Vote TUSC on 10 October
Max McGee, Coventry Socialist Party
What is the answer to the Labour council that meekly passed on Tory cuts, and now proudly slashes services mandated by the new Labour government?
A by-election has been called in St. Michaels ward for 10 October. The Socialist Party has won all three councillors there before.
Dave Nellist was the Socialist Party councillor for 14 years, and a socialist Labour MP for nine years, only taking a worker’s wage, not the big fat MP salary. So it was clear that standing Dave for re-election was the best choice.
People see the impact of austerity on their lives and services. But just opposing austerity verbally, and shrugging at hustings, like local Labour politicians do, is not enough when people’s lives and quality of lives are at risk. Keir Starmer has suspended local MP Zara Sultana for opposing the two-child benefit cap.
We aim to link up with striking workers, with students facing education and bank accounts hollowed out of by uni bosses let off the leash. Parking charges for residents are up, transport costs are up, uncapped rents are rising, inflation is higher than wages. But politicians’ expenses remain high.
This by-election is an opportunity to fight back that can’t be missed. And we’ve shown what’s possible even with a minority of three socialist councillors surrounded by 54. We had the balance of power in some council votes, successfully oppose PFI privatisation schemes, and saving a daycare centre.
The three Socialist Party councillors visited and supported strikes, linked up with local unions and residents groups to save Charterhouse Fields, campaigned against school and hospital closures, and saved hundreds of jobs. The Charterhouse free parking scheme that our socialist councillors helped win for us is now being charged for.
We also ensured the council adopted a position supporting free education, while Coventry’s three Blairite Labour MPs were voting to increase uni tuition fees.
When workers are given a lead, their sights are raised, and their confidence to struggle is boosted. Re-electing Dave to the council would be a step towards this.
- Dave Nellist is the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) candidate in the St Michael’s by-election on 10 October
