Campaign news in brief


Bus canvass

One highlight of the TUSC Llanelli election campaign was an unexpected ‘bus canvass’.

As I got on, somebody at the back who shops at the supermarket where I work recognised me. He said he had seen me in the local paper’s election coverage.

I said, “yes I am a candidate, do you want a leaflet?” He enthusiastically accepted, and others started to ask me who I was and could they have one, so I dished out a few and had a chat with them.

Incidentally the driver, who was already known to us, came to our eve-of-poll rally after taking my leaflet. It was a welcome stop on our journey to making TUSC more than “the biggest party you’ve never heard of”.

Scott Jones

Kent TUSC

Half our eight TUSC candidates in Whitstable and Folkestone were women. These included Bronwen Page and Louise Morgan, both young mums and new Socialist Party members.

Leading local trade unionists also rallied to the TUSC banner. This included a Unison convenor and president of the local trades council, the secretary of the local trades council, a Unite branch secretary, and the secretary and chair of Kent Unite Community.

Eric Segal

May Day rally

The Kent May Day workers’ rally, whose organisers included local Socialist Party members, was a fantastic day of mainly women speakers from across the trade union movement.

Clog dancing, maypoles, poets and comedians all came together to celebrate trade unionism. There was a march around the village led by a jazz band. Centurion Sect, the best anti austerity band around, played an excellent, comical set.

Three local TUSC candidates were there to support. We sold 25 copies of the Socialist and raised £30 fighting fund.

Delia Hazrati