The Socialist 12 May 2005

NHS - Stop the profit vultures

Defend public services

Everyone has a right to education

Join the G8 protest

1945 - Victory in Europe: When 'liberation' meant socialism

Blair battered but what's the alternative?

Rebuilding SSP support under a third Labour term

Discontent with the 'Blair project'

Polarisation widens in Northern Ireland

Coventry - the best campaign ever

Building a base in Lewisham

Big vote for socialism in Bolsover

Left victory in firefighters' union

Workers demand justice on pensions

Amicus conference: Size isn't everything

UNISON health conference: Fight low pay and privatisation, defend pensions

Previous issues, etc

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Coventry - the best campaign ever

SOME PEOPLE called this the 'no choice' election but it's more like the 'little change' election - at least on the surface. Many told us they hated New Labour but they still felt they had to vote Labour. This was mainly because of fear of the Tories winning.

Dave Griffiths

However, it also reflected the relative economic stability for a section of workers over the last four or five years. Changes to that are looming on the horizon - the threat to jobs, low pay and the crisis in the NHS as well as the attacks on pensions.

We got 3,500 votes in Coventry, where there was a lot of attention given to the LibDems and a localised press blackout for us. Where we got our highest votes, the turnout was lowest. Generally the turnout in the cities was lower than in the more rural areas.

The Socialist Party increased our influence and membership in the election, which was not fully reflected in the number of votes we got.

We had the best four week's of campaigning we've ever had - we've sold record numbers of papers and raised huge amounts of fighting fund. Of the 60 people who have expressed an interest in joining, 8 have joined so far. And we have the beginnings of a new branch in Leamington. Even where they won't join the Party itself, more people have volunteered to help us in elections.

In this issue

NHS - Stop the profit vultures