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From: The Socialist issue 1036, 3 April 2019: Cuts and chaos. Enough. General election now!

Search site for keywords: Socialist Party - Socialist - The Socialist - Finance - Midlands - East Midlands - Leicester - Meetings - Fighting Fund

Financing the fightback

The socialist fightback needs resources, photo TaxRebate.org.uk/CC (Click to enlarge)

Fred Ray, Leicester East Socialist Party

The Socialist Party stands for workers. Unlike the capitalist political parties, we don't take any big corporate donations, meaning that we aren't financially accountable to the bosses and they can't control us.

Socialist Party members from across the East Midlands met on 30 March to discuss the crucial task of financing the Socialist Party.

Ian Pattison, national subs organiser for the Socialist Party finance department, came to the meeting in Leicester to start the discussion. He underlined the importance of our fundraising.

We discussed how we raise money in the East Midlands. Through our campaign stalls, sales of the Socialist paper, donations from members, and more.

In the second part of the meeting we split into two workshops, to discuss the fighting fund and membership subs (regular donations) separately.

Our subs constitute the core money that allows the Socialist Party to operate. We discussed ensuring that new and existing members understand the hugely important contribution they can make.

We're asking members to increase their subs to the Socialist Party, so we have the resources to enable us to reach as wide an audience as possible with a socialist alternative to the Tories' cuts and chaos.

East Midlands Socialist Party members at the meeting agreed to increase their monthly subs by a fantastic £110. You don't have to be a member of the Socialist Party to make a donation - see socialistparty.org.uk/donate

The second workshop focused on the fighting fund, which we use when for campaigning - printing leaflets, banners, transport, and so on - and to fill in any gaps in the day-to-day work of the Socialist Party.

We discussed the importance of keeping finance in our minds when we go to meetings and build movements. Among the excellent suggestions raised was the idea that Socialist Party members should maintain personal targets for fundraising.

The meetings ended with a discussion, led by Leicester Socialist Party member Heather Rawling, on how the Socialist Party can be financially ready when new movements break out. Discussing and understanding finance is an important part of building the Socialist Party in our fight for a socialist world.

Read about our finance campaign 'Want to oust the Tories and change the world? Then give us the resources to do it!' at socialistparty.org.uk

Donate to the Socialist Party

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.