Labour manifesto shows commitment to banks not ordinary people

Labour manifesto shows commitment to banks not ordinary people

A TUSC press release, 13.1.15

TUSC condemns Labour’s manifesto pledge to carry on Tory austerity. Labour’s record in councils under the Con-Dems has been to pass on cuts. TUSC candidates include former Labour councillors who have been expelled from Labour for voting against cuts as well as hundreds of others with a record of fighting cuts.

Dave Nellist, TUSC national chair and a former Labour MP, said:

“Labour once stood for public ownership of utilities and major industries to run them in the interests of the 99% not the 1% – now it’s only TUSC.”

Dave will be on the BBC’s Daily Politics today.

The Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) is fielding an historic working class challenge on 7 May. Across England, Wales and Scotland a coalition of trade unionists, working class campaigners and socialists will stand in 135 seats, one in five parliamentary constituencies.

TUSC is contesting 12 of the 40 parliamentary constituencies in Wales (30%), 113 of the 533 seats in England (21%), and 10 of the 59 Scottish constituencies (17%). A list of candidates, with contact details, is available on the TUSC elections website: www.tusc2015.com

TUSC is also standing in around 625 council seats.

Dave Nellist continues:

“According to a poll of 5,000 Manchester residents, an end to the cuts is one of the key issues that will decide this election. Only one party standing in the May elections is committed to voting against all cuts. That is my record as an elected representative in parliament and in Coventry council.

“TUSC councillors in Southampton, Walsall, Leicester, Warrington and Hull, have moved no-cuts budgets and refused to back attacks on jobs and services at a local level, and this is a policy TUSC is committed to continuing at a parliamentary level.

“They tell us there’s no money. In the same seven years as our living standards have plummeted, the tops of the financial institutions have had £80 billion in bonuses.

“When Cameron says there’s a stark choice, he’s right. But it isn’t between the Tories’ austerity and Labour’s austerity-lite. Liz Truss let that little truth out of the bag on Question Time last night when she said ‘we need to be wary of parties making promises when all three major parties have signed up for £30 billion of extra spending cuts.’ She was referring to the vote on 15 January when only five Labour MPs voted against Osborne’s Charter for Budget Responsibility. Ukip wants £35 billion more cuts by the way.”

1. End cuts and austerity. For a democratic socialist society run in the interests of the millions not the billionaires.

2. Trade union rights to fight low pay. £10 an hour minimum wage now, scrap zero hour contracts.

3. A mass council home building programme and immediate introduction of rent controls.

4. Scrap student fees. Free education as a right for all.

5. For democratic public ownership of our NHS, railways, public services, utilities and banks.

Information

On the evening of 17 April the TUSC broadcast will go out across five channels. See the ‘No-cuts Off-cuts’ clip: https://youtu.be/EIZ56_C1t8Y

TUSC’s trade union candidates include teachers, nurses, firefighters, local government workers, hospital porters, railway workers, prison officers, and many more. A new website details every candidate: www.tusc2015.com

TUSC was co-founded in 2010 by the late Bob Crow of the transport union, RMT, together with the Socialist Party, the SWP, and other socialist groups, to provide an electoral alternative for those opposing austerity.

  • TUSC candidates will be available for interview over the phone or by arrangement.
  • For photos, information, lists of candidates, TUSC’s policies and video clips about TUSC: www.tusc2015.com
  • For interviews and any other information requests, please email: [email protected] or call Dave Nellist, TUSC national chair on 07970 294 237