by Jay Coward, TUSC candidate for Lewisham mayor
We had an extraordinary campaign, filled with sympathetic support, even from those voting for others, and staunch agreement from those fed up of the major parties dancing around problems facing the working class.
Our 721 votes in the Lewisham mayoral election isn’t the metric to judge the response to socialist ideas. But the conversations and discussions on the streets and doorsteps of Lewisham definitely is.
Photo: Andy Beadle
Many we spoke to are celebrating Lewisham, as one of two London boroughs with a Green mayor, beating Labour by over 5,000 votes.
Our campaign and stand meant we met and discussed with people who agreed change is possible. But we always expected that hatred of Labour and fears around Reform would make the Greens the most enticing option for those in Lewisham wanting to combat more capitalist brutality. However, I can’t recollect a time our campaign was met with hostility or even disagreement in the entire election.
The election was an opportunity to reconnect with members of Lewisham Trades Union Council, and strengthen these bonds via the respect we garnered by standing directly and loudly against austerity. Our branch will not take even a toe off the accelerator in pursuing this through the new and strengthened local relationships we’ve established. This election campaign has propelled the Socialist Party to be ready for new challenges and be proactive in fighting for the working class in Lewisham.
We were not voted in. But we have made our mark in an undoubtedly historic moment of the two-party system being shaken to its core.