Following the launch of the Socialist Party Christmas Appeal in issue 792 of the Socialist, Portsmouth Socialist Party member Sarah Welch explains why she has donated £1,000 to the appeal.
“I’ve been a socialist for a long time. I was quite active in 1984 in the miners’ strike. But then, although I had socialist policies, I wasn’t very active and I have only just joined the Socialist Party.
“But I’ve always been a socialist, and I felt the donation was something I wanted to do. My dad had died in August, and he left me some money, and I just felt that I wanted to give it to the fighting fund because it was a really good cause.
“My son’s disabled and I’ve been a carer for him mainly. Like all disabled people, he’s been hit by the cuts.
“I’ve been involved in defending the Independent Living Allowance as they’ve stopped giving it to new applicants and they’re making cutbacks within that.
“I’ve just recently written to my local MP, because the ‘war on welfare’ petition got 100,000 signatures, so we’re asking for it to be heard in Westminster, and I’ve written asking for it be heard in the main chamber.
“It being Christmas time, with all that’s going on with the energy companies, some people are going to have a terrible time not even being able to afford to heat their homes.
“I feel our fight is even more important now as the cost of living crisis takes hold and more and more people are driven into poverty.
“I’ve donated to the Socialist Party as I know the money will go towards fighting back on these issues.”
