[ALB]

Even though we are not standing a list in the London Region we have been invited by Lewisham People before Profit to this European elections hustings this evening:

Quote:

Mon 19th May: Election Rally: Meet LPBP Candidates at Hill Station Licensed Cafe, Kitto Road, SE14  7.30pm. European Hustings with representatives from minor parties also invited. 8.30pm.   Bus 484, 343 or train to Nunhead, Brockley or New Cross Gate (5 – 10 min walk)

We shall be there with a literature stall and to answer questions on why we think those outside Wales and the South East Region who want socialism should cast a write-in vote for it by writing "WORLD SOCIALISM" across their ballot paper,

[ALB]

Yesterday we were out in the western part of the region, in Hampshire and in Oxfordshire.Six members (4 from West London branch and 2 from West Midlands) held a literature stall at the Levellers Daty event in Burford, which is in Cameron's safe Tory constituency of Witney. Besides giving our election leaflet to the 100 or so attending, we distributed some door-to-door in Burford and in Witney. A bit surprised to find quite a few Labour posters in Witney, where local elections are taking place, but then not everybody in the area can be toffs.When they sang the Red Flag (twice) at the Levellers event, we sang the version which starts "The people's flag is pinkest pink; it's not as red as you might think". The Internationale was no problem. Many of those at the Levellers Day event had already seen our leaflet, which Royal Mail had delivered in both Oxford constituencies. Some told us they had or would be voting for us even if only as the only "left" list standing in the South East. At the same time members of the Oxford Communist Corresponding Society had a stall in Oxford where they were handing out our election leaflet.Meanwhile, in Basingstoke, 3 members of South West Regional branch distributed some 1000 leaflets door-to-door.

[ALB]

Got a leaflet from another of our opponents "An Independence from Europe", a party set up by deselected UKIP MEP Mike Nattrass who, besides wanting to get re-elected an MEP for the West Midlands (strange how these anti-EU politicians are keen to stay in the European Parliament), is out to spoil UKIPs chances.His party name, beginning with an A, was chosen so as to be the first on the ballot paper and the variant of its name which will also be on the ballot paper is "UK Independence Now". It will be interesting to know who is behind and financing this spoiler party which is contesting all 8 English areas.Nothing interesting in his unreadable (too small print) manifesto except:

Quote:

We support closure of the Welsh Assembly.

with no explanation why. But it could explain why AIP is not standing in Wales.

[ALB]

Does anyone else think that Howard looks like Trotsky? Mind you, Trotsky advocating a classless, stateless, moneyless society would be a turn up for the books.

[ALB]

Swansea football fans discuss our leaflet:http://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/swanseacity/forum/112688/1380611/#.U3UurHaxNdhWhat next

[ALB]

Sean has had less success than our other candidates in getting a letter or statement in the local press, in Basingstoke in his case. So we're publishing it here:

Quote:

A window to the nation’s politicsThe elections coming up seem to be very similar to every other.Your vote is needed to clear up the present issue of the day and the party asking for it is the only party who can sort it out.But for all the promises nothing ever gets better.  Nothing ever gets resolved.  The solution isn’t around the corner; this has gone on for ages.  The political parties appear to be trying to clean a window with a dirty cloth and rather than swap it for a new one they harangue each other about how they use it.The issues of the window of Britain are focused around the European influence and whether staying in or out of the European Union is in the nation’s interest.The Conservatives see nothing wrong with the dirty cloth, all that we need for a brighter British window is to apply it more firmly, roll up our sleeves and try a little harder.  UKIP see nothing wrong with the dirty cloth either, but feel its use should be guided by a purely British hand.  Labour is appalled!  Labour feels that by wringing out the cloth and changing how it’s applied will lead to a fairer, more prosperous window.  The Left feels this doesn’t go far enough, only by cleansing the cloth and a complete reorganisation of how the window is scrubbed will do.  Of course, the BNP couldn’t care less about the state of the cloth, only what colour it allows the window to become.No matter who takes charge the vision of the future remains dull, there is only so much that can be done with a dirty cloth.The Socialist Party of Great Britain challenges all other parties because it knows that capitalism can only be run in the interest of the few.  For us the question isn’t whether it’s in the nation’s interest to stay in, or out, of the EU.  It’s whether the nation’s interests and the people’s interests are the same.  The answer is no.The Socialist Party is part of the World Socialist Movement.  For 110 years we have organised without leaders practising real democracy.  A vote for us in the European elections is a vote for yourself.  Our goal is not to run capitalism for you in the interest of individual nations.  Our goal is to unite the people of the world so that we, the people, can run it in the interest of ourselves.We will not stand for starvation in a world that can feed everyone more than adequately.  We will not see those who work and create the wealth struggle while those who manipulate thrive.  We will not see the environment destroyed in the name of profits.  We will not see honest, hard working people turned against each other in war to serve a minority’s interests.The Socialist Party calls for socialists, then their votes.Sean Deegan, candidate on the Socialist Party/World Socialist list in the South East for the European elections.

 

[ALB]

Brian wrote:

farcical posturing.

I see what you mean. They stand outside demanding "no radio interviews with the BNP" and then go in to get interviewed themselves. I'd say that makes them hypocrites too. In fact, why don't they stand outside the polling stations protesting against the BNP being allowed to stand or even to exist?  And since both the CPB and the SWP have themselves been the victims of "no platform" actions you'd have thought they might realise there's something wrong with it.

[ALB]

jondwhite wrote:

Are the SPGB in particular being asked by the CPB and the SWP? If they'd rather us stand outside and shout while Lib-Lab-Con get a free rein – than go in and verbally attack them on the same platform then no thanks

Yes, our election agent in Wales (Brian) was phoned personally by Robert Griffiths, the General Secretary of the CPB and lead candidate on the No2EU list in Wales, and a representative of the SWP attended the Swansea Branch meeting on Monday with the same end in view. I'm sure Brian will be able to provide more details.

[ALB]

The BBC have now added our Party Election Broadcast in Wales on Monday night to the page on election broadcasts on their website.Ours is here:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-27379468

[ALB]

ALB wrote:

Another personal statement of the socialist case by one of our candidates, Howard Pilott, for sending to the local papers in his area (Lewes, Mid-Sussex):

Howard's statement has been published as a letter in the Sussex Express:http://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/news/letters/bored-of-elections-try-voting-for-a-change-1-6053502

[ALB]

We are mentioned, along with every other party fielding a list in at least one region, on the BBC's site here:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-27218759This is how they attempt to summarise our policy:

Quote:

On its website, the party says it will be campaigning for common, democratic ownership of public services, the abolition of property rights and an end to inequality. Candidates: Fielding candidates in south-east England and Wales only.

Not too bad as a first attempt I suppose and at least they provide a link to our website.

[ALB]

I saw a statement from another of our opponents, the English Democrats, in a local newspaper. I hadn't realised they were that bad, but thought they just wanted a separate English Parliament. They do, but they are opposed to "mass immigration" and call for "English jobs for English workers". Which makes them worse than UKIP as they want to keep out the Scots, the Welsh and the Irish as well as everybody else.

[ALB]

Our election communication is due to be distributed in South Wales today, Cardiff, Swansea, Newport and some of the valleys. Meanwhile the CPB and the SWP are trying to persuade us not to participate in any hustings at which the BNP and Britain First will be represented.

[ALB]

ALB wrote:

We have been asked by the Carmarthen Journal to answer in up to 80 words three set questions for publication in their paper along with the replies of all the other lists. 

Our replies, together with those of some of the other lists, have now been published, both in the paper, and online here:http://www.carmarthenjournal.co.uk/gets-Euro-vote/story-21065363-detail/story.html

[ALB]

We know that Royal Mail has begun to distribute our election manifesto (which is different from the one in the South East Region) in North Wales as we have already received one complaint that it wasn't bi-lingual. On the other hand, we have also received  one request in response for a free 3-month trial subscription to the Socialist Standard from Caernarfon/Carnarvon

[Author]

Posts