Workers' Liberty

By Daniel Randall, national union of students executive

MY Labour Students colleagues on the NUS National Executive Committee (along with several of the “Independents”) spent much of their time during the local election campaigns in Tower Hamlets, trying to stop Respect from getting elected. Fair enough - Blairite activists will campaign for Blairite candidates, although why they thought fighting Respect in Tower Hamlets was a more important use of their time than fighting the BNP in Barking and Dagenham is somewhat beyond me.

Janine Booth and Charlie MacDonald, Workers' Liberty members standing as Socialist Unity candidates in Hackney Central ward on 4 May, received 260 and 161 votes - roughly 11% and 7%, depending on how you calculate it in a three-seat ward. Despite a doubling of the Tory vote on the back of the national Tory revival, Janine beat all three Tory candidates. She received almost the same vote as in 2002, when she won 271 votes as a Socialist Alliance candidate.

by Colin Foster

THE election-figures expert John Curtice reckons that the 4 May local government poll outcome “was not a disaster for Labour” (Independent, 6 May).

A really good result for us in Hackney. I got 260 (11%), Charlie got 161 (7%). I beat the Tories. Full result below.

We have held up the socialist vote from four years ago despite the sad demise of the Socialist Alliance (and despite extensive gentrification of the ward, and the Labour council not making any cuts this year).

Socialist Unity campaigners are delivering this leaflet to every voter in Hackney Central ward. It presses home the point that our candidates are socialist campaigners standing up for working-class interests, with comments on local issues from schools to mobile phone masts.

Click 'download' to look at, download and/or print it.

The Socialist Unity campaign in Hackney Central — where AWL members Janine Booth and Charlie MacDonald are standing — isn’t just about winning votes. We want to help working-class people in Hackney organise to fight back against attacks from their employers, their landlords and the government. And there are certainly plenty of attacks to fight.

 

This is the leaflet that we will be giving out at Brook school. Click 'read more' to read the text; 'download' to view and/or print a copy.

In the Hackney Central ward in London the AWL is fielding two "Socialist Unity" candidates on 4 May. Janine Booth is chair of the local Aspland and Marcon Estate Tenants’ and Residents’ Association. Charlie MacDonald works in the Jobcentre the ward.

As Hackney Council continues its 'We Love Hackney' campaign, Janine and Charlie's latest leaflet explains why many residents don't love Hackney Council!

Charlie McDonald, an activist in the civil service union PCS, will be standing alongside local tenants' leader (and RMT union activist) Janine Booth for Socialist Unity in Hackney Central ward, east London, in the council elections on 4 May.

Janine Booth is standing as a Socialist Unity candidate in Hackney Central in the forthcoming local government elections. In the next few issues of Solidarity Janine will outline the politics of her campaign.

Why am I standing? Well, first and foremost, because there are so many issues that socialists need to address in working class communities like the one where I live in Hackney.

The Council has put Hackney up for sale. Voting for Charlie and Janine will tell them that you want public services not private greed, people not profit. Janine and Charlie will be outspoken and defiant voices in the Council Chamber, standing up for the issues that matter to you:

Janine Booth ...

Download Janine's first election leaflet here. It's double-sided A4, and folds into three panels.

“I’ve turned 18 this year, so I get to vote for the first time. Mainstream politicians aren’t interested in young people except to criticise us. There are very few facilities for youth in this area – especially for older kids.

“I’m voting for Janine because she’s always stuck up for the youth. She’s a good role model and is positive. She looks out for young people’s interests.

“Janine is not judgemental – she sees us for who we are.”

Nicky Laville