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From The Socialist newspaper, 31 July 2013
Lambeth byelection: TUSC beats Ukip and Tories
'Tough decisions' and 'hard choices' seem to be the stock replies by Labour in Lambeth, south London, when questioned about their diet of endless cuts.
In reality the hard choices and tough decisions are being made daily by people burdened with low wages, the bedroom tax, benefits caps and overcrowding.
That's why the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) stood in the Tulse Hill byelection and offered a socialist alternative to the misery of cuts and austerity.
Our approach went down well on the estates and streets of an area blighted by recession. TUSC came fourth with 74 votes (3.3%) and beat both the Tories and Ukip.
More importantly, we made contact with dozens of local people who want to see a serious fightback against a Labour council hell bent on passing on government cuts.
TUSC now has a target of standing in at least ten Lambeth wards in the council elections next year.
Steve Nally, Tulse Hill TUSC candidate
TUSC
The Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) is an electoral alliance that stands candidates against all cuts and privatisation.
It involves the RMT transport workers' union, leading members of other trade unions including the PCS, NUT and POA, and socialist groups including the Socialist Party.
www.tusc.org.uk
Brent
30 people attended the Brent TUSC meeting on 23 July, with speakers including Steve Hedley, RMT assistant general secretary, Hank Roberts, Association of Teachers and Lecturers national president and Brent ATL Secretary (personal capacity) , Helen Davies - Barnet Unison and Unison NEC (personal capacity), Nancy Taaffe - Waltham Forest TUSC candidate and Isabel Counihan-Sanchez, housing campaigner.
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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.
Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.
We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to donate to our Fighting Fund.
In The Socialist 31 July 2013:
Socialist Party NHS news and analysis
National Health Service in crisis!
Socialist Party news and analysis
Miliband's 'Clause Four moment'
Benefits shock: London family on state handouts avoids the benefit cap and bedroom tax
Climate change
Climate change accelerates... but capitalism sets the agenda
International socialist news and analysis
The capitalist world in turmoil
Tunisia: Political assassination provokes renewed workers' struggles
Neither the military nor Morsi... for a workers' government
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
Lambeth byelection: TUSC beats Ukip and Tories
Atos misery: scrap work capability assessments!
Tamil Solidarity links with RMT
Socialist Party workplace news
Strike to stop Royal Mail sell-off
Two weeks of strike action by Churchill cleaners
One Housing support workers - more determined than ever!
Socialist Party review
Book review: Karl Marx - How to change the world
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