Socialist Party election appeal:

Don't just boo - help fund the fightback!

Be like a Care UK striker and help back anti-cuts election candidates (Click to enlarge)

Alistair Tice, Yorkshire Socialist Party

At a Doncaster Care UK strikers' reunion this month, any mention of local MP and Labour leader Ed Miliband's name was booed. This is because of his refusal during 90 days of strike action to publicly support their fight against "a cost of living crisis" of a 35% pay cut, and against privatisation of the NHS.

But it's not enough to boo, we need an alternative. That's why at least five ex-strikers will be standing as Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) candidates in May's local council elections and TUSC are standing in all three Doncaster general election seats including Socialist Party member Mary Jackson challenging Miliband.

This all costs money. With at least ten Socialist Party members in Yorkshire standing as TUSC general election candidates, we need to raise at least Ł10,000.

First of the gang

First to contribute to the Socialist Party's Election Appeal with Ł150 was part-time library worker Chris Bingham from Rotherham: "I think the most significant obstacle to socialist ideas taking hold amongst the majority of people is the exclusion or demonisation of socialist arguments in the media. That's why TUSC's strategy of the biggest ever left of Labour electoral challenge is ambitious, but achievable, to force that media to give socialism a mainstream platform."

So far, fifty members have pledged to contribute Ł7,500 from around the region. This includes a week's income of Ł400 and Ł500 from better paid trade unionists, Ł120 from a disabled South Yorkshire Freedom Rider, Ł100 from a student, Ł20, Ł150, even Ł300 from retired workers.

Tanis from Leeds, on a minimum wage zero hours contract has pledged Ł150 "to scrap zero-hour contracts". Dawn Wheelhouse, a teaching assistant in Dewsbury has pledged Ł220 "to fight for Ł10 an hour minimum wage".

Because of Con-Dem austerity, of job, pay and welfare cuts, some people can hardly afford to live, let alone donate much. But all members should be asked to contribute something and everyone can ask friends and family as well. The TUSC agent in York has received a Ł500 donation from his son in China!

And Socialist Party branches can organise fund-raising events specifically for the Election Appeal. Sheffield South branch raffled off Numsa (the South African metal workers union that's committed to a new workers party) T-shirts and caps raising Ł132 and York Socialist Party are organising another of their "99 Club" benefit nights.

So don't just boo the main parties, dig deep to help fund the socialist alternative.

You can donate on www.socialistparty.org.uk/donate, phone 020 8988 8777 to make a card payment, or post a cheque made out to "Socialist Party" to PO Box 24697, London E11 1YD. Please include a note to say your donation is for the "election appeal 2015".

TUSC candidates on the UN anti-racism day demo in London, 22 March 2014, photo Paula Mitchell (Click to enlarge)

Thanks to Mick Griffiths who has donated Ł75, Chris Bingham (Ł150), Jeremy Short (Ł250), Kevin Pattison (Ł300), Michael Docherty (Ł250), Sharron Milsom (Ł120), Alistair Tice (Ł130), Kate Hutchinson (Ł20), Irene Simpson (Ł20), Kriss Barker (Ł5), Paul Chettle (Ł200), Steve Cawley (Ł100), John Marston (Ł100), Roy Farrar (Ł100), Iain Hunter (Ł130), Andrew Wilkins (Ł40), Joe Fathallah (Ł500), Dave Barton (Ł30), Grahaeme Higginson (Ł10), Nick Doyle (Ł50), Hannah Zucherman (Ł50), Wendy and Steve Minney (Ł40), Jean Thorpe and Gary Freeman (Ł350), Lincoln branch (Ł500) and Lancashire branch (Ł600).

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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.