Comments on: May elections – TUSC: Opposing all the cuts

By: james?

james? — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 15:31:36 +0000

thank you for your reply dean it does make me wonder why tusc is against council tax rises in that case as they would help you to pursue that strategy for longer. i will read about liverpool as its not in my memory. it strikes me that if you pursued the strategy above you could end up in the same situation refuse to set a budget and let the government come in or make the best of it. if the above is tuscs strategy it needs to spell it out more.

By: Dean

Dean — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 16:15:51 +0000

To James.

TUSC’s policy is not to set no budget but rather to set a deficit budget. This is one where the council plans its budget and spends as is planned regardless of what cuts have been implemented by the government to the council’s budget.

The councils compensate by using reserve funds and borrowing if necessary. This must operate in conjunction with the building of a mass resistance campaign in the area with a view to spreading it to other areas. This strategy was what made Thatcher back down from Liverpool city Council in the 80s, under militant control, and hand back the £60million she had raided from the funds.

The only thing that stopped the movement pressing ahead and spreading nationwide as the betrayal of the Labour Party right wing leadership which moved against Liverpool.

We have no such problem with TUSC.

Ultimately, a vote for TUSC isn’t the end of the struggle in defending local jobs and services. It requires further participation with protests, strikes, rallies and direct action. Electing TUSC locally means that measures can be implemented to make the task of building grassroots resistance far easier and also it means that local people have the local council working to help and defend workers, rather than working against them as is the case with pretty much every Labour council nationally.

By: james?

james? — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 16:01:56 +0000

tusc has one unique selling point that its councillors would refuse to set a budget. that is a very clear position but they need to be clear with people about what that would mean. also they need to be careful about condemning people who disagree with that position but whom oppose the cuts. it is understandable that trades union members may think they have more chance of keeping their jobs if councillors they have elected implement the cuts rather than civil servants.
tusc need a reply to such people. all of us on the left agree on the basics of ending the wars scrapping trident and ending tax dodging by the one per cent. but this issue at council level is dividing us and maybe the way forward is a unity campaign focusing on westminister. by the way i would hope tusc would try and persuade rather than condemn me as i have changed my mind several times on the question of how councillors should respond im just asking questions of tuscs position i would ask different questions of the actually existing left wing councilors who have on the main taken the make the best of it approach.

By: AP

AP — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 09:26:04 +0000

TUSC works as a coalition – you can do whatever you like as long as you agree with the 5 TUSC points – print your own leaflets, campaign the way you want to etc. and theres no time wasted with meetings where theres many different ideas on things from many different groups (a good thing we are able to attract so many btw) which would take a long time to resolve. Its just do your own thing and use the name as a banner, which helps build a national profile and aids the start of a new workers party based on socialism.

I think there may well come the time when it becomes a party, but not just yet.keep those horses held!

By: Nick Long

Nick Long — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 16:19:10 +0000

I am concerned that TUSC will get a poor vote in London and will be a set back for those wanting to see the emergence of a broad left party. Good votes for left candidates are built on going community campaigns and struggles. The Socialist Party have shown it is possible to get people elected through long term polticial work, but not through the planting a flag approach. People Before Profit have forned a broad community party and through serious work have built up our vote and hope to save our deposit for our candidate, Barbara Raymond in the Greenwich and Lewisham GLA seat.The sooner TUSC learn the value of forming a political party the better.
Nick Long Agent People Before Profit

By: Ben

Ben — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 05:23:03 +0000

Fantastic interview. I’m fed up with everyone voting for “who they hate least” at every election. The millionaires have their coalition; finally we have our own!

By: Pete McLaren

Pete McLaren — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 20:44:49 +0000

Excellent article/interview, with Nick spelling out what TUSC is about and what it could become. There are TUSC branches developing in different parts of the country, and TUSC candidates are standing in a number of areas this May. TUSC will be the only ‘Party’ contesting the elections with a firm commitment to oppose all cuts at every level, and with a strategy to do just that