Archie Harrison, Worcester Socialist Party
With voter turnout on the decline in Worcester, Labour making only slight gains from Tory failures, and the Greens increasing their support, it is clear now more than ever that there is a need for a new mass workers’ party.
This year’s local elections in Worcester saw the Tories fail to win a single ward, losing all seven incumbent councillors up for election. Labour now have the most seats, but they don’t have a majority, because the Greens have benefited where the Tories have failed, taking them past the Tories with a total of ten seats.
TUSC candidates stood in three wards, a step towards a broader stand next time. We heard while campaigning that people want to stand up to the Tories, but don’t have faith in Starmer’s Labour and are looking for working-class representation. They’re looking for a party to stand up to the Tories, not imitate them. We need a party that will stand up to vicious cuts, that will protect public services, and resist all attempts at privatisation, on a local and national level. TUSC’s stand is an important part of this process to build such a party, a new mass workers’ party.
