Reaction to the local election results
Andy Newman
The thing about local election results is that they are, well local.
There is considerable variation across the country in terms of how
strong a challenge the Lib Dems make for example. There can also be
variation in whether the elections happen to coincide with local
campaigning issues that left candidates are associated with.
However, a quick over view of the National picture means we can try to
learn
from each others' experience.
First the biggest success for left candidates is undoubtedly Oxford
where the Independent Working Class Association (IWCA) won three seats,
to add to
their existing councillor. Now the IWCA is not everyone's cup of tea,
and they are notable in not taking up issues that they regard (rather
inaccurately) as the preserve of the chattering classes - for example
their manifesto does not address the issue of the war.
https://www.iwca.info/manifest.htm
I think the IWCA would themselves agree that they no longer necessarily
consider themselves socialist. Nevertheless, there are two areas where
we
can all learn from them. Firstly, although I wouldn't agree with every
aspect of their manifesto they start with the immediate concerns of
working class communities, and seek to find solutions based upon working
class self
reliance. We should all be doing this, but should also recognise that
workers are not only in communities, we also work and the most powerful
expression of our self reliance is our trade unions. The second thing we
can learn from the IWCA is that they have stuck at it - working on the
estates through good times and bad - not just at elections, and they
have been undeterred by poor elections results in the past.
Secondly, the results in Wrexham, with one councillor elected and
another
denied only by a whisker is a tremendous step forward, added to their
existing seat in the Welsh assembly. Huw Pudner has also achieved an
outstanding result for RESPECT in Wales. The task now in Wales is to put
behind us the controversy about both RESPECT and FW both contesting the
Euro elections, and all the left should unite in a single organisation.
Thirdly, the RESPECT results in Preston are very impressive, and the
RESPECT results in Manchester seem higher than those achieved by
candidates standing under a socialist banner. This is only an impression
based upon slight evidence, and a report from Manchester is necessary to
flesh out the details. Undoubtedly Michael Lavallete and Preston RESPECT
have done a fantastic job, however it is not yet clear how well the
Preston experience transports to other towns.
Finally, the Socialist party in Coventry again did exceedingly well
retaining two seats in St Michael's ward. Although in other parts of the
town they do not seem to get significantly better results than the rest
of us.
There are a couple of general observations that are worth making.
The results are good - I haven't done a full comparison but they
generally seem better than last year's results. There are more results
in the 7% and 8% bracket and less around 2% and 3%. So far I haven't
seen many poor results (less than 1%) which we have had in the past.
Obviously we have only stood in a few wards, but the level of vote is
not hugely less than that achieved by the far left in other European
countries. It is a base to build upon.
One important point is whether we were competing against the Greens or
not
seems to have been a very significant factor on whether we got a modest
result or a good one. This year the Green party made a conscious policy
to
stand as many paper candidates as possible. In Swindon they scored good
votes - including on working class estates where they have no base -
although our vote in Swindon's Gorse Hill and Pinehurst was as good as
any
Green result in the town.
All in all - these local election results show that Socialists can make
a real impact campaigning in their local communities. We need to do the
hard graft and build local pockets of support and spread out from there,
not assume that any particular combination of circumstances in national
politics will allow us to leap over this necessary stage.
June 2004