Fund the fight for a socialist alternative to capitalist austerity

Naomi Byron

The Socialist Party (SP) is asking all its members to consider increasing their membership subs. We need more resources to step up our campaigning work to defeat this vicious government, including the fight for a political voice for working class people.

By contrast, New Labour has suspended or expelled the few honourable Labour councillors who voted against cuts.

Now when Unite, a union with 1.5 million members which has donated £9 million to Labour since 2010, attempts to influence the selection of the Labour Party candidate in Falkirk, leader Ed Miliband has called the police on them!

So far many of the biggest subs increases have been from people who have joined in the last year or two.

Being active in their Socialist Party branch and seeing the campaigns we are part of has helped convince them to increase the sacrifice they make to fund the party.

A member of the Exeter branch of the SP, Luke Pilling, has tripled his subs from £10 to £30 a month: "I decided to increase my subs after a weekend national school organised by the Socialist Party.

"This allowed me to see and meet many individuals who give so much of their time, and I felt I could contribute more to the effort of raising people's consciousness and promoting a socialist world.

"I have a renewed motivation to be active, and plan to help where possible." Luke is a PhD student and on a low income but said "that's only £1 a day".

Many other members have made substantial increases. For example, a shop worker in London has pledged an extra £70 a month.

Three members in the South East are doubling their subs. A young worker in the North East is planning to join the '100 club' - people who pay £100 or more a month in subs - over the summer.

Every penny helps!

Many members have also made smaller increases - from 50p a month upwards, according to their financial circumstances - because they know how crucial every extra penny is in the fight for socialism.

So far these increases, from 50p to £5 a month, have brought in £150 extra; if everybody who can afford even 50p or £1 extra donate this to the SP, we could have hundreds of pounds more to fight for the socialist alternative.

We understand that some members are struggling financially and may not be in a position to increase.

But even if you can't increase your subs at the moment you can still help to increase our finances by recruiting new members and raising fighting fund.

Many of the people who've joined this year have agreed a very good sub right from the beginning, including several at £100 a month.

To discuss increasing your subs or to make a donation call 020 8988 8777. You can also email [email protected] or use the slip below

Donate to the Socialist Party

Finance appeal

The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.

The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.

The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.

The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.