28 people attended Plymouth Socialist Party's public meeting on 9 July. Sarah Wrack from the Socialist editorial team spoke alongside local TUSC candidate Ryan Aldred and Sick Of Your Boss campaigner George Fidler. The fighting fund collection raised over £140.

Two donations of £20 each came from newer members - both struggling to make ends meet, but seeing the solution as backing the fight for socialism.

What a contrast to the debacle over Labour Party funding!

Alex Moore, Plymouth

Selling the Socialist

Nancy and Martin in Waltham Forest, east London, sold 14 copies of the Socialist one morning to people on their way to work.

One person gave their contact details to find out more about joining the Socialist Party.

They also made sure they asked everyone if they could give the solidarity price of £2, to help raise fighting fund. Four people did so.

Funding the fightback

As well as asking for the solidarity price and organising campaign stalls during the summer, Socialist Party members and branches should think about taking advantage of the sunny weather to raise fighting fund. Can you plan a fundraising barbecue or summer social? Or how about a picnic, football tournament, sponsored run, cycle or swim?

Summer schedule

The current issue of the Socialist is the first of three fortnightly issues:

Issue 774, 18-31 July

Issue 775, 1-14 August

Issue 776, 15-28 August

The weekly schedule will be resumed from issue 777 (29 August-4 September).

The fortnightly schedule allows members of the editorial staff to attend the CWI Summer School and also take some holiday! In the meantime, with workers' struggles, anti-bedroom tax campaigns and other protests against austerity continuing, we recommend you keep a close eye on the Socialist Party website:

www.socialistparty.org.uk

You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter (@Socialist_Party and @Socialistpaper).

Socialism 2013 - Fight against crisis, cuts and capitalism

London 2-3 November

A weekend of discussion and debate hosted by the Socialist Party

Weekend £30/£15 (concessions); One day £15/£8 (concessions); Rally only - £5

For more info call 020 8988 8777 or see socialism2013.net

Come to the Socialist Summer Camp

At last a summer to remember! Well make this one even more memorable - come to the Socialist Party Summer Camp on Friday 23 to Monday 26 August.

A new venue in Ware, Hertfordshire, awaits you with all the amenities of camp sites of old.

There will be discussions and debates every morning and evening, with plenty of time for relaxation and leisure/sporting activities in the afternoons.

Activities available include climbing wall, archery, zip line, paintball, golf and fishing.

Three meals a day will be cooked for you at very reasonable prices. There's the famous burger bar alongside the night time entertainment of the camp fire, the sing-song and the good company of comrades. There'll also be a quiz night and live music.

There'll be new marquees and new cooking equipment. As before there will be a crèche for young children during discussions and a Red Flag Club for older children.

Just bring yourself, your family and friends; a tent, sleeping bag, plate, cup, bowl, knife, fork and spoon.

Costs (not including food): Waged adult £50; Unwaged £30; Family of 4: £100; Child over 4: £12.50; Deposit £20 per person.

For more information and a booking form ring 020 8988 8782 or email [email protected]

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.