Fire and rescue... rescued

Jon Dale and Neal Davis, Mansfield Socialist Party

Warsop fire station in Nottinghamshire has been saved.

Nearly 7,000 across the county signed petitions. A thousand signed ours - against the closure, the removal of Mansfield's second fire engine and all fire cuts.

Without this strong campaign, Warsop could have closed. But the removal of Mansfield's second fire engine and the loss of firefighters' jobs still threaten this vital service.

The coming district council by-election will have been in councillors' minds. It would have become a referendum on the future of Warsop fire station!

Eleven out of 19 fire authority members are Labour. All agreed to remove Mansfield and Beeston's second engines and sack 32 firefighters. The Labour chair of the authority, Cllr Darrell Pulk, gave the game away:

"No one from any of the political parties suggested there would be more money coming to us in the future. We are in a difficult situation and won't be saved by the cavalry coming over the hill with a pot of money, whoever gets elected into power next."

Building an electoral alternative to these parties is vital. Having played a key role in saving the station from closure, Mansfield Socialist Party intends to carry the momentum moving forward into the by-election.

The Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) will be standing a candidate against all cuts to fire stations and all public services.

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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 click here to donate to our Fighting Fund.