Donate for socialism!

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Ken Douglas, Socialist Party national treasurer

The Socialist Party is asking all members and supporters: can you make a donation to the Socialism 2014 finance appeal at the 8 November Rally for Socialism?

We aim to raise over £20,000 - funds vital for us to maintain our campaigning. This money ensures our calls for a general strike against austerity and building an electoral alternative to Labour continue to be raised prominently in the workers' movement.

A record number of workers in Britain are low paid - over five million earn less than £7.69 per hour. In London alone the number of low paid jobs has risen by 45,000 to 640,000 in less than two years.

This will come as no surprise to the tens of thousands of workers on the TUC march against low pay on 18 October. Both public and private sectors have seen pay frozen or cut for at least five years.

The Socialist Party was the most prominent political party on that demonstration - aided by our red flags, gazebos, banners, sound systems, leaflets and newspaper. Our demand for a £10 an hour minimum wage, which would begin to lift millions of workers out of poverty, received an enthusiastic response.

Millionaires

This millionaires' government is overseeing an unprecedented shift of wealth from the bottom of society to the top. A record number of billionaires now live in Britain - 104 of them, with a combined wealth of £301 billion.

The rich and their capitalist politicians have vast resources, including newspapers, television and other media. But we have a mightier force even than that - the resources and sacrifice of ordinary working class people.

Socialist ideas have the potential when taken up by workers to sweep the bosses and their capitalist politicians aside. This was shown by the victory of the $15 an hour minimum wage campaign in Seattle following the election of socialist councillor Kshama Sawant. Also by the election victories of Ruth Coppinger and Paul Murphy in Dublin.

A proportion of the money raised will go towards the Committee for a Workers' International special appeal to assist in the pioneering work CWI members are engaged in around the world, including the victories above.

Can you give £5, £50 or even £500? Can you ask other members and supporters who won't be attending the rally to donate? Every donation, no matter how small, will make a difference - and all of it will go to building support for socialist ideas.

You can pay through our website at www.socialistparty.org.uk/donate, over the phone on 020 8988 8777, or send a cheque or postal order (payable to "Socialist Party") to PO Box 24697, London E11 1YD.

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.