by Helen Pattison, West London Socialist Party
At the lobby of Ealing Labour council, there were three main reasons people were protesting.
Firstly, against the closure of children’s centres, secondly against Labour’s continued support for war on Gaza, and finally because of issues between the council and the National Education Union (NEU) over pay and access to paid religious leave.
That all these different issues needed protesting about, outside the same council meeting, perfectly sums up the problem facing this government and local Labour councils.
‘Turn in grave’
It was also really good when Tony, a member of transport union RMT and the Socialist Party, got up to say that his union had played a role in founding the Labour Party. But that the union members who helped build a political voice for the working class over 100 years ago, would be “turning in their graves” at the likes of Keir Starmer.
Huge applause for new party
This got huge applause, especially when Tony linked it to the need today for trade unions to once again play an active role in launching a new political voice for working-class people. People signed the petition calling for these steps, as well as another petition asking if people would consider being part of an electoral challenge in May 2026.
The lobby also won a small reprieve. The number of children’s centres planned for closure was reduced by the council.
But with no new money, this will only mean even more stretched services. So the fight must go on.