Dave Reid, TUSC agent, Cardiff Central
TUSC can beat most of the parties in a fair vote – if we are given a chance to be heard. This was the lesson from the hustings organised by the YMCA in Cardiff Central.
Despite the event being packed with Labour and Liberal supporters in this marginal seat, TUSC candidate Steve Williams came third in the vote ahead of the Tories, Ukip and the Greens.
Originally the YMCA did not invite any of our candidates to speak at the event. After all, TUSC is virtually never covered in the mainstream media. So it did not occur to the YMCA to invite a TUSC speaker. The YMCA said we would have to make do with a place in the audience.
But an exchange of emails finally convinced them that we should be included. We pointed out that according to electoral law any organisation that organises a hustings event open to the general public and only invites candidates from a few parties but not all standing in the constituency will be deemed to be making a contribution to those parties’ election funds.
The YMCA relented and on the morning of the debate invited Steve Williams to speak at the event. No other socialists were allowed into the ticket-only event (which had been booked days in advance by Labour and Liberal supporters) but by all accounts he slated the main capitalist parties and won the majority of the unaligned audience over.
The chief executive of the YMCA emailed TUSC to thank Steve for being an excellent panel member and said: “As I was one of the people who had not considered TUSC as a main party originally, I apologise especially as TUSC came third.
- Don’t miss the TUSC election broadcast on 17 April on BBC2 at 5.55pm, ITV at 6.25pm and BBC1 at 6.55pm
- The TUSC manifesto launch will take place on 10 April at 11am by Canary Wharf London Underground (Jubilee Line) station
- The Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) is an electoral alliance involving the RMT transport union, the Socialist Party, other socialist groups and leading members of other trade unions. This May TUSC is standing over 130 candidates in the general election and over 600 in the local elections.
- New website for the 2015 campaign: www.tusc2015.com
