Why I am standing for TUSC

There comes a time in everyone’s life when words are no longer enough; for me I think it was the untimely death of Bob Crow, who so inspired me with his oratory firstly at a rally on Newcastle Quayside on the occasion of the strike by members of UCU, NUT, PCS and other unions to try and protect public sector pensions on November 30^th 2012 and latterly at the Durham Miners’ Gala last July. I think his passing told me that impotent rage, furiously directed at the television during Newsnight, Panorama or Question Time would get me nowhere; raving and bawling at the telly was preaching to the converted at home and wouldn’t achieve anything. This is why I’ve decided to do something. Specifically, I am intending to stand for Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition in May’s Council Elections in my ward, Dene. This is provided I achieve the necessary 10 nominations needed to get my name on the ballot, of course.

Instinctively, my politics lead me towards the Socialist Party of Great Britain (http://www.worldsocialism.org/index.php), but let’s be perfectly honest, the philosophy of SPGB and companion parties are idealist to the point of an impossible dream. I’ve been pragmatic enough to vote for a whole array of parties to the left of Labour over the years; not just SPGB, but Respect, the Communist Party and in the last European elections and this one as well, the appallingly monikered coalition No2EU. In both that amalgamation and TUSC, the key word is coalition, showing it to be an amalgamation of varying strands of current left wing organisations. As the SWP is part of TUSC, I was worried; not only because I have no time for them after their latest appalling sex scandal and the way they covered it up, but also from my pragmatic union branch secretary role, where as a UCU IBL activist, I’ve fought consistently against the dreadful tactics of wrongheaded confrontation over the past 7 years; if the SWP had anything to do with it, they wouldn’t want me on the ballot. However, I’ve passed muster, despite not being on message with either the SWP or the former Militant group who abandoned entrism and are now known as the Socialist Party.

It isn’t my intention to join the Socialist Party or SWP after this election, but I am paying a standing order to TUSC each month from now on, because I agree with the core principles that TUSC is standing on, which can be viewed at www.tusc.org.uk  but essentially state that all elected TUSC representatives will -:

• 
  Oppose all cuts to council jobs, services, pay and conditions.
• Refuse to implement the Bedroom Tax.
• Support all workers' struggles against the cuts, privatisation and the government's policy of making ordinary people pay for the crisis caused by the bankers and the bosses.
• Reject increases in council tax, rent and service charges to compensate for government cuts.
• Vote against the privatisation of council jobs and services, or the transfer of council services to 'social enterprises' or 'arms-length' management organisations.
• Oppose racism and fascism and stand up for equality for all.
• Use all the legal powers available to councils to oppose both the cuts and government policies which centrally impose the transfer of public services to private bodies.
• Campaign for the introduction of a Living Wage above the minimum wage, including for council employees and those working for council contractors.
• Vote for councils to refuse to implement the cuts.
• Support action against climate change and for a future where sustainability comes before profit.

Now, let’s be honest about this, these policies are not radical; they are the basic, decent values that any human being who has a scintilla of compassion for the human race would share. Sadly, I’m not going to win; High Heaton has returned Lib Dems for the whole 16 I’ve lived here and I would imagine for a similar period before that. Pre Gang of Four, I’d warrant that the Tories, who haven’t existed on Newcastle City Council for a generation now, would have been the incumbents. However, I feel it behoves me to offer an alternative to the supporters and apologists of austerity from Lib Dem and Labour. The election is May 23^rd, but I need nominations as soon as possible. If you live in Dene ward and are prepared to nominate me, please let me know as a matter of urgency.

Thank you for reading.