All Campaigns subcategories:
Election campaigns keywords:
Tusc
8 May 2017
Doncaster TUSC's campaigning against cuts goes on
TUSC Doncaster mayoral candidate and NHS worker Steve Williams (Click to enlarge)
Alistair Tice
The calling of the general election had a big impact on the Doncaster mayoral election result with both Labour and the Tories increasing their votes by over 10,000 each compared with four years ago. The turnout was still low at 29% but those who did vote deserted smaller parties and independents to revert to the two main parliamentary parties.
That Socialist Party members initially felt disappointed at getting 1,531 first preference votes (2.4%) for Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) candidate Steve Williams. But in the context of being squeezed by the two man parties, it was a measure of how good a response there had been to our campaign.
TUSC collected over 2,000 signatures demanding that Doncaster council does not sign up to the local Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP) which will cut £140 million from the Doncaster and Bassetlaw Health and Social Care budget by 2020.
Nearly 1,000 signatures were collected to keep guards on trains in support of the RMT rail union's industrial action against driver-only operation on Northern Rail.
And hundreds signed up to make Donny a "£10 an hour town", backing Socialist Steve's pledge to scrap zero hours contracts and pay all council workers a minimum of £10 an hour and encourage private sector workers to join a union and 'fight for ten'.
In just five weeks, TUSC supporters conducted 30 public campaign activities resulting in 492 copies of the Socialist paper being sold and £695 being collected in donations. We were the only party to hold any public meetings, with 50 attending our eve of election rally with guest speaker TUSC national chairperson Dave Nellist (former Militant Labour MP).
Incumbent Labour mayor Ros Jones got just over 50% of the votes but there was no enthusiasm for her or Doncaster Labour after four years of carrying out over £100 million of Tory cuts which has decimated social care, neighbourhood services and youth services. No enthusiasm except at the Chamber of Commerce where Ros's mantra of Team Doncaster "growing the economy" was well received.
But here on the estates and streets of Doncaster, there are still no signs of 'trickle down' as absolute wages have fallen over the last five years and food banks and homelessness have increased. TUSC will continue to campaign to get the Tories out, for a Corbyn government and a socialist council to build on the support gained in this campaign in which our five council candidates received over 1,000 votes plus TUSC-supporting Independent Karen Mundin got 374.
This version of this article was first posted on the Socialist Party website on 8 May 2017 and may vary slightly from the version subsequently printed in The Socialist.
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.
Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.
We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to donate to our Fighting Fund.
LATEST POSTS
12 May Stop Israeli state brutality
 |
9 May Post-election meetings
15 May Birmingham Socialist Party: How can we fight for socialist change and a new workers' party?
17 May Oxfordshire & Aylesbury Socialist Party: The role of the state
18 May Bristol North Socialist Party: Liverpool - history of socialist struggle
CONTACT US
Phone our national office on 020 8988 8777
Email: [email protected]
Locate your nearest Socialist Party branch Text your name and postcode to 07761 818 206
Regional Socialist Party organisers:
Eastern: 079 8202 1969
East Mids: 077 3797 8057
London: 075 4018 9052
North East: 078 4114 4890
North West 079 5437 6096
South West: 077 5979 6478
Southern: 078 3368 1910
Wales: 079 3539 1947
West Mids: 024 7655 5620
Yorkshire: 078 0983 9793
ABOUT US
ARCHIVE
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999