Extremes of rich and poor in Swansea

The Swansea West constituency is one of extremes. The city centre Townhill and Castle wards are two of the most deprived areas in Wales whilst a little further west we have some of the most affluent parts of the city.

Alec Thraves, election agent

TUSC candidate Rob Williams, Socialist Party member and Unite convener at the Linamar plant, lives in Castle ward and is probably the most prominent trade union leader and socialist campaigner in South Wales, particularly after the failed attempt by his employers last year to sack him for his trade union activity.

Rob said: "I am standing to give ordinary people the chance to vote for a socialist alternative. I will be campaigning to defend jobs and services both in the public and private sectors and will be at the head of the May Day march and rally organised by Swansea trades council.

"With two universities and a college in Swansea West I will be appealing to students to support the only candidate opposed to tuition fees and for free and universal education from nursery to university.

This of course, means abolishing loans and restoring a living student grant, similar to what all the prospective parliamentary candidates had when they were at university years ago.

They have pulled the ladder of opportunity up on this generation of students who can expect to leave university with tens of thousands of pounds worth of debts.

"As a Unite member I have to pinch myself when I read that our union is funding the Labour campaign to the tune of Ł4 million.

We should demand unions disaffiliate from Labour immediately and use our members' funds more constructively by helping in the formation of a new mass workers' party.

Last year I was brutally sacked for the 'crime' of defending my members. Thanks to a fantastic campaign, I was unconditionally reinstated. It's a disgrace that after 13 years of a Labour government our unions are still shackled by Thatcher's anti union laws!

"Our message is clear and simple to the voters of Swansea West - If you are anti capitalist, anti racist, anti cuts and pro socialist, then vote TUSC as a first step to building a new mass workers' party!"

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In The Socialist 28 April 2010:

Vote for a socialist alternative