
The Socialist 14 May 2014
VOTE TUSC - For the millions not the billionaires

For the millions not the billionaires
Fight back at the ballot box on 22 May
Building Labour: when workers first formed own party
Southampton: Showing what's possible
Liverpool City Council 1983-87: "We had a choice"
Why we're standing as TUSC candidates
On the campaign trail with TUSC
Ukip - the establishment's 'anti-establishment' party
Housing evictions - main parties to blame
Gove robs education budget to fund 'Free Schools'
What's socialism got to do with fighting austerity?
South Africa: The ANC victory, WASP and the EFF
Capitalist politicians can't solve Boko Haram crisis
Ireland: Election campaigns "referendum on austerity"
Care UK strike: NHS workers v NHS privatisation
PCS: Re-election of a fighting, socialist leadership
Leadership challenged at Usdaw conference
Brighton: Determined to fight college cuts
Transport workers' international meeting
Fight together for pay rise - Come to NSSN conference
Freedom Riders- action brings victory
Building TUSC, building socialism
Donate to the election appeal!
Why I joined the Socialist Party
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Link to this page: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/811/18596
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On the campaign trail with TUSC
Suffering austerity - standing for TUSC
Daniel Sutton-Johanson
I'm standing for the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) in the Central Southsea ward of Portsmouth City.
Having grown up in South Wales and seeing the effects of the Thatcher period on those around me, I guess you could say my political choices were slowly being defined without me realising. I've always supported what I understood to be socialist principles, but mainly from the sidelines.
When the period of austerity began, my wife and I were severely affected. I'm a carer for my wife, who relies heavily upon Disabled Living Allowance (DLA) to pay her way in life and maintain her independence.
I was working as a coordinator for Sure Start but several of my colleagues and myself were caught up in the "efficiency measures", reducing the service down by a third, and then again six months later, by another third.
Even though David Cameron claimed the budget for Sure Start would not be cut by his government, he failed to mention that its ring fence would be removed. This left local authorities free to cut what they like.
After 12 months of applying for work, I finally secured a job as a manager in the voluntary sector, working with special educational needs children. This lasted only three months due to cuts. Since then I've been caring full time for my wife while saving what I can to re-train as a counsellor/psychotherapist, a profession not recognised by the government as important enough to qualify for any type of loan or subsidy.
In the last four years, we both have seen people affected by a string of unfair and misdirected cost 'saving' measures such as the bedroom tax, caring allowance and council tax benefit cuts. If I'm honest, although I am kept busy, volunteer up to ten hours a week in the community, relying upon benefits for such a long time has been a big challenge practically and emotionally.
The covert privatisation of the NHS and the sell-off of the Royal Mail were the straws that broke the camel's back.
The fact more cuts are still to come to those who had nothing to do with the financial crash of our boom and bust economic model, convinced me to do what I could to help TUSC.
I hope this landmark in TUSC's history will be the beginning of cementing a true alternative to the self-centred, populist political climate which has suffocated and failed the 99%.
I'm proud to be a part of such efforts.
TUSC and students
As a student I experience first-hand the strain that this government's spending cuts and agenda of privatisation has put on our lives.
Expensive, uncapped rents through uncooperative agencies who seem reluctant to carry out any repairs to student housing; jeopardising our grades by having to work part time to make ends meet and a debt that we will still be paying off well into our 40s (if not longer) are only some of the problems that today's students face. TUSC pledges to introduce rent controls, halt marketisation and privatisation and fight for a free education for all, in order to improve our standard of living both now and in the future.
Zoe Brunswick, TUSC candidate in Fallowfield, and University of Manchester student
Lambeth deserves socialist councillors
James Ivens
Lambeth is one of London's most deprived boroughs. But we've shown we're ready to fight.
Lambeth College and the Ritzy Picturehouse are standing up to greedy bosses with strikes. Clapham Fire Station was saved by a large and vibrant local campaign. The Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) backs the lot. But Lambeth is still blighted by high rent, low pay and gaping cuts to vital services.
Young people and low-paid workers are forced further and further out by obscene rents. But instead of responding to a social housing crisis by building social housing, Labour is selling it off and evicting the tenants! This council has offloaded around £100 million of public housing stock while welcoming luxury developments for the rich.
TUSC wants the council to use its licensing powers to control rents. Private rents should be brought in line with social rents. We also want a massive programme of council house building and renovation.
I would use a council seat as a platform to back trade union struggles. We want a £10 an hour minimum wage with no exceptions. Like all TUSC candidates, I pledge never to vote for a single cut or for privatisation.
In this issue
Vote Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition
For the millions not the billionaires
Fight back at the ballot box on 22 May
Building Labour: when workers first formed own party
Southampton: Showing what's possible
Liverpool City Council 1983-87: "We had a choice"
Why we're standing as TUSC candidates
On the campaign trail with TUSC
Socialist Party news and analysis
Ukip - the establishment's 'anti-establishment' party
Housing evictions - main parties to blame
Gove robs education budget to fund 'Free Schools'
Socialist Party feature
What's socialism got to do with fighting austerity?
International socialist news and analysis
South Africa: The ANC victory, WASP and the EFF
Capitalist politicians can't solve Boko Haram crisis
Ireland: Election campaigns "referendum on austerity"
Socialist Party workplace news
Care UK strike: NHS workers v NHS privatisation
PCS: Re-election of a fighting, socialist leadership
Leadership challenged at Usdaw conference
Brighton: Determined to fight college cuts
Transport workers' international meeting
Fight together for pay rise - Come to NSSN conference
Readers' reviews
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
Freedom Riders- action brings victory
Building TUSC, building socialism
Donate to the election appeal!
Why I joined the Socialist Party
Related links:
President of 'big four' Labour-affiliated trade union joins TUSC committee
Keep the fighting fund rushing in for a TUSC stand in May
Scottish TUSC election campaign launch
SNP's independence referendum 2 'roadmap'
Doing all we can to fund the anti-cuts stand at the ballot box
Tories target universities in free speech shakedown
Socialist Students conference - postering
Strike back for free education
Conference - Sunday 28 February
Swansea Socialist Party: The TUSC anti-austerity challenge in the Welsh parliament
Help fund a challenge to austerity at the ballot box - donate today!
Lambeth & South West London Socialist Party: Revolt in Chile
Save John Carroll Leisure Centre
Scrap fees, refund rents and pay a living grant
Liverpool Labour meltdown - Fight for socialist policies
Swarming the London Mayor's question time
Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition:
Preparing to build a working-class force for May's local elections