Lewisham by-election: back the socialist alternative

UNDER THE banner "Don't vote for cuts, vote for Ian Page" the Socialist Party launched its campaign in the Bellingham ward council by-election on 24 March in Lewisham, south east London.

This election is being held against the background of a growing opposition to public sector cuts. Over the next four years the Labour council plans to carry out £88 million of cuts including closing the local library in Sydenham and cutting and privatising the early years service in Bellingham.

Socialist Party member Ian Page will be the Socialist Party/Lewisham People Before Profit candidate. Between 1990 and 2010 Ian was a Socialist councillor in the Telegraph Hill ward in Lewisham. In all that time he consistently voted and campaigned against cuts to public services.

With Ian's help local tenants defeated the plans to privatise council housing in New Cross Gate, and Lewisham Hospital's A&E was saved after big public protests, again with Ian's active support.

If Ian is elected on 24 March this will be a massive boost to the anti-cuts movement in Lewisham. The campaign got off to an excellent start with Ian leading a march of a group of local residents from Bellingham to the Lewisham anti-cuts carnival. They were protesting against the cuts to the early years service.

Chris Newby

Election results: How did TUSC do?

Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition local election reports

Con-Dems battered in Scotland

Legitimacy of Cameron and Clegg further shattered

May 2012 local election reports

London, Hackney TUSC election rally

The Socialist:

National Committee

Why I joined the Socialist Party

Join the Socialist Party!

Usdaw conference

Socialist Alternative:

Build a socialist alternative to austerity

On 3 May, use your vote to: Rage against austerity!

Coventry: Fight for a socialist alternative

Socialist:

Bristol Central Socialist Party: Art and Politics

Bristol Central Socialist Party: The role of the monarchy in capitalist society

Southampton Socialist Party: Greece - how would a workers' government stabilise the economy?

Lewisham:

Thug attack won't stop anti-racist work

Fight or privatise: A tale of two councils

Protests saying 'no' to slave labour workfare

Cuts:

Bristol East Socialist Party: There is an Alternative

Demo against cuts at Salford university

Walthamstow Socialist Party: France - Greece - Austerity rejected!

Council:

Council workers in Cheshire strike against attacks on pay

Victory for Greenwich Unite library campaign

Greenwich libraries - fighting back can win