Guildford – joining socialists to fight Reform

John Reid, Guildford and Surrey Socialist Party

We held our weekly Socialist Party campaign stall in our usual spot the day after the local elections, Friday 8 May.

One woman was glad to see us out on the streets, gave us a £20 donation, and filled out a ‘join the Socialist Party’ card. She wants to fight back against Reform.

Groups of school students gathered around our two-hour stall, angry at Reform, fearing division and racism. The slogan we were shouting was ‘No to racism and division, for unity and socialism’.

Three school students filled out join cards. A 15-year-old school student has joined online, and was out with us on our next stall the next day, Saturday 9 May.

Many discussions took place about how to fight Reform, what is socialism, and how to fight racism.

Surrey University students also filled out join cards, as did a retired transport union RMT member. In total, 8 people filled in join cards, and 18 people bought the Socialist paper.

Before each campaign stall, we look at what is in the Socialist paper, what are the main issues, and use slogans that match the mood.

In recent weeks we have called out ‘No to war, end imperialism and capitalism, join the socialists’. Post-election, we reflected the anger towards Reform. The response has been excellent.

RCT, Wales – Youth react to Reform success

Mariam Kamish, Rhondda Cynon Taf Socialist Party

It was young people mainly coming to talk to us on our Saturday 9 May Socialist Party campaign stall, after the election. That doesn’t usually happen in town.

Our stall said: “Fight back against Reform – trade unions build a new workers’ party”. The success of Reform has really shaken some young people up. But we’re seeing a good reaction to that.

A carpentry student from Coleg y Cymoedd, Tomasz, spent about half an hour talking with us. He finally asked if he could join us to help behind the stall.

One group of young people and a couple of teenagers with their mother signed. A thirteen-year-old came to talk to us. He said: “I think what you’re doing is a really good thing”.