagree only on the detail of the timing of the huge cuts that will be taking place - the Tories want to take six years to make the cuts and Labour want to do it in seven!
This has been reflected in events on Coventry city council - the Tories proposed £72 million of cuts over the next three years. They were dutifully supported by the 'opposition' Labour group - every single Labour councillor voted for these cuts - with only the Socialists Dave Nellist and Rob Windsor voting against.
It is this sort of tweedle dum - tweedle dee situation which has led leading trade unionists to come together to form the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition, which we see as the beginning of a process that could lead to the formation of new independent party for working class people.
Bob Crow, general secretary of the RMT was scheduled to speak, but due to the impending rail strike, he was unable to attend. However, the audience heard from Manjit, a member of the TSSA union, that will be striking alongside their brothers and sisters in the RMT just after Easter. He thanked the Socialist Party and Coventry TUC for their support in the recent dispute with Virgin Trains.
The meeting closed with Socialist Party regional secretary Dave Griffiths outlining our election plans - we are aiming to stand in all three parliamentary seats in Coventry as well as an extended challenge in the local elections - this includes defending Rob Windsor's seat in the St Michael's ward.
After the meeting, many attendees signed nomination forms for our candidates, volunteered for leafletting and canvassing and also applied to join the Socialist Party.
Why not click here to join the Socialist Party, or click here to donate to the Socialist Party.
In The Socialist 7 April 2010:
Defend jobs and services - Fight for a workers' alternative - Vote TUSC
General Election 6 May: A Socialist Challenge
Socialist Party editorial
Mobilise to defend the right to strike
London Underground workers balloting
Socialist Party election campaign
Stand up for the millions, not the millionaires!
Reject the parties of cuts and privatisation
Socialist Campaign launched in Coventry
Making an impact in Huddersfield
Hazel Must Go! opposes cuts to Salford NHS
Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition
Socialist Party campaigns
March to defend the welfare state
Tories reveal yet more anti-gay bias
'Free schools' or free-for-all?
Socialist Party workplace news
NUT conference again calls for action on workload
Ex-Visteon workers continue fight for pensions
Socialist Students
Mobilise students and workers to defeat cuts and tuition fees
International socialist news and analysis
Kazakhstan: "change the politicians - or they will change you!"
Mass protests and strikes continue to shake Algeria
Tekel workers brutally attacked by police
Comment
The real lessons of the poll tax
Home | The Socialist 7 April 2010 | Join the Socialist Party
Join us today!
Printable version
email to friend
