The Election Commission has ruled that Lewisham People Before Profit can't stand under of preferred name but can stand as 'Lewisham Community & Trade Unionist Alliance'. We will be seeking to make representations to the EC on this but I think it unlikely they are going to budge. It would seem the two parties already registered with the EC have these words registered. The Stockport based Democratic Socialist Alliance have 'People Before Profit' also registered into their party symbol. The Respect Party also have similar words -'People not Profit' registered. Ah well -so be it -the title does kind of sum up who we are -an alliance of community campaigner's and trade unionists. We will be seeking to let people know the name we will be standing under in the lead up to the local elections and using the shorten name 'Lewisham Community Alliance' in leaflets and newsletters etc.

People Before Profit in the race!

I am pleased to report that Lewisham People Before Profit have agreed a constitution, officers and submitted an application to the Election Commission to register as a political party. Not only has a website been set up, funds raised and a draft leaflet agreed ready for distribution -all of this has been agreed in such a short period of time. Trade unionists, socialists and campaigner's all coming to together to thrash out a broad set of polices and principals. Now the work really begins in our two target wards in Deptford! Hopefully we will have a level of interest and support that allows us to stand additional candidates in more than half of the wards in the borough. A news release is being drafted with already press interest from the Newshopper and South London Press.

Agreements on the left

Green Party members in Birmingham have agreed not to stand against the leader of Respect in the seat she is contesting. Interestingly she is again standing against a former right wing trade union operator and former Lewisham councillor Roger Godsiff -who is still a member of Charlton FC's board! I understand that a number of local Green party branches around the country have also agreed not to contest a number of seats where well placed candidates with a progressive record and with green credentials could do well. I also understand these developments are in the face of bitter opposition by the majority of the Green Party leadership. It will be interesting to see how this develops. In the spirt of such unity I have therefore agreed not to stand in West Lewisham and give the greens a free run -Romanye Phoenix is one of the most left wing and socialist Green Party members in the country. This wil also allow me to give full support to Lewisham People Before Profit in our target wards.

Developments on the left -national and local

In recent weeks a lot has been happening on the left. With only just over 5 months -before the next general election the left needs to get its act together quickly. The RMT union held a well attended conference to discuss the crisis of political representation for the working class. I would estimate well over 250 attended. However it became clear that no new left party is going to be formed by the number of left wing militant trade unions this side of the election. Both the RMT and FBU have strong trade groups of MP's and they are keen to keep these links with these MP's -like John Mcdonald. A coalition of the left is however going to be established to stand as many candidates as possible email electioncoalition@btinternet.com for more information.

Respect also held its conference in Birmingham on the 14th November and from the reports I have read it appears to have taken a rightward turn away from seeking to link with the wider forces of the left seeking to build a new broad party. Respect is increasingly becoming seen as a communalist Muslim party. Its level of support outside of a very few areas of the country is no greater than the rest of the far left. It membership appears to have collapsed to only around 500 and is heavily concentrated in only 12 functioning branches.


Locally the developments on the left are much more interesting. A broad coalition of activists and campaigners from those calling for a progressive new secondary school for the north of the borough, tenant and leaseholders activists, trade unionists, and socialists have come to together and adopted a constitition and formed a political party which will soon be registered with the Election Commission. Two council wards in Deptford will be targetted and as many candidates as possible will be standing for "People Before Profit"

Lewisham People Before Profit

I am pleased to report that after a number of meetings, socialists, trade unionists and community campaigners have come together to form a coalition to stand in next years local elections. The agreed name, to be registered with the Election Commission is "Lewisham People Before Private Profit". A web site is to be established and a set of agreed principals is to be formulated. One suggestion is to hold a 'Peoples Hustings' to allow local people the chance to put forward their issues and concerns. Watch this space!

A Lewisham Peoples Alliance ?

I attended an important meeting in Wigan on Saturday. Held at the Pemberton Central Labour Club, the meeting established a Peoples Alliance -the coming together of the local Community Action Party, local trade unionists, the local Socialist and Respect Parties and a range of community campaigns. The unifying platform is the adoption of the TUC Peoples Charter in defence of jobs and services. The aim is to build a membership of a 1000 local people, gain signature's in support of the charter and stand candidates in both the local and pending general election. Dave Nellist the former Coventry MP and currently the leader of the socialist group of councillors in Coventry. Dave reminded the meeting of the years Kier Hardie, the founder of the Labour Party spent travelling around the country speaking in support of the established of an independent Labour Party from the Liberal party. One of the unifying and driving elements of the Alliance is the need to offer an alternative to working people and in doing so stop the rise of far right and the BNP. Dave reported that the No2EU formation is likely to take steps in September to establish a broad coalition. I will be arguing that in Lewisham we establish a Lewisham People's Alliance and stand in as many seats as possible, including a candidate for Mayor.

First steps to local left and community action unity

Hot on the heels of developments in Wigan, it appears that across the country progressives, community activists and leftists are having discussions and coming together. I have read reports that across many towns & cities in Lancashire, the example being set by comrades in Wigan is being followed. Locally Cllr Chris Flood from the Socialist Party has taken the initiative and invited a wide collection of community campaigners and leftists to a meeting last Saturday that has explored the possibility of standing candidates in not only the local elections, the pending parliamentary elections but also Mayoral election. A web site is being established and a further, hopefully, a larger meeting is planned for September.