Election appeal: help us make history

Lenny Shail

In Coventry 19 Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) candidates are standing in the council elections. Over 20,000 leaflets announcing the campaign across the city have already been delivered by Socialist Party members and supporters, trade union activists and socialist voters, keen to do their bit for the TUSC challenge.

The five key demands of the campaign call for an end to austerity and the bedroom tax, a �10 an hour minimum wage, thousands of new homes and jobs and an end to the parking charges at Coventry's Walsgrave Hospital, including scrapping PFI and all privatisation in the NHS.

The launch meeting last month of over 65 people reflected local backing for the campaign. Dave Nellist is seeking re-election in St Michael's Ward.

Many people just want confirmation from our canvassers that Dave is standing again before instantly giving their support. On seeing us at the door some have gone straight back into their house so they can make a donation to the campaign - from a few quid or a tenner to over �100.

Working class people in Coventry, and St Michael's ward in particular, have understood what is at stake and are responding in all ways they can to support the campaign.

Dave Nellist is also standing in the West Midlands for No2EU, Yes to Workers' Rights - a joint list for the European elections with members of the RMT rail union and the Communist Party of Britain.

Donate

Can you help the Socialist Party make history? Over 500 TUSC candidates are now registered to stand in the local elections - the biggest left-of-Labour challenge since the end of World War Two.

We have launched an election appeal for �15,000 to help us finance both this campaign and No2EU. A proportion of the appeal will also go to assist the newly-formed Workers And Socialist Party in South Africa to stand candidates to challenge the pro-big business policies of the governing ANC in the general election there.

You can donate via the 'Election appeal' button on our website or telephone 020 8988 8777 to pay by card. Please make cheques payable to the Socialist Party and send to Election Appeal 2014, PO Box 24697, London E11 1YD.

Donate to the Socialist Party

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.