We did it! We hit the national fighting fund target again!
At the beginning of April, we set ourselves an enormous task of raising £25,000 for the Socialist Party fighting fund between then and now, as well as another £50,000 for our general election campaign.
And we smashed them both! Raising £90,190 for the general election, and another £30,771 on top for the fighting fund.
Thank you to all who contributed towards achieving the target. As well as smashing through the national target overall, at least 40 Socialist Party branches raised 100% or more of their own individual targets.
Below, one of our Socialist Party members explains how we did it.
Fund the fight for the policies we need
Jane Ward, Teesside Socialist Party
Teesside Socialist Party has been holding very successful campaign stalls in Middlesbrough and Stockton. Our petitions on opposing war on Gaza and opposing Tory destruction of our NHS have drawn people in.
The people who sign have strong opinions, which lead to good discussions. This presents the opportunity for us to put forward socialist ideas, and to outline what we stand for.
There is always a donations column on the petition, which often prompts people to give generously, without us even asking for money. But we always ask if they can afford a donation to our fighting fund.
Sometimes we are asked where the money goes. We explain that it goes towards the cost of mounting our campaigns, and we do need it, as we have no rich backers. The majority of people will then donate if they are able to.
As a result of all this campaign activity, we have greatly increased sales of the Socialist, and the amount of fighting fund raised. We’ve also met new people who have joined the Socialist Party. It has been encouraging to see some of our new young members participating.
The new Keir Starmer government is clearly pro-big business, and does not represent the interests of the working class. The country faces enormous problems, with so many issues deeply affecting the lives of ordinary people – cost of living, severe lack of housing, and failing public services.
Labour’s manifesto policies will merely put a sticking plaster over the gaping wounds caused by years of cuts and austerity. We must continue to raise the necessary funds to fight for the formation of a new mass workers’ party in order to bring about the socialist transformation of society.
