by Jay Coward, South East London Socialist Party
On 18 April we took our canvassing work at Lewisham Shopping Centre. We coincided with local Save Lewisham Shopping Centre campaigners on the day and handed out some of their leaflets.
Early into the campaign stall, we spoke to a Green Party supporter and pointed out that, unless the Greens are prepared to stand up against all cuts and big business pressure, they will end up no different from previous ruling parties. He thought about it and replied that the only party that had stayed really true were the Militant (now Socialist Party) councillors in Liverpool in the 1980s. We said that was us and showed him the words ‘formerly Militant’ at the top of our paper!
Photo: Andy Beadle
The day only got better, with interest from locals coming the second posters were taped up and they could see our demands on the need for fighting councils and an end to cuts.
All of us on the campaign stall are standing in the May elections. Many were excited that average working people are daring to put themselves forward and fight. Someone even making sure it was actually me on the leaflet and not an identical twin just to make sure!
A nearby stall giving out free food for people happily took our election leaflet and even stuck it onto their stall for all service users to see, as well as offering us snacks to get us through the day.
This day, and days like it, remind me of what we have. We’re consistently in touch with the working class, local people and the downtrodden. We fight for a mass working-class party, a party of and for those it represents.
That’s why myself and many others are standing under the banner of the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition in the May elections.
- Jay is standing as the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition candidate for Lewisham mayor and in New Cross Gate ward on 7 May
- See also Lewisham: One rule for socialists another for establishment parties.