Tweedledee, Tweedledum, Bootle has a real socialist alternative

Pete Glover, Socialist Party candidate in Bootle

IF YOU thought the main political parties were all the same, these parties are falling over themselves to prove the point in Bootle. Sefton council's budget for this year was agreed and backed by all three parties. More and more, working-class people see that the millionaires have three parties while workers have no mass alternative.

Whether you vote Labour or Lib-Dem, you get exactly the same deal - sky high council tax for ever-decreasing services. You get privatisation of our health service as well, which in Bootle is more discredited by the day.

South Sefton health bosses planned to privatise GP services in Maghull. This was dealt a big blow when, after being forced by campaigners to consult the public, that consultation led to the restarting of the tender process. In other words, campaigning action has pushed back the bosses by at least 18 months. But the threat of privatisation still stands, and campaigners will remain vigilant.

Next door in Bootle we can see how a strong socialist alternative can defeat these schemes. Credible sources inform us that bosses did not want to do a pilot scheme of privatisation in Bootle because of "political opposition". In other words, because people in Bootle vote socialist in significant numbers, the establishment are frightened of the political earthquake that will follow if they try to sell off Bootle's GPs.

Keeping big business out of our GP services by stopping the privatisation of our doctors - yet more reasons for people to vote for our Socialist Alternative candidate, Pete Glover in Netherton and Orrell ward on 3 May.

Merseyside Socialist Party

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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.