From Alec Thraves (election agent) -

"Firstly, thanks to all our members, supporters & voters for their help in the campaign. As expected, our TUSC result in Swansea West followed a national pattern of being squeezed by the main parties. Labour hung onto the seat with a tiny majority of just 504 votes over the Lib Dems. The Green and a centre left 'Independent's candidates also picked up a few hundred votes each. The BNP, using its national media profile, secured 910 votes and more disturbingly, retained their deposit in neighbouring Swansea East, highlighting the vital need for a new mass workers party to act as an alternative to their racist and divisive agenda.

Rob Williams' 179 votes (0.5%) obviously didn't reflect the excellent election campaign over the past month which has boosted the profile of TUSC and the Socialist Party. Several potential members have been picked up during the campaign with thousands of leaflets hand delivered by our large and enthusiastic campaign team. Our objective was to put a marker down for the future, highlight our socialist alternative and expose the similarities of the main parties, all of which were achieved.

A hung parliament is a confirmation that at the moment there is no mass alternative for working class political representation in Britain and TUSC must become the embryo to develop such an alternative in the immediate future. This will be particularly posed when whatever government takes over tries to drive through the biggest cuts package in British history. The jitters on the stock market reflects the nervousness of the capitalist class who will want the working-class in Britain to pay the same price as workers in Greece by what will inevitably be a weak government. The Socialist Party & TUSC will be on our class's side in the inevitable struggles to come. Join us in that battle."

This week....

Thursday May 13th - Swansea Socialist Party Meeting - "Britain after the election - where now for workers & youth?" - 7.30pm in Dyfatty Community Centre, Top of High St, Swansea

Swansea Trade Union Council anti-cut demo (with photos)

Up to 200 trade unionists, young people and community campaigners marched in Swansea today against the Lib Dem councils cuts. I spoke at the march pledging support for public sector workers from those in the private sector. It was also an opportunity to send a message to all the main parties that we'll fight their attempts to make us pay for the bankers' crisis. It was apt that this was on the day that thousands of Greek workers were marching against the massive cuts there.

Attending were Unison, GMB, Unite, PCS, NUJ, UCU, CWU, NUT amongst others

At the end of the demo in Castle Square there was a motley crew of about a dozen far-right English / Welsh Defence League members. Despite the far-rights' attempts to appeal to workers recently, their attempts today to disrupt a workers' anti-cuts march shows their true colours. This shows why we have to fight all attempts to divide workers in the face of the massive cuts to come.

Visteon pensioners protest outside the Welsh assembly

Photo from yesterday's Visteon pensioners protest outside the Welsh Assembly in support of Bethan Jenkins AM's sponsored debate on the issue. It comes days after Unite committed to take Ford on legally to get justice for pensioners in Swansea, Belfast, Basildon & Swansea.

Photos from Mike Gard

TUSC CANDIDATE CALLS FOR DEMO SUPPORT

Rob Williams, Swansea West 'Trade Unionist & Socialist Coalition' candidate has urged trade unionists and community campaigners to join the Swansea Trades Council march and rally to protest against public sector cuts this Saturday. Rob said: -

'The three Party leaders in tonight's television debate all agree that whoever gets elected there will be massive cuts in public sector jobs and services. I would urge public sector workers, private sector workers, service users and community campaigners to join us on the May Day march so we can send out a message to these 'out of touch' politicians that if they come for our public services after the election they will have a fight on their hands'!

If they want to now what to expect if they attack our public services then watch the TV reports coming from Greece where millions have taken to the streets to protest against the savage cuts. That's what will happen here if these politicians try and make ordinary people pay the price for the bankers' crisis. If they bring Greece to Britain then we will respond with the same determination as the Greek workers'.

ENDS

South West Wales May Day March & Rally

(Organised by Swansea Trades Council)

Saturday, May 1st,

Assemble 11/00am, Guildhall Green. Swansea

March down Oxford St. for 12/00pm rally at Castle Square.

Speakers from UNISON, PCS, UNITE, UCU and other unions, campaign groups & anti racists.

Swansea Uni hustings

Started 3 days of trade union negotiations yesterday with Linamar over my members terms and conditions and ultimately the future of the plant so I was unable to attend the election hustings at Swansea University.

Fortunately, Ross Saunders, our TUSC candidate for Cardiff Central was able to stand in for me as a replacement and as expected did an excellent job.

All the other candidates dutifully repeated their opposition and disapproval of tuition fees, education cuts and supported the need to retain front line services in the public sector.

It makes you think which parties actually got rid of the student grant which the majority of the candidates benefited from when they were at university.

It makes you think who brought in tuition fees in the first place, which parties are cutting education funding and which parties are going to massacre our public services and jobs.

In a pre-election period all the main parties will say anything to be 'popular' and to get elected. As Ross pointed out 'its like selecting a candidate because of their hairstyle' as they will not tell you their real programme and agenda if their party becomes part of the next government.

It's all appearance, distortion and downright lies!

Ross received an enthusiastic reception because we put the blame for the economic crisis at the doors of the billionaire bankers and the capitalist system they and their political servants defend.

We want a socialist alternative where education is free from nursery to university. Where the priorities for higher education are the development of the students not the profits in the bank balance of the universities.

Where graduates are debt free after leaving university and have a fulfilling job that is a reflection of their efforts and not end up on the scrap heap with the rest of the 1 million under 24's in the UK today.

For young people that objective is not just worth voting for its also worth fighting for! Join us before and after this election in building a new socialist alternative to the old, corrupt, main parties of capitalism. Join the Socialist Party now!

Reminder!! - Swansea TUSC election rally

7.30pm, Tuesday May 4th

Railway Club, Wind St