Isai Marijerla, Socialist Party treasurer
At the Socialist Party Congress in March, we launched the general election appeal, setting ourselves the target of raising £50,000 to fund 30-40 Socialist Party candidates, standing as part of the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition.
The main message behind the appeal was that socialists and trade unionists can challenge pro-austerity, pro-capitalist parties and politicians at the ballot box. We have been consistently saying that Starmer and his Labour Party are no friends of the working class. Their policies are aimed at defending the interests of the bosses and the super-rich.
In the capitalist media, you will read that Starmer secured a great victory, to deliver a new beginning and ‘change’. Numerous pro-capitalist politicians across the world have rushed to congratulate him on his ‘landslide’.
However, only on the pages of the Socialist, will you find the real analysis of the election results. In workers’ history, the 2024 elections will go down as the least enthusiastic, with a huge majority voting against the Tories or not voting at all. Turnout was below 60%, the lowest since 2001.
The £91,259.30 donated, with a further £6,496 pledged, shows the huge enthusiasm for our stand. Pledges can be paid using the donate link on the Socialist Party website.
Bigger battles to follow
The overall majority of the donations were from Socialist Party members. However, we also received generous donations from non-members, thanking us for standing, sending “solidarity” and “towards the election appeal, to advance the fight to build a mass party on a genuine socialist programme… and the bigger battles to follow!”
At the launch of the appeal, we said: “That is a large sum for a small organisation of workers and young people squeezed by the cost-of-living crisis. But we have to rise to the challenge and dig deep to have a socialist voice that can reach thousands of voters, strikers, anti-war protesters, workers and young people.”
And we did rise to the challenge. All the public meetings held by our branches attracted people to come and discuss our programme. We want to say thank you for every single donation we received. We understand that all financial donations we receive are a real commitment to building a socialist challenge.
We had so many donations and comments, it’s impossible to list them all in this short space. Some included a £100 donation from a university student, £500 from a CWU member, £400 from an NHS worker, £250 from a retired member, £20 from a student, £32 from a low-paid worker, and many more.
If you want to continue to support the fight for a political representation of the working class and want to discuss socialist ideas on how we can improve our conditions. Join us.
