Enthusiastic Southern region Socialists plan for the struggles ahead

Socialist Party Southern region conference, 24.3.19, photo by James Ivens

Socialist Party Southern region conference, 24.3.19, photo by James Ivens   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

Socialist Party Southern region conference was well-attended, lively and confident.

Southampton Socialist Party member Sue Atkins just achieved 14% of the vote in the Coxford ward by-election.

Our campaign of opposing all cuts struck a chord with many voters. The Socialist Party is proud of Sue’s achievement and it puts down a marker for the future.

There were members from Aylesbury, Basingstoke, Bracknell, Oxford, Reading and Southampton at the 24 March meeting.

Regional secretary Nick Chaffey explained the volatile political period we are entering.

The mood at the meeting was confident and optimistic. In a number of areas, our members are doing sterling work boldly putting forward the socialist alternative to austerity, cuts and privatisation.

In Reading, our members are campaigning against cuts to services by the Labour council. In Bracknell, our members are prominent in a campaign to end the housing crisis.

Elsewhere, we are fighting to defend the NHS, play a key role in the union fightback and Socialist Students has backed the school student walkout over climate change.

Members responded with a magnificent finance appeal to fund and expand our work in the region. The collection raised £856.

Terry Pearce, Bracknell Socialist Party