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

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

Last Friday (6th 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We knew that we had superseded the target of £22,000 but once the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 !