Trade Unionists and Socialists Against Cuts candidates standing in every ward in Bristol

Trade Unionists and Socialists Against Cuts candidates and supporters at the Bristol May Day rally

 

The Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) will be standing candidates in all 24 seats in Bristol being contested in the local elections on May 22^nd. The candidates will appear on the ballot paper under the description 'Trade Unionists and Socialists Against Cuts'. People across the city will now have the option of voting for a real alternative to the main parties - anti-cuts campaigners who will put defending local jobs and services ahead of chasing their own political careers.

 

 

TUSC candidates:

Avonmouth - Patrick Hulme

Bedminster - Robin Clapp

Bishopston - Martin Saddington

Bishopsworth - Joe Etherington

Brislington East - Matt Gordon

Brislington West - Ibado Ali Mahamoud

Filwood - Marion Jackson

Hartcliffe - Rob Nash

Henbury - David Rawlings

Hengrove - Mark Baker

Henleaze - Chris Farrell

Horfield - Martyn Ahmet

Kingsweston - Caroline Vincent

Knowle - Domenico Hill

Lockleaze - Roger Thomas

Redland - Laura Collins

Southmead - John Yeandle

Southville - Matt Carey

St George West - Tom Boyd

Stockwood - Phil Bishop

Stoke Bishop - Michael Wright

Westbury-on-Trym - Mike Luff

Whitchurch Park - Frankie Langeland

Windmill Hill - Tom Baldwin

 

Previous TUSC mayoral candidate, Tom Baldwin, currently standing for Windmill Hill, is a TUSC spokesperson. Tom said:

“We’re standing to give a voice back to ordinary people and protect the jobs and services that we need. 

“£83m of cuts will be made by Bristol City Council. These will be devastating for the city with the loss of 1000 jobs and vicious cuts to vital services like libraries and care. Yet all the parties on the council – Labour, Tory, LibDem and Green – are involved in George Ferguson’s cuts cabinet while UKIP say they want even more cuts!

“Nobody else is standing up for people like us and offering any opposition to the onslaught from the Tory government. We’ve been hit hard by a recession we didn’t cause and we’re still being hit hard now. If there’s a recovery then where’s ours?

“There’s plenty of money in this country but we can’t wait on the charity of the rich and their representatives in power. We need a voice of our own, not indistinguishable politicians falling over each other to do the Tories’ dirty work and pass on the cuts.

“Trade Unionists and Socialists Against Cuts councillors would oppose all cuts. We would move an amended budget based on Bristol’s needs, not carrying out the Tory agenda of robbing from the poor and giving to the rich. We’d build a campaign that can take them on and win back the money they’ve stolen from the city.

“I’ve met a lot of people campaigning bravely and tirelessly to defend the services they rely upon but this finds no reflection in the council chamber. Our members are out there campaigning with them all year round, not just in elections but we think working-class people also need a political voice on their side.”

 

TUSC policies include:

·         Opposing all cuts to council jobs, services, pay and conditions.

·         Refusing to pass on budget cuts. Instead we will move a budget based on the needs of the people of Bristol, not the demands of the Tories. We will mobilise a campaign to try and win back the money the government have stolen from the city.

·         Refusing to evict tenants who can’t pay rent due to the bedroom tax and other benefit cuts.

·         Building council houses and capping rents to meet housing needs.

·         Opposing any privatisation measures affecting council services.

·         Campaigning for the Living Wage for all staff employed by directly by the council or working on council contracts.

·         Using all powers available to councillors to oppose cuts and privatisation of local NHS services.

·         Candidates standing on a worker’s wage, taking no payments or expenses beyond what is necessary to do the job.

 

See www.tusc.org.uk for more information.