An explosion in sales of the Socialist

The Socialist carries the best news, analysis and strategy the workers' movement has to offer, photo Socialist Party (Click to enlarge)

Just like Martin Reynolds (issue 910), I've seen an explosion in sales of the Socialist since the EU referendum, I have sold 135 copies!

Key to this has been getting out on the streets to talk to people, whether street campaign stalls, at demonstrations or doing our now regular paper sale at the city centre train station before our branch meeting. 20 copies have been sold this way, with people seeing us the following week to get the latest issue and giving us their details to come to meetings.

We have attended pro-Corbyn rallies including helping to initiate the first one in Leeds. Our red Gazebo and placards helped us stand out and saw lots of people coming over before and after the rally to discuss with us.

We have also supported four strikes that took place and they're keen to support the Socialist as a workers paper. One striking branch officer gave me a tenner for two copies for him and the other strike leader.

There's also been movements against racism, including big anti-racism demonstrations in both Leeds and Bradford, and #BlackLivesMatter demonstrations in both Leeds and Huddersfield on consecutive nights - at these last two I sold 20 and 17 papers respectively, with six people giving their details to join the Socialist Party.

There's a massive thirst for ideas to lead people out of the impasse that the Tories (and Blairites) austerity policies have driven us to. If anything it can be difficult to be able to talk to everyone who is interested in what the Socialist Party has to say. That's why we need everyone possible to carry copies of the Socialist prominently and ask everyone we meet to buy one and join us in the struggle for socialism.

Iain Dalton

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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.