Udo Erasmus
Well-Known Member
In a way, a little disappointing that the radical left is putting up less candidates than previously, and left unity seems to have taken several steps back over the last eight years - but that's the way it goes . . .
Local council election candidates
- Thread starter niclas
- Start date
Dic Penderyn
Newport Civic Pride!
why do think that is? (genuine question)
militant atheist
avoidant
Karac
Mae Hen Wlad Fy Mamau
Is John Walker really standing for Llais Gwynedd?
On another point ive heard it suggested on another board that certain Independents in Gwent are really BNPers trying to cash in on the popularity of Peoples Voice
Is John Walker really standing for Llais Gwynedd?
On another point ive heard it suggested on another board that certain Independents in Gwent are really BNPers trying to cash in on the popularity of Peoples Voice
No, should have made it clear that Walker has only signed the nomination papers of a Llais Gwynedd candidate.
Mike is a good bloke, a former Labour town councillor and I wish him well. Unfortunately he's standing in an area far more likely to back the BNPer - lots of white flighters.
Jock is sound - a good community activist. FW and People's Voice are essentially the same kind of localised Labour splits. The difference is that Trish Law and Dai Davies won their seats again and Marek didn't.
This one could run and run...
lewislewis
Lumumba Cymru
Would it be accurate to say that Llais Gwynedd, with a few exceptions, mainly represent the more middle-class people and incomers into the area, as well as the nationalists that have left Plaid? Certainly, LG aren't standing in any urban areas that I can think of. Plaid might well make gains in the urban areas of Gwynedd at the expense of Labour, especially as the controversial schools programme will be benefiting urban schools. I can think of a few wards in Bangor where Plaid might make headway because of this.
Also, the BNP candidate in Maesgerichen (sp) has been withdrawn.
Udo Erasmus
Well-Known Member
Shame about your parties support for the Chinese Dictatorship:
http://welshcommunists.org/index.php?id=156 Last year, leading members of your party visited the regime as special guset the state that you describe as "People's China" and argued it provided an example for the West with its dynamic economy. Even a child can grasp that China's current economic boom has nothing to do with socialism but massive exploitation of workers and peasants with a corresponding increase in inequality.
Dic Penderyn
Newport Civic Pride!
Or be ignored...
militant atheist
avoidant
err...that's what it's called Udo. http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/History+of+the+People's+Republic+of+China
lewislewis
Lumumba Cymru
These elections have been quite boring.
I expect Plaid will hold Gwynedd, Labour will hold the Valleys (but lose seats here and there to Plaid), apart from Caerphilly which just might see Plaid creep back in. The Tories might win the Vale of Glam but don't know. Lib Dems will still be largest party in Swansea and Cardiff, don't know enough about Wrexham or Bridgend. Plaid might get in on Ceredigion, don't know about the arithmetic though.
Is anyone else on this forum a candidate btw?
I expect Plaid will hold Gwynedd, Labour will hold the Valleys (but lose seats here and there to Plaid), apart from Caerphilly which just might see Plaid creep back in. The Tories might win the Vale of Glam but don't know. Lib Dems will still be largest party in Swansea and Cardiff, don't know enough about Wrexham or Bridgend. Plaid might get in on Ceredigion, don't know about the arithmetic though.
Is anyone else on this forum a candidate btw?
Yep and from the response on the doorstep in this solid Labour ward, I'd say Labour is in for a pasting. Not so much for the local stuff but for the 10p tax rate and Brown in general.
Although people have always said "never again" with Labour time after time (and still they vote for a donkey with a red rosette), slowly but surely that vote is crumbling.
Too many local/individual factors to make any detailed predictions but I'd say the above guesstimate was pretty close to it. Given the expected losses in Gwynedd, if Plaid is +20 on the night it's a good result.
I have heard that it's getting frantic in Riverside - Labour and Plaid with about 300 posters each in people's gardens (it is a big ward).
lewislewis
Lumumba Cymru
I drove through Riverside the other day, the amount of posters is insane for an election in this day and age. I wouldn't be surprised if turnout is pretty high! Currently the ward is split with Plaid holding 2 seats and Labour holding 1. Labour's sitting councillor is standing down and their charge is being led by Rhodri Morgan's former special advisor Mark Drakeford. Let's hope we can take all three seats. I've found a good thing that has stuck in people's minds on the doorstep is when our AM's didn't take the 8.3% pay rise (apart from a certain Lord).
Udo Erasmus
Well-Known Member
err...that's what it's called Udo. http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/History+of+the+People's+Republic+of+China
MA, your website headlines in the course of an election a demo by supporters of a dictatorship that oppresses its own working class, the leaders of your party visited China as special guests of the Chinese Communist Party, and on his return your Gen. Sec wrote a crazy article extolling China as an example to the West of how socialism can create a dynamic economy. China's boom is built on massive exploitation, attacks on workers rights, and growing inequality and nothing to do with socialism.
No socialist could stomach referring to Korea or China as "Peoples" China or "Peoples" Korea. Or the kind of orwellian doublethink where your London candidates issue press releses condemning pogroms carried out by Tibetan demonstrators.
Chinese troops are not only involved in repression within the country and in places such as Tibet, but also part of the imperialist occupation of Haiti where they repress poor people there. China is also currently engaged in a new scramble for Africa to loot the country to fuel it's expanding economy and supports repressive regimes, China also for similar reasons linked to oil backs the Sudanese regime and Burmese regime. But at the same time opposes the Maoists in Nepal who have swept to power in a landslide with Comrade Prachanda, former leader of the Peoples Liberation Army now the Prime Minister to be.
I mean Hungary 1956, Prague 1968, Tianemen Square 1989, when will the Tankies ever learn?
Udo Erasmus
Well-Known Member
Haven't seen very many posters up in this election. Niclas is correct the most striking development is the implosion of the traditional rock-solid Labour vote, though I think trad Labour voters are switching mainly to LibDems. The other thing that strikes me is how apolitical the leaflets of the mainstream parties are, all talk about very minor issues, planning and stuff, but don't want to talk about the wider issues and bigger picture.
For example, the labour candidates were photographed outside a former video shop that's been turned into a Student Pub (shock! Horror! Young people enjoying themselves!), while the LibDems leaflet boasted that they took a couple of takeaways to court for opening late.
lewislewis
Lumumba Cymru
Part of this is because in the last ten to twenty years local government has been heavily depoliticised by central government. Perhaps Blair learning from the days when radical councils could challenge the centre of power.
Still, councillors do control pretty large budgets and it's probably quite important who is in power.
Karac
Mae Hen Wlad Fy Mamau
Thats sadly my experience-my mum and dad were rock solid Labour supporters-now ive heard my dad say he wont vote Labour again-not due to Iraq or any major issue but because they put too much tax on beer in the last budget
They would never vote Tory in a hundred years-ive tried to introduce them to the delights of Plaid Cymru but they dont want to know
So theyre probably going to vote Libdem if they vote at all
Our biggest issue here in Wrecsam is affordable housing and that's what our leaflet focusses on - building new council houses and ensuring that all housing developments are for local need rather than the luxury "executive homes" that have sprung up in the past 5 years for Cheshire commuters. Average house prices are £186,000 - nine times the average wage for the area.
What Left Party/Respect candidates have been doing in the last week.
http://www.respectcoalition.org/?ite=1922
http://www.respectcoalition.org/?ite=1922
It was indeed a highlight of the day, but that's a slightly odd summation of what he said, I think.
I was more struck by his description of very militant direct action (taken to prevent further such attrocities) by a small group of anti war protestors who got inside a Raytheon factory and completely trashed the offices, smashing computers and throwing them out of windows before starting an occupation.
The kind of action which has in the past been roundly condemed and strongly discouraged by SWP/Respect members on this side of the Irish Sea.
Can we expect more support for this kind of action in the future?
lewislewis
Lumumba Cymru
Thats sadly my experience-my mum and dad were rock solid Labour supporters-now ive heard my dad say he wont vote Labour again-not due to Iraq or any major issue but because they put too much tax on beer in the last budget
They would never vote Tory in a hundred years-ive tried to introduce them to the delights of Plaid Cymru but they dont want to know
So theyre probably going to vote Libdem if they vote at all
That's odd, my parents switched straight to Plaid and they were previously Labour.
Port Talbot will probably go to NOC.The Labour party are pretty desperate as this story in the local paper shows;
http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=161818&command=displayConNeath tent&sourceNode=161644&contentPK=20506483&folderPk=88499&pNodeId=161375
That is just a summary of whats been going on over the last few weeks.The Labour party were already pretty unpopular over some of thier planning decisions.Linda Ware is standing for Plaid in Cilfrew,she was one of the members of Safe Haven Network, a group who fought against the gas pipeline and the AGI that is being built in her village.She joined Plaid because they were the only party that offered any "real" support.
Here in Swansea,some people think the Lib Dems appear to have a pact with the Independents not to stand against one another.My partner is standing in Lower Lougher and the response on the door is pretty positive towards Plaid.Wether that will transfer to votes we will see tomorrow.
http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=161818&command=displayConNeath tent&sourceNode=161644&contentPK=20506483&folderPk=88499&pNodeId=161375
That is just a summary of whats been going on over the last few weeks.The Labour party were already pretty unpopular over some of thier planning decisions.Linda Ware is standing for Plaid in Cilfrew,she was one of the members of Safe Haven Network, a group who fought against the gas pipeline and the AGI that is being built in her village.She joined Plaid because they were the only party that offered any "real" support.
Here in Swansea,some people think the Lib Dems appear to have a pact with the Independents not to stand against one another.My partner is standing in Lower Lougher and the response on the door is pretty positive towards Plaid.Wether that will transfer to votes we will see tomorrow.
You thinking of some other organisation?
I've no problem with the sort of direct action you describe. I admire the people who do it. But this sort of direct action excludes those of us who are not willing to get arrested or to put themselves in harm's way.Like me.I've a yellow streak a mile wide.
I like to see mass movements where as many people as possible are involved.
Mass action and industrial action are far more effective.
The Raytheon direct action was great and it raised awareness of what's going on but Raytheon are still in business.
On the other hand South African trade unionists have stopped arms reaching Mugabe's regime from South Africa.
Udo Erasmus
Well-Known Member
With due respect, the passage quoted wasn't a report of the demo and campaign, but just a quick summary of what people have been up to. Nor was it a summary of Davy's speech, the reason why that particular image was highlighted was because it gives a glimpse of the reality behidn Raytheon coming to Wales - children getting their limbs blown off.
yeah, Davy and many of the Raytheon 9 are members of the Irish SWP.
Dic Penderyn
Newport Civic Pride!
But it's not an either/or is it?
If there is any sort of binary choice then it's militant direct action versus the police sanctioned bearing of witness.
I take real issue with the idea that "this sort of direct action excludes those of us who are not willing to get arrested or to put themselves in harm's way"
It shows a real lack of ignorance about how these sort of actions are made effective - as well as the people putting themselves in harms way you need legal observers, a media team, people willing to do legal support and more.
If you ideologically agree with the concept of direct action there is plenty of ways to get involved to help make it more effective even if your yellow streak is 5 miles wide.
Oh good we agree.You use the most effective action available.
It's not either or.But that's not the impression I've had from most anarchists.
We will just have to agree to disagree about the respective records of our different political traditions on this.
Glad you agree working class mass action is the most effective method of struggle.
