TUSC to stand in Fleetwood byelection

Ray Smith has been selected as prospective candidate by the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) to fight the forthcoming town council byelection in the Rossall ward of Fleetwood, Lancashire on 26 September.

Despite the best efforts of some in the area (see below), Ray forced the election to be called after a sitting town councillor resigned.

GMB union member Ray is standing to oppose this Tory-Liberal government destroying our public services Fleetwood Hospital faces closure.

So do another 20 hospitals around the country. Thousands of nurses and other useful NHS jobs are being lost because the government is privatising the whole NHS.

Ray said: "Fat cat bankers and politicians made this mess, but we're paying! Since representing TUSC in May's county council elections, I helped set up Fleetwood Against the Cuts, which is supporting me at this election. I am campaigning to save Fleetwood Hospital, which is vital to Fleetwood, and against the hated bedroom tax!"

On Fleetwood council Ray will:

Lead a public campaign to keep Fleetwood Hospital open
Demand accountability for public monies spent in our town
Seek funds for services, using the council's legal powers
Demand the county and borough council defend all services
Campaign against Halite (see bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-22715593), fracking, closures and cuts

Ray said: "I will also be a voice for local democracy. Since Fleetwood town council was set up, councillors have been 'independent'.

"Political parties have hidden their real identity at election time. When councillors resigned, new ones were 'co-opted', without an election! I refused an offer of 'co-option', and called this election to end this anti-democratic disgrace.

"Unlike some others, I believe only the voters of Rossall ward have the right to choose who is their town councillor."

Ray used to be a Labour councillor. Ray joined TUSC because Labour has changed: it will not defend working people.

Labour runs the county council with Liberal Democrat support since the May elections, when they promised to defend services. Since then, they announced a devastating Ł300 million cuts!

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