Greater London Authority elections
Dig deep to build London's left challenge to Blairism!
Greg Tucker (Secretary, London Socialist Alliance)
THE GLA ELECTIONS provide the left with a fantastic opportunity to deal a serious blow to New Labour and the Blair project.
The support across London for Ken Livingstone demonstrates there is a significant number of working class people who want to vote for an alternative to New Labour’s Tory policies.
The London Socialist Alliance has produced a draft programme addressing the major issues of concern to progressive working class voters on the issues of transport and tube privatisation, the destruction of the environment, welfare state cuts, the growing gap between rich and poor, and the police and racism.
We also have a number of prospective candidates in place.
It is clear that the New Labour honeymoon is well and truly over. The health service "flu" crisis
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is just the latest of a series of scandals where the lack of substance of New Labour spin has been exposed.
In particular the gerrymandering of the Labour Mayoral selection is proving an education for Londoners in just the same way it was in Wales with their actions over the Welsh Assembly leadership.
Coupled with the green shoots of recovery of industrial struggle — Connex drivers being the latest example of a series of small scale (but growing) industrial disputes where workers have decided they have to take their future in their own hands — the potential for the left to make a mark in the GLA elections cannot be ignored.
Bringing together half a dozen left organisations and a body of independent socialists the LSA has been unique in its high degree of comradely co-operation.
For those on the left jaded by years of backbiting and sniping between left groups the LSA is a refreshing change — here is a real chance for collaboration to produce results far more than just the sum of the separate parts would suggest.
Clearly problems remain. The government is doing all it can to make our task difficult. Their latest stunt — to withdraw the "freepost" of election material — is designed to hamper grass roots organisation of independent campaigns.
Aimed at Ken Livingstone, it builds a massive organisational hurdle. We believe we can overcome it.
Perhaps more serious is the fact that, even with the unity so far built up, there are still likely to be a number of "socialist" or left campaigns standing lists of candidates. The LSA remains committed to the fullest unity.
We are in discussions with a wide range of forces on the left to try to bring everyone together. We hope to be able to convince our potential "opponents" that standing aloof on a sectarian platform would be a mistake.
Over the next few weeks the LSA is organising meetings in every London borough. We believe it will be possible to draw in many hundreds of those to the left of New Labour who want to see a socialist agenda placed before Londoners in the GLA elections.
We want to tap into the mood of disgust with Blair’s machinations. But to make this possible will take money.
With £15,000-plus needed in deposits alone, plus the need to produce literature to go out to an electorate of 5 million, fund raising has to be our number one priority.
While we aim to organise a series of benefits — music, comedy etc. it will be hundreds and thousands of small donations that will be required if we are to be successful.
This is not just an issue for Londoners. In the same way that the Scottish Socialist Party election results last year marked a massive change in left politics across Britain, we believe the GLA elections, (whilst the GLA is allowed little actual role in the running of London) can have a major impact outside our boundaries.
If you want to help us mount our campaign then we need your financial support. Make cheques payable to LSA and send to 3 Blades House, SE11 5TW.