In particular, we are presently involved in anti-cuts alliances and activities throughout the country, in opposition to the attacks of the Con-Dem government.

Lincoln demonstration against invasion of Gaza, photo Lincoln Socialist Party

We fight against all cuts in jobs, services and benefits; against student tuition fees and privatisation. We campaign for better pay, pensions and benefits.

We actively support workers in industrial disputes.
In 2010 and so far in 2011 we have supported workers in many disputes, including those of British Airways cabin crew; firefighters; civil servants in the PCS union; London Underground staff in the RMT and TSSA; BBC staff in the NUJ; university lecturers in the UCU; and Medirest workers in Unison in Hampshire.

In 2009 Socialist Party members played leading roles in important disputes such as the successful Lindsey Oil Refinery strike in Yorkshire, the Visteon struggle in London and Belfast, and the dispute at the Swansea Linamar car parts plant.

We campaign against the war on Afghanistan and occupation and fight for a socialist world free of war and terror.

We campaign to stop the destruction and pollution of our environment.

New mass workers party

Militant newspaper - Defy the Poll Tax law

Two decades ago, we were known as the Militant Tendency and campaigned in the Labour Party for socialist policies.

We led Liverpool City council's battle in the mid 1980s for decent housing, jobs and services, and later were leaders in the battle to defeat Tory Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's poll tax which forced her to resign.

Today we campaign for a new mass party that can draw together workers, environmental and community campaigners, anti-capitalist, anti-war and other protesters to represent and fight for the interests of ordinary people. You can join us by clicking here.

Election campaigns

The Socialist Party contests elections across England and Wales.

The Socialist Party stood candidates as part of the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) in the 2010 general election, demanding "No to cuts and privatisation". TUSC is presently standing candidates for the May 2011 local elections.

Trade unionists that founded the coalition include the transport workers' union (RMT) general secretary Bob Crow, the former general secretary of the Prison Officers Association, Brian Caton, the civil servants' union (PCS) assistant general secretary, Chris Baugh, and PCS vice president, John McInally (all in personal capacity).

TUSC stands for public ownership, not cuts and privatisation; jobs, not handouts to the bankers; the repeal of the anti-trade union laws, protection of the environment, decent pensions, and democratic rights. TUSC calls for the troops to be brought back from Afghanistan immediately and for a democratic socialist society run in the interests of the people not the millionaires.

Bob Crow, RMT general secretary, speaking at the London No2EU election rally, photo Paul Mattsson

In the June 2009 European elections we were part of the trade union-led No2EU - Yes to Democracy campaign.

Between 1983 and 1992, when we were part of the Labour Party, we had three socialist MPs - Dave Nellist, Terry Fields and Pat Wall - who lived on the average wage of the workers they were representing.

No2EU on G20 protest in London, photo Paul Mattsson (Click to enlarge)

They never forgot their working class roots, or the problems of those workers that elected them - unlike many political and trade union leaders who live on inflated salaries.

We organise with other campaigning organisations to get councillors elected to represent the working class. Today, our councillor in Coventry, Dave Nellist, is one of the leading figures in the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition. The Socialist Party has previously had other councillors elected in Coventry, Lewisham in London, and elsewhere, while in 2006 in Huddersfield, Socialist Party member Dr Jackie Grunsell, standing as a 'Save Huddersfield’s NHS' candidate, received 2,176 votes, a majority of over 700, on a turnout of over 49%.

Cecile, a student activist from Gauche Revolutionnaire (CWI in France), photo Paul Mattsson

Our sister sections in the Committee for a Workers' International in countries such as Australia, Ireland, Germany, Sri Lanka and Sweden also have members who have been elected to be councillors. Socialist Party (Ireland) member Joe Higgins was a Socialist Party TD in the Irish parliament, where he was known as 'the only honest man' in the parliament. He has since been elected in Dublin as an MEP - member of the European parliament.

Socialist Party leader Joe Higgins with United Left Alliance candidates at the launch of Ireland's left coalition election campaign, photo Socialist Party Ireland

Joe has only ever taken the wage level of an average skilled worker in his constituency, donating the rest to fund the struggles of the working class.

The Socialist Party in England and Wales presently has more than twenty members who have been elected onto executive committees of the major trade unions.

We outline below some of the campaigns and organisations that Socialist Party members are involved in. We usually report on our latest campaigning activities on our home page.

If you want to find out more or get involved click here.

Youth Fight for Jobs

Youth Fight For Jobs march 2 April 2009, photo Paul Mattsson (Click to enlarge)

The right to a decent job for all, with a living wage of at least £8 an hour.
No to cheap labour apprenticeships! For all apprenticeships to pay at least the minimum wage, with a job guaranteed at the end.
No to university fees. Support the Campaign to Defeat Fees.

Jobs are being cut left, right and centre and young people are among the first to be thrown on the scrapheap. One million young people are unemployed.

Even when the economy was growing, young people faced low paid, insecure jobs. Youth Fight For jobs says: "The government has bailed out the bankers - we demand a bailout for the rest of us!"

www.youthfightforjobs.com

Youth Fight For Jobs march 2 April 2009, photo Paul Mattsson (Click to enlarge)

Socialist Students

Young people march for a future: Youth Fight for Jobs and Socialist Students on the 29 January London demonstration against education cuts, photo Senan (Click to enlarge)

Socialist Students campaigns against university tuition fees, against cuts in funding for higher education, for the restoration of a living grant and against the war on Afghanistan, to name but a few issues.

Visit Socialist Students website

Read our anti-war articles

Demonstration against the murder by Israeli commandos of civilian aid volunteers on aboard a ship attempting to bring aid to Gaza , photo Senan (Click to enlarge)

The Socialist Party always opposed the invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan and has consistently called for the immediate withdrawal of troops. We are part of the Stop the War Coalition.

National Health Service campaigns

Socialist Party members on NHS demonstration in 2006, photo Paul Mattsson (Click to enlarge)

We have been involved in many campaigns to stop hospital and ward closures around the country, and against the ongoing privatisation of health services. Read our NHS campaign articles.

The Socialist carries many reports on healthworkers fighting low pay and privatisation, some led by Socialist Party members, such as at Whipps Cross.

Read our workplace and trade union articles

Socialist Party members are amongst the most determined trade unionists and fighters in workplaces for decent wages and conditions, and for building the left inside the trade unions.

We have been in the leadership of many disputes and strikes and are always on hand to offer support and advice based on past experience, and to help develop struggles and solidarity from other workers. Many of our members are workplace trade union shop stewards and we have won representation on a number of trade union executives.

The Socialist consistently reports on developments in the trade union movement and on battles, for example, against low pay and privatisation.

The environment

Caution wet floor - flooding in the centre of Gloucester, photo Chris Moore

Capitalism is literally destroying the planet. We are involved in many kinds of campaigns to stop this destruction.

For example, we assisted local residents in Sheffield in a successful campaign to get a toxic waste disposal centre closed. The press officer of the campaign said of Socialist Party members:

"[The Socialist Party] for the last two years stood side by side with us as we battled against this huge multinational…

[They] showed us how to protest, how to sustain it over all the time of the campaign... Now our campaign has become a blue print to what can be achieved by ordinary people against these big chemical companies."

Read our articles on the Environment. Read Global Warning online

Black and Asian group

Click here to read some of our articles on defending the rights and living standards of Black and Asian people.

Monique at Youth Fight For Jobs Conference 2009, photo Paul Mattsson

In 2009 our campaigning was focussed on issues such as the disasterous war in Sri Lanka and building the www.tamilsolidarity.org campaign and on campaigning against racism and fascism.In 2010 we have been involved in demonstrations against the far right English Defence League, as well as in other anti-racist activities and international solidarity campaigns.

Socialist Councillors

See our elections pages

Jackie Grunsell, GP and councuillor, speaks at a Save Huddersfield NHS demonstration, photo Huddersfield SP

In 2006, Socialist Party member Dr Jackie Grunsell, standing as a Save Huddersfield's NHS candidate, received 2,176 votes, a majority of over 700, on a turnout of over 49%.

Dave Nellist on the Unite Jobs demo , photo Harry Smith

Coventry Socialist Party councillor Dave Nellist, formerly a workers' MP on a worker's wage in Coventry, was lead candidate on the 2009 No2EU European election list for the West Midlands, is a spokesperson for the Trade Unionists and Socialist Coalition and is chair of the Campaign for a New Workers Party (CNWP).

The Socialist Party has previously also won other councillors in Coventry and Lewisham (London).

Stopping housing privatisation

Across the country we have been involved in campaigns against the privatisation of council housing.

In Lewisham, London, our Socialist Party councillors led a campaign, along with local tenants, to convince the community not to vote for privatisation.

Despite the New Labour council spending a fortune – they sent a video to every home – the campaign was successful and we won a second councillor in Lewisham.

Socialist Women

Socialist Women holds national, regional and local meetings to discuss issues of concern to women.

Fighting for Women - Rights and Socialism

Socialist Party Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Group

Our LGBT Group helps co-ordinate campaigns against anti-gay discrimination and for civil rights, in particular our continuing campaign for the repeal of section 28.

Fighting racism

YRE logo

Socialist Party members were involved in the initiative to set up Youth against Racism in Europe (YRE)in 1992. Involving thousands of young people, it coorganised a demonstration in 1993 of 50,000 people to demand the closure of the Nazi BNP's HQ.

When the Nazi nail bomber struck in London we initiated demos in Tower Hamlets and Brixton and participated in action in Soho. The Socialist Party works both independently and with other groups to fight racism, prejudice and discrimination.

Would you like to find out more about the Socialist Party? Why not Contact or Join the Socialist Party?