All Organisations subcategories:
Committee for a Workers International
Nationalist and National Liberation
Pro capitalist and Imperialist
Left and radical keywords:
International Socialist Resistance (54)
Revolutionary Communist League (1)
Socialist Peoples Party (Denmark) (1)
Green
Highlight keywords |
Print this article
Greens rejected in Brighton as TUSC vote increases
Phil Clarke, Brighton Socialist Party
Widespread support for the Brighton bin workers shown on some bins in the area, photo Support Brighton Council workers Facebook page (Click to enlarge)
A week-long strike by GMB workers in the Cityclean depot was the background to a tightly fought Hanover and Elm Grove ward byelection.
The bin workers are fighting pay cuts of up to £4,000 imposed by the Green council in Brighton.
The Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) and Ukip were the only parties to increase their vote since the last election.
In a previously solid Green seat, the Labour Party narrowly won but both parties saw their support fall, the Greens by over 1,000 votes.
Phil Clarke standing for TUSC gained 172 votes or 5%, an increase in both percentage and actual terms despite the reduced turnout.
TUSC gained over three times the Liberal Democrat vote and came very close to the Tories and Ukip.
We waged a major campaign, passing out three leaflets to the entire ward and canvassing large areas. We were supported by the local RMT and FBU union branches, and Brighton, Hove and District trades council.
Time and again we encountered dissatisfaction with the Green Party, especially the Greens' failure to fight cuts imposed by the government and the resulting bin strike.
We used the campaign to explain that a fighting strategy was needed to build a movement against the cuts, this message went down well.
Many new supporters helped the TUSC campaign, and we had our best presence yet with window posters dotted across the ward.
Given the tightness of the Labour and Green results, trade unionists locally have already been commenting that it was a very creditable result and is a good base to continue to establish the idea of a new mass workers' party and a council with a real no-cuts policy.
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