Looking ahead after a great campaign

Thanks for all your support!

After Labour’s meltdown – fight back against the Tories by building TUSC  

After a really excellent campaign our results are:

Nancy Taaffe in Walthamstow – 394 votes

Len Hockey in Chingford – 241 votes

We distributed well over 100,000 leaflets, had dozens of volunteers helping us campaign on the streets or bundle leaflets or raise money, and had thousands of conversations. “I see you everywhere” said many when they came across our pink flashmobs around the borough! And the pink is here to stay – this campaign was always a step towards something bigger, building for the future.

These are modest votes. We believe this reflects mainly the campaign of fear by the mainstream parties leading people to think they had no choice but to vote purely on who they would prefer to be prime minister. The on-going battle for every ounce of media coverage is also an issue. It’s clear from the thousands we spoke to that our support goes much wider than those who felt able to vote for us this time. Having said that, we increased our vote in Walthamstow from 2010 and there is certainly a small but growing constituency of committed TUSC voters.

We would appeal for those voters, and others who support us, to not just passively give us your vote but to join us. Help us build a political voice for working class and young people.

We’re horrified to see another Tory government elected. The Con-Dem Coalition is hated for what it has done to people in the last 5 years. In that situation the Labour Party should have been able to win this election hands down. That they haven’t is an indictment of Labour and its failure to inspire and enthuse the mass of people.

We would argue, if Labour cannot defeat the Tories now, when people are so angry and so keen for a change, then when could it? Labour is no longer capable of representing working class people in our fight against the bosses and their party the Tories. We have to build something new. The struggles that will inevitably follow in the next months and years to defend jobs and services from yet another Tory onslaught, need to take the lead. TUSC is at the heart of this process.

We plan to organise a post-election meeting soon, check back for details.

We’re off – final four weeks!

It’s confirmed – 33 no-cuts candidates are standing for the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition in Waltham Forest in May’s council elections – at least one candidate in every ward of the borough. It’s part of a national challenge where more than 500 candidates are standing. We have a really impressive list of workers, community activists and young people – all ready and willing to vote and fight against all cuts.
The work is well underway. Workers at Whipps Cross hospital are meeting twice a week to do activity in the two wards (Forest and Leytonstone) where 5 of their colleagues are standing – 1,000 leaflets have already been given out. Teacher Dan Gillman has given out 2,200 in Markhouse ward where he’s standing. Candidates in Higham Hill ward have given out 800. In High Street ward Socialist Party members will be canvassing three nights a week for the rest of the campaign.

Some of the local ward leaflets

And then there’s the general activity at transport hubs, Mosques, colleges and supermarkets. Our pink flashmob rallies for rent control, highlighting the issue of unaffordable housing, are getting known across the borough.

One of our rallies for rent control – by Whipps Cross roundabout

There are less than four weeks to go until the elections. Labour wants to think that people don’t have any choice but to vote for them – their canvassers have even told our supporters that no socialists are standing! But the truth is that people do have a choice, and have had enough of the three main parties who all essentially stand for the same thing.
If you agree then now is the time to get involved. Get in touch, come to our activity, tell your friends and on 22 May, vote for TUSC – a voice for the 99%.