Socialist Party members’ election successes


Press statement from the Socialist Party


For immediate use: 5 May 2006

[email protected] [email protected]

Further information contact Ken Smith on 020 8988 8778


Socialist Party members – standing as Socialist Alternative
candidates and on behalf of Save Huddersfield’s NHS campaign – scored
outstanding successes in the local elections.

The election Dr Jackie Grunsell, standing as a Save Huddersfield’s
NHS candidate, represents the local government equivalent of the election
of the Wyre Valley MP in 2001 who stood against hospital closures in
Kidderminster.

Jackie received 2,176 votes, a majority of over 700, on a turnout of
over 49%.

Jackie’s victory comes in the aftermath of months of campaigning in
the Huddersfield and Kirklees area against threatened hospital cutbacks
and closures, where two major demonstrations mobilised thousands on the
streets.

The campaign also squeezed out the BNP vote in an area where they were
otherwise making some headway.

As well as Jackie, three other Socialist Party members were elected as
councilors – Ian Page and Chris Flood in Lewisham Telegraph Hill and Rob
Windsor in Coventry St Michael’s.

The Socialist Party now has seven members who are councilors in
London, Yorkshire and the West Midlands.

Additionally, many other Socialist Party candidates scored creditable
improvements on previous results and saw a consolidation of the party’s
support in Coventry and Lewisham.

Socialist Party general secretary Peter Taaffe said today:

 “The election of Jackie Grunsell, along with other Socialist
Party candidates – as well as other left-wing and independent
campaigners on issues such as the NHS – is to be welcomed and shows
the potential for a new mass workers’ party to begin to be
established.

“And, I’m sure that the election of Jackie Grunsell, which has
come at a crucial time in the battle to defend the NHS for working-class
people, will greatly assist in developing national campaign on the NHS
which links NHS trade unions and community campaigners in calling for a
national strike and demonstration to defend the NHS.


Excellent results for the Socialist Party

THE SOCIALIST Party secured some excellent results in the local
elections around the country.

Councillors Ian Page and Chris Flood were re-elected in Lewisham,
south London with increased votes. Rob Windsor rejoined Socialist Party
councillors Dave Nellist and Karen Mackay on Coventry City Council.

Standing for the first time in Lewisham Telegraph Hill, Jess Leech won
27.5% of the vote while Paul Sutton in Stoke Abbey Green and Josie Kenny
in Henley, Coventry won 17%.

Click here for more on the election results

Region Seat
Candidate
Results
London Lewisham
Telegraph Hill
Cllr Ian
Page

Cllr Chris Flood

Jess Leech

1118 – 37% elected

929
– 31% elected

821 – 27.5% 

London Walthamstow High St Claire
Buddle
245
-6.8%
London Southwark
Cathedral
Lois
Austin
231
8.2%
North West Manchester Baguley Lynn
Worthington
214 – 8.7%
North West Kendal
Kirkland
Andrew
Billson-Page (NHS anti-cuts candidate)
100 – 5.7%
Merseyside Netherton
and Orrell Bootle
Pete
Glover
338 – 16%
Northern Newcastle
Byker
Paul Owens
289 – 13%
Southern Southampton Bevois Nick
Chaffey
157 – 8%
West
Midlands
Coventry
St Michaels
Rob
Windsor
1191 – 40%
elected
West
Midlands
Coventry
Lower Stoke
Dave
Runnells
292
7.6%
West
Midlands
Coventry
Henley
Josie
Kenny
572 – 17%
West
Midlands
Coventry
Whoberley
Ross
Saunders
338 – 8.3%
West
Midlands
Coventry
Sherbourne
Jason
Toynbee
357 – 10%
West
Midlands
Nuneaton
and Bedworth Exhall
Eileen
Hunter
257 – 13.5%
West
Midlands
Stoke
Abbey Green
Cllr Paul
Sutton
508
17%
Yorkshire Huddersfield Crosland Moor and Netherton Dr Jackie
Grunsell (Save Huddersfield NHS)
2,176 – 35%
elected
Yorkshire Sheffield
Graves Park
Calvin
Payne
206 – 4.1%
Yorkshire Wakefield
East
Mick
Griffiths
231 – 6.5%