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

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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.

 

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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Interesting. I didn't know that. So it was Bob Crow and his crew who are the plagiarists. You live and learn. Meanwhile the other No2EU site (No2EU.com, which our friend here says the dot com means dot communist) has this on its home page:

Quote:

The EU is turning human beings into commodities to be shunted around Europe while local workers are excluded from being able to provide for their families.

Workers are commodities or, rather, their ability to work is, but this has nothing to do with the EU but is a basic feature of capitalism everywhere and would continue even if Britain gets outIt seems that No2EU.com want a situation where workers in Britain can only be shunted around the UK and in fact be deprived of the possibility of going to elsewhere in Europe to try to sell their ability to work on better terms. And they call themselves "communists" and "socialists". They are a disgrace to these terms and are just adding fuel to UKIP's fire..

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Yesterday at 11.25 am we received the following pompous email from the president of the students union at Reading University:

Quote:

Reading University Students' Union would like to hereby provide you with
notice that a European Debate shall be held on Friday 9th May 2014 at 7pm
in 3sixty, Reading University Students' Union, Whiteknights Campus,
Reading.

We have spoken to the Electoral Commission regarding their advice for the
hosting of events involving election candidates. Whilst their advice for
'best practice' activity includes inviting all candidates to take part,
they acknowledge that there are good reasons why some host venues may
choose to take a different approach and are supportive of this. On this
occasion, due to space and timing restrictions, Reading University
Students' Union is able to offer panel spaces one representative from each
of the five parties that currently hold a European Parliamentary seat in
the South-East England region.

However, we would be happy to reserve a prominent set of seats (for
practical reasons, I'm afraid these cannot be on stage) for all parties
who have candidates in the South East. Reading University Students' Union
will acknowledge all candidates present and will reference additional
parties represented in the election at the start of the debate. The Chair
will be taking questions from the floor during the Question Time-style
debate and this will allow parties the opportunity to partake in the
debate as members of the audience.

We replied saying that we disagreed with the Electoral Commission interpretation of equal time but that one of our candidates would be there, adding that Southampton University students union had no problem inviting all the lists (sending them a link to their recording of their hustings).

Sean Deegan went and reported that he was not even called on to ask a question. He did hand out 200 leaflets (which some recognised as having received through the post earlier in the week). He made some contacts and was interviewed for the student radio station.

We will be taking up with the Electoral Commission their interpretation of equal time

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Letter published in yesterday's Surrey Advertiser:

Quote:

Can you publish Euro election lists?I agree with the suggestion by John Morris of the Peace Party (Surrey Advertiser, May 2) to give in your columns at least the websites of the various lists (there are 14) standing in the Euroelections in the South East Region on May 22.That will help ensure that voters know who is standing and what they stand for before they enter the polling station.Our list's election manifesto can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/m815ta3Adam Buick, Election Agent, The Socialist Party of Great Britain.

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Click here to go direct to what Danny says:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0Qhjp3PbV8

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