THE DELAY in the general election campaign gives us longer to talk to working – class people and convince them to vote socialist. Already our election campaigns have got off to a good start. In Wakefield the campaign started with a bang last week with seven activities over five days.
We held a train station stall, four town centre stalls and two canvasses, and raised a grand total of £149.35 fighting fund, and 173 copies of The Socialist were sold. We got three new subscriptions for The Socialist, and met four people who are considering joining the Socialist Party.
In Deptford our rally to launch the election was attended by over 50 people, including 20 new people, £220 was raised for the fighting fund.
In Walthamstow more than 60 copies of The Socialist have been sold on election activities each weekend since the campaign began. Our candidate, Simon Donovan, is very well known as a local activist.
“Is that Simon Donovan’s party, then of course I’m voting for you” has been the immediate response of around 10% of the people that we talk to.
As well as winning votes, the election also represents an opportunity to increase Socialist Party membership. The lack of difference between all the major national parties means that it’s likely this general election will not grip people’s imagination. Nonetheless, more people will be thinking about politics than usual.
There will be thousands of people who start to think about socialist ideas for the first time in the course of this election. We have to try and reach them and convince them to join our party.
One sixth-form college student in Southampton joined the party on Thursday evening and on Friday morning signed up three other students to the party.
All Socialist Party members should take the same approach, and ask everyone they know if they want to join the party.
If you need campaigning material or want to help with our election campaign contact Hannah on 020 8988 8767 or go to Contact or Join.
The following material is being made available:
Posters on NHS, education cuts, transport, and sleaze.
Vote Socialist poster blanks
Socialist Party Election manifestos. (see right)
Join the Socialist Party leaflet.
Environment leaflet.
Leaflet on why black and Asian people should vote Socialist.
Vote Socialist stickers.
Young Socialist Action leaflet and poster.
Hear The Socialist Party Candidates At General Election Public Meetings
Wakefield
Weds 2 May 7.30 pm, Lightwaves Leisure Centre, Wakefield.
Hear: Mick Griffiths.
Details Tel: 01924 365795.
Bootle
Thur 26 April 7.30 pm, Netherton Park Community Association Centre, Chester Avenue, Bootle.
Hear: Pete Glover.
Details Tel: 0151 922 6077.
Birmingham Northfield
Thur 26 April 7.30 pm, Frankley Community High School (buses 61 and 49).
Hear: Clive Walder.
Details Tel: 07771 931185.
Coventry South and Coventry North East
Tues 1 May 7.30 pm, Coventry Working Men’s Club (old Builder’s Club), Whitefriars Coventry.
Hear: Rob Windsor, Dave Nellist and guest speaker.
Details Tel: 024 76 525 394 or 024 7655 5620.
Leicester
Mon 30 April 7.30 pm, Leicester Adult Education College, Wellington Street.
Hear: Steve Score
Stevenage
Tues 1 May 7.30 pm, Bedwell Community Centre, Bedwell Crescent, Stevenage.
Hear: Steve Glennon.
Details Tel: 020 8988 8777.
Walthamstow
Tues 1 May 7.30 pm, William Morris Centre, Greenleaf Rd, Walthamstow.
Hear: Simon Donovan.
Details Tel: 020 8988 8777.
Lewisham Deptford
Wed 25 April 7.30 pm, Deptford Albany, Douglas Way SE8.
Hear: Sam Dias, Ian Page.
Details Tel: 020 8988 8777.
Southampton Itchen
Tues 24 April 7.30 pm, St Mark’s Institute, Victoria Rd, Woolston, Southampton, Full Access.
Hear: Dave Nellist, Gavin Marsh Details Tel: 023 8049 5266.
Bristol East
Thur 26 April 7.30 pm, St George’s Secondary School, Russell Town Avenue, St. George.
Hear: Andy Pryor
Details Tel: 0117 965 6591.
