2010 general election appeal

Donate to help build a socialist alternative

Without money to fund the work of the Socialist Party, the party would not be able to take its ideas to workers and young people. This is why the party is appealing to its members, supporters and readers of The Socialist to donate to its 2010 general election appeal to raise Ł50,000 to help show a socialist alternative at election time.

Nick Chaffey, secretary, Southern region Socialist Party

The pro-capitalist Tory, Labour and LibDem parties cosy up to the millionaires (and billionaires) to boost their election funds and in return deliver business friendly policies. The Socialist Party stands for 'the millions' not the millionaires and that it is where our funds come from to finance our work.

In the southern region, seven Socialist Party branch secretaries pledged Ł1,270 at our recent regional meeting. This is a sign of the enthusiasm to stand candidates as part of the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (Tusc) and build support for our ideas.

A further twelve southern region Socialist Party members have pledged Ł1,325. We aim to raise Ł3,500. Donations in the Southern region have ranged from Ł10 to Ł400, from young students to better paid workers, some donating one week's income. We value every pound that is donated and recognise the sacrifice it means to our members and supporters at this time.

The Socialist Party has argued consistently for the need for a political voice for working class people. In Southampton the party stood in the 1997 and 2001 elections and warned what a New Labour government would mean as New Labour is a big business party. Since then anger at New Labour has grown amongst youth on the question of university cuts and tuition fees, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and amongst workers and trade unionists on the destruction of industry with jobs losses, the privatisation of public services and attacks on wages and pensions.

The 'No2EU-Yes to Democracy' 2009 European election campaign brought the Socialist Party closer to other like-minded workers and the general election will be an opportunity to take this further. We are confident that by the time of the party's southern region conference on Saturday 30 January we will have smashed our Ł3,500 target and be ready to take our ideas to cities and towns across the region.

Please help the Socialist Party reach the national target of Ł50,000 by completing and posting the form below or by phoning 020 8988 8777. Donations can be given as a single payment or spread over a few months, as long as all payments are made by 10 April 2010. If you have already made a pledge to the appeal, please make sure you complete payment of your donation by that date.

* Click here to donate over our secure server

Alternatively please send your cheque to: General Election Appeal, PO Box 24697, London E11 1YD, giving your name and address.

Why not click here to join the Socialist Party, or click here to donate to the Socialist Party.

In The Socialist 20 January 2010:

Haitians abandoned, bankers rewarded