TOG Bigger crowds turned out for London's May Day march this year May Day this year in London was much bigger than for many years as a number of trade unions had actually mobilized for the event. Over many of the previous year's the demonstration would scarcely have been viable if not for the turnout of the Kurdish and Turkish communities in London.
This time the flags of the RMT, Amicus, TGWU and GMB mixed with those of the TUC itself as well as the Kurds and Turks.
Campaigning for workplace justice - the slogan of the lead banner rang a little hollow to the sacked Peugot and Remploy workers - not to mention those from Gate Gourmet who were hung out to dry by the trade union leaders. Amicus General Secretary used his speech to call for Blair to be replaced by Brown as soon as possible - as if this will lead to an improvement in our rights at WOrk. London, England
British residents Bisher alRawi, Jamil el-Banna and Omar Deghayes have lost their challenge for government assistance to be released trom Guantanmo Bay. The high court ruling in early May claimed it could not help the men because they are not British. They further added that they could not request their release because it "would be an interference in the relationship between sovereign states which could only be justified if a clear duty in domestic or international law had been identified". To add further FOR THE
ID GATE GOURMET
WORKERS DIGNIT T.GWU MAKE OUR DISPUTE insult to injury, the ruling pointed out that the UK government had pressed for the closure of the base. The families are currently appealing the decision. Managua Nicaragua
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez met with FLSN presidential candidate Daniel Ortega and Sandinista Mayor Dionisio Marenco and has agreed to sell oil to the Nicaraguan Association of Municipalities, a municipal government association run by the FSLN. It will be sold at the normal rate, but 40% can be paid off over a 25-year period allowing inexpensive petrol for neighborhoods under Sandinista control. Nepal
Due to mass street protests in Nepal, the king recalled parliament for the first time in four years. Maoist rebels have subsequently called a three-month ceasefire and the government has reciprocated with a ceasefire of their own. The Maoists have demanded new elections and a new constitution and according to the government ceasefire, will no longer face charges of terrorism. Italy
Silvio Berlusconi has finally resigned as Italian prime minister in the wake of the victory by Romano Prodi's "centre-left" alliance. In the lead up to presidential nominee Giorgio Napolitano being chosen, Berlusconi had conunuca ns opposinon Dy rejecting nominations of anyone with a far left background saying, "I consider
Andrew
TOG the proposal of a politician from a leftwing party simply indecent." He has further maintained that even "excommunists" should be barred from being Italy's head of state even though Napolitano's record had included "reforms" such as successfully supporting a name change for the CP and the removal of the hammer and sickle logo. Ukraine
As the 20th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster was marked across the world in late April, the World Health Organisation (WHO) continued to deny the scale of the atrocity citing only 50 original deaths with perhaps 9,000 more to follow as opposed to numerous independent studies putting the death figures ranging from 30,000 to 250,000 as a result of the disaster, which includes those who helped in clean-up and became ill as a result. Lisburn, Co Antrim, North of
May 5 marked the 25th anniversary of the death of West Belfast MP, Bobby Sands in the Maze prison while on hunger strike to attempt to gain political prisonel slalls
Sinn Fein's chief negotiator Martin McGuinness paid tribute to Sands by pointing out that Margaret Thatcher was not even inspiring to her current party members such as Tory leader David Cameron while Sands and the other hunger strikers remained an inspiration across the world. Liam Mac Uaid looks at Respect's performance in the local elections. Respect's performance in the local government elections has been impressive. These were the first elections of this type the organisation has contested on such a scale. Sixteen candidates were elected as councillors. In many wards Respect came second or third, locating it as a credible electoral choice for thousands of working class voters.
The election of twelve councillors in Tower Hamlets only tells part of the story. There is evidence indicating large-scale electoral traud which deprived some other Respect candidates of victory. There will be a legal challenge against this and we are likely to see the final tally rise. Newham mayoral candidate Abdurahman Akhtar Jafar won second place with 15,881 votes, this includes 12,898 first preferences. Not only did the party win three councillors in that borough, it came second wards.
Across the country Respect candidates have broken through the barrier that usually prevents small parties from gaining more than handfuls of votes. In Bristol Jerry Hicks won 679 votes. This represented 25% of the vote in a ward that is 86% white British. Respect candidates came second in ten wards and third in eight others nationally.
In Birmingham Salma Yaqoob polled a magnificent 4,339 votes. This was 49% of the poll. The 28 Respect candidates outside London achieved 16,019 votes, representing an average vote of _ 4%
The first past une posi system used in British elections has always made it difficult for smaller parties to win votes and these results are mucn bellel unan anylning achieved by the non-Labour left for many years, both in terms of their consistency and their geographical spread.
It has taken years of work for the Greens to have an instantly recognisable political identity and a relatively small number of councillors. hunting every vote: canvassers hit the street in Tower Hamlets Galloway's moral authority and the support of the national office will make sure that the new councilors stick to the policy commitments that were made during the election campaign.
On the other hand, Respect has now begun to accumulate a mass base of support. This has to be consolidated by building vibrant, functioning local organisations using the networks and contacts thai were made during the election campaign.
In addition to having a large membership that can be used in large, spectacular events the organisation needs to put down roots in working class areas and ofter its members the routine and structure that help create a stable, democratic organisation.
Labour's neo-liberalism led manv of its tormer voters in Barking and Dagenham to help elect eleven fascist councullors.
In many wards in Tower Hamlets Respect won over large numbers of white working class voters because it campaigned against privatisation and the housing short. age. A result of this is that in the borough the fascist vote was only 9.4% in an area that
nore deprived Loan Barking.
In many parts of the country Respect has proved that it is now capable of giving the other parties a real electora. challenge. In the months that follow its councillors can make the organisation even stronger by leading struggles both inside and outside the town halls.
It will be the politics of class struggle and a fighting Respect that will give working people an alternative to new Labour.