Paul Tooley-Okonkwo, Mansfield Socialist Party
Mansfield’s Caribbean Carnival was marked by Reform UK trying to canvass for the election. We had people coming over to our Socialist Party campaign stall, telling us what they had said to the canvassers – negative feedback for them – and how Reform didn’t like hearing it. This was boosted by young people coming over wanting to know what we stand for.
People were glad we were there, and wanted to tell us how frightened or angry Reform made them. People said that their dilemma in who to vote for was for our Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) candidate, versus unenthusiastically Labour, so the Tories don’t get in. But also worried about Reform’s rise. Not your usual carnival chat!
Our demand of ‘jobs, homes, and services, not racism’ brought people over to allow us to discuss why we are standing, and have no trust in Keir Starmer’s Labour.
Then, on the last Saturday before the general election, we had a four-hour campaign stall, with supporters handing out hundreds of leaflets, and many discussions.
