The Socialist Unity election questionnaire is doing the rounds, and the answers are coming in thick and fast from left wing candidates all round the country. Most of the people who have responded so far have been from the Green Party. Critics of the Greens may be quick to write them off as ‘petit-bourgeois reformists’, but many of the candidates in this election are standing on very progressive platforms that may be worth the attention of any red-blooded socialist.
Graham Elliot, standing in Waveney writes that “climate change, peace and public services” are the most important issues for him in this election. A valid criticism of Respect, despite being very strong on anti-war and public services issues, is that they have not paid enough attention to the environment part of their name, which is central to Green Party policy.
Derek Wall, Green candidate for Windsor, describing himself as an Eco-Marxist, goes further to say “I believe that only a socialist society will meet human needs and sustain ecological diversity, politics is based on class struggle, it isn't a matter of changing a few laws we live in a social totality that is utterly destructive and must be replaced. Revolution is a break between one social system and another.”
Demonstrating that the grass can be just as green on the other side of the fence, Scottish Socialist Party candidate for Western Isles, Joanne Telfer, says that one of her aims in the election is “Demonstrating that we are becoming a green as well as a socialist movement.” She continues by championing the merits of off-shore wind and wave power, instead of using nuclear energy as a means of lowering carbon dioxide emissions. Meanwhile Colin Turbett, SSP candidate for North Ayrshire and Arran, says that the only justifiable war is class war!
Tom Woodcock, of Cambridge, the first Respect candidate to reply, says that he thinks the most important issue in this election is “Electoral Reform! I meet as many people who are not voting as who are, and whether they are voting or not most people lack trust in the system.” Whilst admitting that victory in Cambridge against sitting Labour MP Anne Campbell is very unlikely, Tom says that there is much more to be gained in standing than simply votes; “A political base and voice for the progressive left is so important here and we feel we are winning battles every day! We of course aim to continue influencing the mainstream debate.”
Andy Newman is standing in North Swindon under the Socialist Unity electoral banner, and has made an agreement to avoid clashes with the Greens, who are standing in South Swindon. He says that he made the decision to stand as a Socialist Unity candidate because; “I would have preferred to stand for the Socialist Alliance, as we had used that name in previous elections, but that organisation was prematurely killed off. I have no desire to stand for Respect, as I believe that organisation is undemocratic” In response to what question he wished was on the questionnaire, Andy replied “I am very interested in peoples' views about Venezuela, which I think is very exciting.”
More replies are coming in each day, so be sure to keep checking back to the Socialist Unity Network website to hear more from the left candidates in the election.
SS
Comments