Ste Armstrong, Warrington, Halton and St Helens Socialist Party
Standing for the Socialist Party in the Halton Brook ward of Halton council I came second behind Labour – an increase in the vote from 2018 when standing under the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition banner in the same ward.
Labour won with 711 votes, but this is over 170 votes down on last year. The Socialist Party (Socialist Alternative) received 247 votes (22.4%), while the Tories limped into last place with 144 votes.
During the campaign, neighbourhood issues like rebuilding the local youth club and scrapping the precept added to council tax for the Liverpool city region combined authority, were popular policies – as was the idea of a no-cuts budget, with the council’s cash reserves being used to temporarily fund public services as part of a fightback strategy.
Voters were also keen to discuss our policy of building council houses, to create homes and jobs for local people and revenue for the council which can be reinvested in the community.
Our plan to fully fund domestic violence and youth services struck home with the electorate. Several people expressed an interest in joining the Socialist Party and we have high hopes of growing the branch over the next few months.
We will continue the hard work put in by party members during the election campaign.