The combined efforts of the Wigan area based Community Action Party, the South Lancs Branch of the Respect Party, local Socialist Party supporters and other progressive forces to forge a borough-wide fighting alliance around the "People's Charter" in the Wigan area received a welcome boost today with the confirmation that Respect Party MP George Galloway has given his support to the project and will be speaking at the launch of the new Wigan, Leigh & Makerfield 'People's Alliance' at the Central Labour Club in Pemberton on Saturday 22nd August. The meeting is scheduled to start at 1.00pm and finish at 4.00pm.
Coventry Socialist Party Councillor and former Labour MP Dave Nellist, Community Action Party and former Wigan Council Opposition Leader Peter Franzen, and local Respect Party Branch organiser Stephen Hall will be the principal speakers at the launch rally. Peter Cranie of the Green Party who topped the Green Party slate in the NW in the recent Euro elections has sent a message of support to be read out at the meeting and Alan Johnson of Bolton Green Party will be speaking on behalf of the Green Party at the launch rally. Independent Socialist Councillor Michael Lavalette from Preston and a local representative of the Socialist Workers' Party are also expected to take part in the event.
The proposed new "People's Alliance" aims to unite all progressive organisations, political parties, trades union branches, community groups and individuals living in the Wigan Metropolitan Borough into a single popular movement which will stand up and fight for the interests of the ordinary people between now and the forthcoming local and General elections.
The proposed new alliance is also wanting to extend that fight to a direct electoral challenge to Labour, the Tories, Lib-Dems, UKIP and the BNP at the ballot box at those elections. It intends to do so by fielding "People's" candidates in all of the borough's 25 wards and all three local Parliamentary constituencies on the basis of the People's Charter and a local charter of demands which takes up issues such as school closures, council cuts and job losses and the erosion of ordinary people's ability to have a say over how their towns and communities are being run.
As well as aiming to signing up over 5000 people to the People's Charter in the Borough before now and the elections, the proposed new Alliance has set itself a target of recruiting 1000 Wigan Borough residents into its ranks over the same period and is launching a £15,000 "Fighting Fund" to fight both the local and General elections.
Speaking on behalf of the organisers of the launch meeting South Lancs Respect Party organiser Stephen Hall said: "An alliance of a thousand people prepared to stand up and fight across the Borough is an ambitious aim. But were we to create such an alliance then we will have created a formidable political force in the Borough, indeed one likely bigger than Labour and the Tories combined on the ground, and one which will inevitably win seats on the Council.
"If we can create such an alliance, and we are all committed to doing so, then we will also be much better placed to deal with the problems ordinary people will be facing in twelve months time whoever is returned to power at the elections.
"We are delighted that George Galloway is coming to Wigan to support what we are doing and will be working hard to ensure we get a good turnout for the launch of our new "People's Alliance" across the Borough!
For further information concerning what we are proposing see our new Facebook group at: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=109196790597&ref=ts (Please don't join this group if you don't live in the Borough, unless that is you want to give us some cash or want to practically help us in someway.)
3 comments
Nick Long · 15 August 2009
This is a very important and interesting development. Hopefully this can be a model for others to follow.
Fleabite · 18 August 2009
This sounds a very positive development and deserves much support and solidarity from the whole of the Left
Nick Long · 23 August 2009
I attended this event -a bit thin on the ground 40-50 in terms of people attending but Wigan were playing Manchester a very local Derby and lots of people would of been on their hols. George Galloway was unable to attend but Dave Nellist spoke well-reminding people that Keir Hardie spend almost x3 decades attending meetings around the country calling for the establishment of the Labour party. Some debate on the No2EU intevention helping the BNP but in reality it was the complete collapse of the Labour vote. Groups in Lewisham are also seeking to following the Wigan example