Local Election Campaign 2017

[ALB]

About 40 people at the anti-Brexit hustings last night in Guildford to which parties contesting the elections in the five Guildford town divisions were invited, i.e. Tories, LibDems, Labour, Greens, Peace Party and us. No UKIP representatives as they seem to have given up on Guildford, not having any candidates there.In the absence of UKIP the pro-EU audience tried to make the Tory representative, Bob Hughes, the whipping boy but, unfortunately for them, this former MP and junior minister was very prominent in the Remain campaign. The Lib Dem and the Green were a mutual admiration society (they are a joint group on Surrey County Council), the Labour (and Cooperative) representative was an EU "immigrant". The Peace Party candidate was an old-fashioned pacifist who preached "be nice to everybody". He did, however, venture into economics by claiming that "Modern Monetary Theory" meant that austerity was unnecessary as the money could be made available if the government decided. A perfect opening to point out that austerity was not a free government decision but one forced on them by the requirement of capitalism, when in a slump, for pressure on profits to be relieved by cutting government spending and the taxes to pay for it. As most local council money comes from the central government, these cuts trickled down to local level, leaving councillors too no choice but to implement them at their level.There were questions on the environment. Another opportunity to explain that under capitalism making profits has to take priority over everything else, including the environment, and to point out that a global problem like climate change required a global solution which capitalist states, with different energy sources affecting their competitiveness, were unable to agree on doing anything effective.

[ALB]

More on what was said at the Guildford hustings here:https://socialismoryourmoneyback.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/we-want-capexit.html

[ALB]

ALB wrote:

The Lib Dem and the Green were a mutual admiration society (they are a joint group on Surrey County Council),

I thought I detected something going on between them and now this:http://www.guildford-dragon.com/2017/04/26/guildford-lib-dems-greens-considering-election-pact/Irrelevant conventional politics, I know, but of interest to political trainspotters.

[Anonymous]

Two election street stalls will be held on Monday, 1 May in Guildford and in Leweshttp://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/event/guildford-street-stall-12noon-3pm-1http://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/event/lewes-election-street-stall-12-noonWe're also trying to organise a stall in Folkestone on the same day.

[ALB]

ALB wrote:

This is what happens if you don't send a photo. Mind you, in this case they didn't ask for one though they were sent our manifesto. Scroll down to Guildford West:http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/surrey-county-council-elections-who-12911967

They have now updated this. I did send them the logo saying we'd prefer this to a photo, but they chose the photo (Alan should be pleased it's in colour, though I didn't expect it to be that big):http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/surrey-county-council-elections-who-12911967The statement is based on the Folkestone one and reads (for those who don't want to see the face):

Quote:

“I am standing to raise the issue of the need for the shared and democratic ownership of the Earth’s resources, with all goods and services produced for use, rather than for profit.“The current crisis in social care in Surrey is a pressing example of why this change is necessary. Its root cause is today’s outdated system where finance determines what can, and cannot happen."Socialists suggest a better way. At a time when we can easily feed, house and care for every human on the planet, it no longer makes sense to use money to ration access to what we need, especially not to the needs of the most vulnerable.”"I am standing to make the point that local problems arise from the economic system of production for profit that exists everywhere and that they cannot be solved unless this system is replaced by one based on common ownership and democratic control of the means of production, and access for all to what they need on the basis of 'from each according to their ability, to each according to their needs."

[Bijou Drains]

ALB wrote:

ALB wrote:

This is what happens if you don't send a photo. Mind you, in this case they didn't ask for one though they were sent our manifesto. Scroll down to Guildford West:http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/surrey-county-council-elections-who-12911967

They have now updated this. I did send them the logo saying we'd prefer this to a photo, but they chose the photo (Alan should be pleased it's in colour, though I didn't expect it to be that big):http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/surrey-county-council-elections-who-12911967The statement is based on the Folkestone one and reads (for those who don't want to see the face):

Quote:

“I am standing to raise the issue of the need for the shared and democratic ownership of the Earth’s resources, with all goods and services produced for use, rather than for profit.“The current crisis in social care in Surrey is a pressing example of why this change is necessary. Its root cause is today’s outdated system where finance determines what can, and cannot happen."Socialists suggest a better way. At a time when we can easily feed, house and care for every human on the planet, it no longer makes sense to use money to ration access to what we need, especially not to the needs of the most vulnerable.”"I am standing to make the point that local problems arise from the economic system of production for profit that exists everywhere and that they cannot be solved unless this system is replaced by one based on common ownership and democratic control of the means of production, and access for all to what they need on the basis of 'from each according to their ability, to each according to their needs."

That's great Adam. I've printed a copy off and put it in pride of place on the mantle piece, it'll scare the kids away from the fire.

[ALB]

Six members and sympathisers, 4 from Surrey, turned up in the intermittent rain yesterday to hold our final election stall in Guildford. With more handing out leaflets we distributed more. Some political discussions too, one with a UKIP supporter who, when asked why UKIP still existed now that they had won Brexit, replied that he didn't trust the Tories to deliver it; another with someone who said that the Tories just wanted to grind down the poor; a rather confused third person said he was voting for May in the General Election but for the Greens in the local election.

[jondwhite]

ALB wrote:

 a rather confused third person said he was voting for May in the General Election but for the Greens in the local election.

Maybe you were talking to Zac Goldsmith.

[Bijou Drains]

Waht news of our party's glorious ascent to council seats acroos the country?

[Anonymous]

Tim Kilgallon wrote:

Waht news of our party's glorious ascent to council seats acroos the country?

Too early to say – vote counting didn't commence in the councils we contested until this morning.

[ALB]

Here are the results for Folkestone:https://democracy.kent.gov.uk/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?ID=577https://democracy.kent.gov.uk/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?ID=547Although the percentage figures both show 1%, in Folkestone East the percentage was 1.5% and in Folkestone West 0.6%

[Bijou Drains]

ALB wrote:

Here are the results for Folkestone:https://democracy.kent.gov.uk/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?ID=577https://democracy.kent.gov.uk/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?ID=547Although the percentage figures both show 1%, in Folkestone East the percentage was 1.5% and in Folkestone West 0.6%

Not bad results, all considered, well done comrades.I have a feeling the charismatic, raw animal magnetism of Adam's photo will have a significant impact on our vote

[Anonymous]

ALB wrote:

  Although the percentage figures both show 1%, in Folkestone East the percentage was 1.5% and in Folkestone West 0.6%

And that on a turnout of only 25% and 31% respectively.

[ALB]

Here is the result for LewesIndependent 2370LibDem 757Labour 568Green 307Con 263Socialist 19 (0.4%)Turnout: a massive 52% for a local election. Not a result the Tory pundits on the radio and TV will be highlighting.Official result here (if you can navigate it):http://www.eastsussexinfigures.org.uk/escc_elections_2017/atlas.html

[ALB]

Here's the result was Guildford West:https://mycouncil.surreycc.gov.uk/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?XXR=0&ID=211&RPID=506775711Turnout: 29%. Our percentage 0.5%.

[Author]

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