Tagged with TUSC

The cynicism that lies behind the Socialist Party claim to want a merger with Labour

Dave Nellist of TUSCI read with interest that the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) have decided to stand aside at a February council by-election in the Lower Stoke ward of Coventry. According to the Cov Telegraph, TUSC are seeking talks with Jeremy Corbyn about a merger between TUSC and Labour, and an alliance to fight the next round of local government cuts the Tories are due to impose on councils. Speaking for TUSC, Dave Nellist (who else?) said:

Unfortunately TUSC hasn’t yet had the opportunity to sit down with Jeremy to discuss what he can do to get Labour councillors, in Coventry and elsewhere, to refuse to implement Tory cuts … So, on this occasion, the Socialist Party (SP) has agreed not to stand a candidate, so that there is no artificial obstacle to having that discussion with Jeremy and his supporters …”

Dave goes on to say that TUSC are happy to have conversations with Jeremy supporters “serious about fighting the cuts.” But if nothing is forthcoming, “any politician who votes for cuts cannot expect to have a free run at the ballot box, no matter what party label they wear.” Continue reading →

General election 2015: far left candidates – the definitive list

dark Red flagI just know you’ve been waiting for this: the combined list of far left candidates for the 2015 general election – so far. For once you can believe the hype. This could well be their biggest election challenge ever with 215 candidates – the last time they came close was 2001 off the back of a combined Socialist Alliance/Scottish Socialist Party/Socialist Labour Party challenge. Whatever you might say about them, and I’ll be penning some thoughts about the campaigns later in the week, this is an impressive effort for a “movement” short on personnel and resource.

As per the 2010 list, far left here is defined as a group, party, or alliance that lays claims to Marxist, communist, and/or socialist labels and fits the notion of ‘left-of-Labour’ campaigning. Hence no Greens or SNP, despite some of their candidates having good left creds and campaigning records. The same goes for the mixed bag that is the National Health Action party, the Pirate Party (they’re back), and Labour Representation Committee comrades standing for, um, Labour. Continue reading →

TUSC’s exercises in self-deception

TUSC propogandaUnder-appreciated they may be, but local elections are a vital component of any party-building project. UKIP certainly accept this wisdom. They know that a base in local government can give them a foundation on which to build. And theirs is an ambitious project. It’s not about taking Britain out of the EU, but replacing the Tories. As such, their 161 new councillors give them a start for 2015 and beyond. The far left have cottoned on to this too. In addition to haphazardly standing in the European elections as No2EU, the Socialist Party-led Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition stood in 554 council seats – apparently, a record for a left-of-Labour challenge. How did it do? Continue reading →

Revisiting No2EU

muehvsIf it wasn’t for UKIP, it’s fair to say most people wouldn’t know European elections are in the offing. Yet while the media buzzes about Farage’s one-man party and what the mainstream are doing about it, the ballot paper is littered with anti-EU also rans. Here in the West Mids there’s the BNP and English Democrats fare. We are also blessed with sitting ex-UKIP MEP Nikki Sinclaire for We Demand a Referendum and Mike Natrass – another former ‘kipper – for the naughtily-titled An Independence from Europe – UK Independence Now list. Hopefully, this Little England gang bang will see them take a few UKIP votes and cost them a seat. After this quivering mass, there is one other slate. I am talking about the only leftist participant who was prepared to toss its keys into the salad bowl: No2EU. Or, to give its full title, No2EU – Yes to Workers Rights. Continue reading →