We Can Beat the Bedroom Tax!

Tomorrow on the 24th June at 7pm, we are holding a meeting in the Cornerstone building in Silverdale, Newcastle-Under-Lyme. We will be discussing how we can fight against the bedroom tax. It is organised by the Newcastle-Under-Lyme Socialist Party and TUSC Against Cuts. I will be speaking, along with Andy Bentley, former leader of the Federation Against the Poll Tax. All welcome!

TUSC Standing in Staffordshire.

The last few weeks have seen TUSC Against Cuts take on a massive campaign in Staffordshire. Almost overnight it seems we have gone from 0 to 11 candidates standing!
Anyway, leafleting is going on all this week.

The Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) are standing candidates in the Staffordshire County Council elections for the first time ever. TUSCbelieves this is necessary to provide an alternative to the job losses, cuts, closures and privatisation policies of the big three parties – Tory, Lib Dem and Labour Party. .

A chance to PROTEST at Tory, Lib Dem & Labour plans to hand over the NHS to big business

Major’s Tory government, followed by Labour and now the Con Dems are all guilty of trying to bleed the NHS dry. The last Labour government saddled the NHS with a total of £215 billion of repayments to big business for building projects worth only £55-65 billion. And the Con-Dems are carrying on this hand over of public money to big business. Together they are the architects of the problems faced by Stafford Hospital and across the NHS nationally.

On top of this they all agree that it’s ordinary working class people who must pay through loss of jobs, attacks on pay and conditions and savage cuts to local services etc for a crisis created by successive government’s, top bankers and big business companies. We say make the rich pay instead. If the £120 billion Corporation Tax ‘avoided’ annually by big business was collected there would be no need for any cuts at all!

Can you trust UKIP or the Green Party to fight to Defend Stafford Hospital and the NHS?

UKIP on their website say they will, “require the NHS to use people with commercial experience to negotiate with the private sector”and that they “want to increase the number of companies who can have a ‘share of NHS business”.

So a vote for UKIP is clearly a vote for the failed privatisation policies of the big three.

The Green Party say they “will protect the NHS ……….. from privatisation” but don’t explain what ‘protect’ means. For example there’s no mention of the £1.25 billion being paid by the NHS yearly to private companies through PFI scams. If this is not stopped tax payers will be boosting their profits for the next thirty years! How many more nurses, doctors could be trained with that money.

In the election on 2 May Only the Trade Unionist & Socialist Coalition offer a real alternative to all the others

The Socialist Party has clearly and consistently campaigned in words and deeds against cuts, closures and privatisation at Stafford Hospital and in the NHS nationally and has played a leading role in setting up the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) who are standing anti-cuts candidates in Stafford, across the county and nationally. TUSC is supported by the RMT transport union, firefighters, teachers, NHS staff, private sector, council workers and other trade unionists and community campaigners etc

Only TUSC candidates are prepared to challenge the privatisation crusade effectively!

*** All TUSC candidates are committed to and are actively campaigning to;

“Stop all privatisation, including the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) and Public-Private Partnerships (PPP). Bring privatised public services and utilities back into public ownership under democratic control”

*** All TUSC candidates are also committed to;

“Use all powers available to councils – to block cuts to local NHS services, initiate referenda and organise public commissions and consultations – to oppose both the cuts and government policies which centrally impose the transfer of public services to private bodies”

Send a clear message to all the establishment parties!

VOTE against NHS cuts, closures and privatisation!

VOTE for YOUR TUSC Candidates 

In Stafford:

• Josie Shelley is the TUSC Candidate in Stafford North. Josie says,

“I am 44 and I have lived in Staffordshire all my life and in the North End
of Stafford for 31 years. I have worked for both the Fire Service and
Staffordshire County Council and more recently in the voluntary sector.
I have also been active in my local community and for a while I was the
secretary of our local residents group. At the moment I am unemployed
due to disability whilst at the same time being a full time carer.

I am standing as a TUSC candidate as I strongly believe that the working class in this country are no longer being represented and I would be proud to speak up for the people in my area who, like me, are struggling as a result of the current vicious anti- working class policies. I also want to show that anyone can fight back regardless of their circumstances or disabilities.”

am standing as a TUSC candidate as I strongly believe that the working class in this

• John Barbrook is TUSC candidate in Stafford South East

“I am 34 and work as a NHS Librarian at Stafford Hospital, previously a social project worker and small business owner. I am standing because there is no left socialist alternative to the present right wing and centrist parties.

I feel that our society has been gradually leaving behind those in our communities that need help the most. The unemployed, disabled, poor, sick, young, old and alternative members of our society are ignored, demonised and then exploited. Councils need a strong socialist voice to hold them to account, to stop the endless ill-thought out centrally mandated cuts to vital council services and to stand up for those who cannot stand up themselves.” (standing in a personal capacity)

• Jim Reading is TUSC candidate in Stafford Central

“I am a 53 year old teacher of English and NUT rep who has worked at King Edward VI High School in Stafford for 17 years. I have lived in the town for thirty five years and previously worked at St Georges Hospital as a Domestic Assistant where I was Chairperson of the local health union branch (NUPE). The branch ran a number of campaigns against the dismantling of the mental health unit in the 1980s – this included building links with other unions, strikes and demonstrations through the town.

Whilst there I was also involved in the successful anti-poll tax campaign of the early 1990s – Stafford anti-poll tax union effectively defended hundreds of people who were threatened with court action at the time.

My decision to stand as a TUSC councillor in the county council elections was motivated by ConDem attacks on the public sector – particularly education and health – and the Labour Party’s unwillingness to defend our interests. For me there now seems no alternative – we have to oppose this government ourselves!

If we want the welfare state and all the other gains made by the working class during the 20th century and beyond to not only remain, but be extended further for the benefit of successive generations, then we need to urgently unite on a socialist programme and act together. I firmly believe that TUSC offers us that opportunity.”

• Former Stafford councillor, Scott Wilson, will be standing as the TUSC candidate in Stafford West. Scott says, 

“I was an Elected Borough Councillor in the Stafford West Division for 12 years until 2003 who worked alongside my constituents to benefit our community. I was employed by Staffordshire County Council for 21 years and have a good understanding of how Local Authorities work. I live and work in Stafford West Division. You often hear people say ‘politicians are all the same’ This one is different.”

In Burton-on-Trent:

• Joe Evans is standing in Burton Town. Joe who is our youngest TUSCcandidate says,

“I’m 25 I work for a finance company and have a law degree. I love music, and play in a band, and I love football, I am a Rotherham United season ticket holder. Originally from Rotherham, I live in Burton and have done for a few years now. I love the town and am active in the local music scene amongst others.

I am standing because I want to make a difference. I am passionate about change, and supporting the working class, and want to fight against the cuts. I want to stop the cuts that are affecting people at every level. I want to show people socialism works and that there is another option. People need a voice to be heard and I want to be part of that.”

• Chris Parton is standing for TUSC in Burton Trent

Chris is a teacher who works at Blessed Robert Sutton in Bluestone Lane, Stapenhill

In Leek:

• Neil Singh will be TUSC candidate standing in Leek Rural 

Neil works for the Communication workers union and lives in the Leek Rural area

In Rugeley:

• The TUSC candidate will be Paul Arnold in Brereton and Ravenhill

Paul lives in Rugeley and works in the catering industry. 

In Newcastle-under-Lyme:

• In Talke and Red Street your TUSC candidate is Rebecca Carter known as Becky to her friends. 

Becky says,

“I am 29 and live and work in Kidsgrove. I also train with many young people in a local martial arts club and am a drummer in a Stoke based blues band.

I’m standing as a TUSC candidate because I want to fight against the constant cuts we are all suffering.

In particular I feel that low paid workers need a party like TUSC which will support their interests.”

• Ritchie Steele is our TUSC candidate in May Bank and Cross Heath

“I am a former lecturer, aged 35 and live in Maybank – the only candidate who lives in the ward! I am married to Di and have 4 kids. I am currently, like a lot of working-class people in this area with a family to support, working in the service sector.

I am a member of the Socialist Party and have actively campaigned in Newcastle against, amongst other things, the cuts in the NHS. I am standing in this election as it is important to stand against cuts, not just locally, but also nationally.

The Con-Dems have forced every council to do their dirty work and pass on their cuts to us, ordinary working people. And yet only a few Labour councillor have voted against cuts, for fear of being expelled!

I am standing as part of TUSC as it is quite clearly the only party that is opposed to all cuts, and is the only party that clearly presents an alternative to the austerity measures that councils are dutifully forcing upon us in the form of job losses and cuts to services. If you want a councillor who is willing to fight against council cuts and who will campaign on issues all through the year and not just appear at election time vote TUSC Against Cuts!”

• Steve Wheeler will stand for TUSC in the  Bradwell, Porthill and Wolstanton seat;

“I am 45 years old and have lived in Newcastle under Lyme for the past
25 years, 10 years of which have been spent in Wolstanton. I have worked
in the NHS for 25 years initially as a Psychiatric Nurse and for the past 10
years as a Psychotherapist. I am also a Senior Shop Steward for Unite as
well as Branch Secretary and Chair. 
I have decided to stand as part of TUSC and as a member of the Socialist
Party as together they represent the only anti cuts campaign in the local
elections as well as being the only genuine party of the working class in
the country. I feel that it is vital that the people of Newcastle fight back against the relentless and ongoing attack on our services and quality of life which theCon Dems have devised and which the local Labour Party are implementing. 
My work in the NHS means that I see daily the ongoing destruction, dismantling and privatisation of the Health Service as well as the impact of this governments policy’s on the most vulnerable members of society.”

FOR MORE INFO ON TUSC POLICIES CHECKOUT WWW.TUSC.ORG.UK

Dave Nellist Launches TUSC Campaign For Staffordshire

“On Monday the 14^th January, despite freezing conditions and snow-covered roads seventeen people attended a meeting in Newcastle-Under-Lyme to hear Dave Nellist give a talk about the importance of TUSC in this May’s forthcoming elections, and to appeal to those in attendance to consider standing as a candidate in their area.

Dave Nellist speaking at the TUSC meeting in Newcastle

Dave started by outlining the disillusionment of voters and the fact that there is not a “cigarette paper” between the policies of the 3 main parties. He discussed the role that TUSC has to play in opposing these policies, and drew on several examples in history where the labour movement was successful in driving back the austerity measures of the day. And in case anyone in the room was under the illusion that Labour would provide a remedy to these cuts, Dave informed us about the appalling record that Labour had in expelling any of their councillors who dared to vote against cuts!

In the discussion afterwards Dave addressed comments regarding economic growth and debt, stating that ‘debt’ is meaningless; as an MP he witnessed Thatcherite ministers wipe debts from the public service to make them appear more profitable to private companies, and that we could solve the national debt in one fell swoop by taxing the mega rich and giving control of the state back to ordinary working-class people.

This year we already plan to stand across the whole of Staffordshire where we can, including Newcastle-under-Lyme, Stafford, Burton and Leek. We see this as a positive step in the growth of TUSC, and in our contact with working-class people who more and more are identifying with socialist ideas.

At the end of the meeting at least another 3 people are seriously considering standing as TUSC candidates in May. This is a vast improvement from last year, when we had just 2 candidates standing across the borough of Newcastle-Under-Lyme.”

Share this:

Public Meeting to Launch TUSC Staffordshire Election Campaign

Local Elections May 2013 

TUSC standing candidates to
Fight Against Cuts!

Speakers;

Dave Nellist - a real Socialist MP who took only the average workers wage and others from NUT, Unison, CWU.

Mon 14 January 2013 – 7.30pm

Holy Trinity Community Centre, London Rd (A34)

Newcastle, Staffs ST5 1LQ

All Welcome * * * * *

Trade Unionist & Socialist Coalition Staffordshire

http://stoke-and-newcastle-tusc.blogspot.co.uk/

www.tusc.org.uk

Staffordshire TUSC supporters are building a team of candidates to stand in the May 2013 local elections. Already, potential candidates – including locally based trade union activists, socialists, community campaigners – have come forward in Newcastle, Leek, Stafford and Burton-on-Trent.

The TUSC Public Meeting in Newcastle on 14 January 2013 will launch our campaign and we invite you to come along to volunteer as a potential candidate, support the campaign or just to find our more about TUSC. 

Dave Nellist is our main speaker. Dave has a proud record previously as a real socialist Labour MP and later Coventry Socialist Party councillor. For 9 years as an MP Dave refused to accept all his Parliamentary salary and instead lived on the average wage of working class people in Coventry.

Along with other Socialists, Dave was expelled from the Labour Party as it lurched further to the right to become a party fundamentally no different to the Tories. Dave is now a national coordinator of TUSC.