Party/campaigns news in brief



Save Heatherwood

Over 40 activists from Bracknell, Reading, Ascot and Windsor attended a Bracknell public meeting on 29 February organised by Defend Our Community Services to save Heatherwood Hospital from closure.

Already our local birthing centre was closed in spite of its popularity with local mothers. Carol Brooker from the Health Advisory Group called for a concerted campaign to get the birthing centre reopened.

Our campaign has so far attracted nearly 20,000 petition signatures and we are forcing the health authorities to reconsider their proposals.

We have organised rallies, public meetings, leafleting, petitioning and lobbying and we plan a week of action in April.

Terry Pearce, Chair, Defend Our Community Services (personal capacity)

Torquay NHS campaign

The first ever Socialist Party stall in Torquay took place on 3 March, part of developing a branch in South Devon. The stall against NHS cuts sold 16 copies of the Socialist, raised £12 fighting fund and got a fantastic response. A meeting in Torquay will take place on 8 March.


Socialist Party congress

The Socialist Party’s 2012 congress will be taking place on 10-12 March. See the Socialist issue 709 (printed a day late so the paper’s editors can take part) and www.socialistparty.org.uk for reports.

The congress includes a finance appeal to help fund the party’s work. The party has no wealthy backers and relies on the backing of its members and supporters.

The finance appeal will help produce posters, leaflets, pamphlets and other campaigning material for fighting the government’s and councils’ ‘austerity’ cuts.

To support the appeal, go to www.socialistparty.org.uk/donate (label your donation ‘congress appeal’), phone 020 8988 8777 or use the form in the Socialist.


May Day greetings

Support the Socialist with a May Day greeting this year. Greetings celebrate International Workers’ Day while helping to raise essential money for the paper that fights all cuts.

Greeting rates include: £500 for a whole page; £300 for a half-page; £170 quarter-page; £90 one-eighth; £50 one-sixteenth; £30 1/32; £20 small box and £15 for up to 30 words

The deadline for May Day messages is 19 April. Pay by this date to get a 25% discount on your greeting price.

Contact [email protected] or 020 8988 8781 for leaflets, more information and to give your greeting.