Link to this page: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/1081/30574
From The Socialist newspaper, 8 April 2020
Labour leadership election: Starmer wins but the fight for socialism goes on
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Since Keir Starmer was elected leader of the Labour Party, the Socialist Party has been inundated with applications to join. Here are just a few of the comments we have received.
- Thank you for having me. Having left the Labour Party today after five years I'm thrilled to be a part of the Socialist Party.
- I wish to join a true socialist party. Labour with Starmer is, I feel, going to become centrist and renounce socialist values.
- After the great work done by Jeremy Corbyn in putting socialism at the front of Labour's policy it's heartbreaking that all his hard work is going to be undone. Socialism is the only way to end the evil austerity programme introduced by the Tories.
- As a trade union rep I've seen how austerity has affected our members and don't trust a Blairite in Keir Starmer. We need to keep the positive message socialism can deliver to help millions of people living in poverty.
- After today's election result, I feel I can no longer pay into what has become basically a centrist party.
- I've just left the Labour Party as they no longer represent my views. The Socialist Party does.
- I have been a socialist all my life and want to be involved in politics within a party that shares my views. I sincerely hope this will be it.
- I have heard of you, but would like more info. I am a socialist, I am scared of how the Labour Party is going. We need to get rid of the Tories from power, I have seen too much poverty.
- Keir Starmer's leadership today leaves me politically homeless. I support Jeremy Corbyn but know he will stay in Labour. I do not want to support Labour.
- I was suspended from the Labour Party for five years during Jeremy Corbyn's second leadership campaign. My vote didn't count. When Keir Starmer became Labour leader I decided to stop appealing my suspension and leave.
- Due to a lurch to the right within the Labour Party, I'm looking for fellow socialists to help lift my disillusionment
- Labour is no longer fit for purpose. I've waited since Michael Foot. They will never let a socialist be leader. Full of Blairites. I need a left party.
- Have put off joining for a long time but it seems more urgent than ever at the moment. Looking forward to supporting the movement.
- I'm disappointed (although not surprised) at the result of the Labour leadership contest and therefore feel politically homeless. I stopped my membership of the Labour Party having been disappointed at RLB's backing of the Board of Deputies' ten pledges as it was her I intended to use my vote for.
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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 8 April 2020:
What we think
End of the Corbyn era - Organise to fight for socialist policies
Workers take action while union leaders call truce with government and bosses
International news
Coronavirus: Amazon workers threaten revolution!
Coronavirus, capitalism and fighting for socialism worldwide
Coronavirus news
Dispatches from the front: shortages of NHS staff, equipment - and union leadership
Expired PPE relabelled for NHS use
The minimum wage must go up! Fund coronavirus workers, not bosses' profits!
Capitalism causes crisis profiteering: fight for workers' oversight and public ownership
Under the microscope: Pandemic news in brief
Workplace news
Where's the PPE Welsh Assembly?
EE puts workers' health and safety at risk
Things will never be the same again
Anger as London local authorities bulldoze through powers to discipline workers
A day in the life of a frontline worker
Victory for Medway bin workers
Socialists in Unite meet via Zoom: Struggles continue in the workplaces
World War Two
Class collaboration and worker militancy in World War Two Britain
Campaigns
Labour leadership election: Starmer wins but the fight for socialism goes on
Coronavirus crisis finance appeal
May Day greetings: we need to fund independent workers' media now more than ever
Getting the Socialist out safely under lockdown
Readers' opinion
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