Sussex LRC

The LRC fully supports Jeremy Corbyn for Labour leader.  Jeremy has always been very closely connected with the LRC and is a strong voice for the labour movement.  Sussex LRC cannot think of any policy where we do not wholly agree with Jeremy, from his opposition to fracking and Trident, to his support for workers in struggle, unemployed people and disabled people – to name but a few groups backed by this champion of human rights.  See Sussex LRC TV for film and photos of the many different LRC events Jeremy has spoken at, most recently at Brighton Fringe 2015.  Read Jeremy Corbyn in his own words for a useful summary of what Jeremy stands for or Jeremy’s message from Stevenage to London.

Jeremy Corbyn standing with firefighters on an FBU picket at Holloway Firestation

All Labour Party members and supporters can vote in this leadership election.  Jeremy Corbyn is campaigning to transform the Labour Party so, like us, urges his supporters to join Labour and get involved.  Not quite ready to join Labour yet?  Provided you don’t support a party that opposes Labour, you can register as a supporter of the Labour Party before 12 August.  This is free for anyone who is a member of one of Labour’s affiliated organisations (the socialist societies and affiliated trade unions) but it is essential to register.  For others we think this will be the best £3 you have spent in a very long time, so encourage anyone who supports Jeremy to register before 12 August.  You can even register by simply texting SUPPORT to 78555 (cost £3).

This is our vision! Join Labour or register as a supporter before 12 August 2015 to help achieve it

If you want to get more involved, you can donate or volunteer for the Jeremy Corbyn For Labour Leader campaign.  For more information follow the campaign on twitter and Facebook.

A message of solidarity and support for sacked PCS representative Candy Udwin from Jeremy Corbyn MP, Nancy Platts and everyone at Sussex LRC’s meeting of 23 May 2015 (copyright Morten Watkins)

Described as “the finest socialist in parliament” by John McDonnell MP,  Jeremy Corbyn is an outspoken critic of austerity and war, who has consistently championed the rights of oppressed people since he first became an MP in 1983 and through his work with the Greek Solidarity Campaign, CND, Stop the War Coalition, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and many other groups.  This is who we want as Labour leader.  Let’s do everything we can to transform the Labour Party and maximise the vote for Jeremy Corbyn.

Postscript: Our badge-makers have been busy again. Get your new Corbyn For Leader badge while stocks last! Just £1 (plus P&P for postal sales) with all profits to be donated to Jeremy’s campaign. Buy a badge from one of us around and about Sussex at various labour movement events, including Hastings & Rother LRC’s meeting on Friday 10 July and at Brighton & Hove LRC on Tuesday 21 July.  Or contact us with your order by email or post.

Everyone at all Sussex LRC’s 2015 Brighton Fringe meetings joined in the call on National Gallery to reinstate sacked PCS representative Candy Udwin

Candy Udwin is the PCS representative at the National Gallery, who was suspended immediately before staff began industrial action against management’s plan to privatise 400 of the 600 staff jobs.  Candy has now been sacked by the Gallery for asking questions about the cost of this privatisation.

A message of solidarity and support for sacked PCS representative Candy Udwin from Jeremy Corbyn MP, Nancy Platts and everyone at Sussex LRC’s meeting of 23 May 2015 (copyright Morten Watkins)

The public has a right to know how taxpayers’ money is spent. This is a legitimate and crucial question for trades unions to ask of public service employers.  Please sign the PCS statement to add your voice to those calling on the National Gallery to reinstate Candy, so the Gallery and PCS can get back to talks at ACAS, and so a mutual solution can be found to this damaging dispute.

A message of solidarity and support from Michael Meacher MP, Focus E15 housing campaigners and everyone at Sussex LRC’s meeting of 30 May 2015 for PCS representative Candy Udwin (photo copyright Morten Watkins)

The National Gallery is known to millions and is responsible for public assets.  Can a private company like CIS really replace staff with years of knowledge and experience?   If, like us, you think not, please join the thousands who have signed the petition calling for no privatisation at the National Gallery.

Candy Udwin’s account of her sacking is shocking (photo copyright Morten Watkins)

Watch Candy speaking at Brighton Fringe 2015 to find out more about the National Gallery Not For Sale Campaign and how you can help, including details of the strike fund which provides essential support to striking staff.  Fight back against austerity, shout out loudly “no privatisation”, and demand “no victimisation” and the reinstatement of Candy Udwin.

Simeon Elliott protests against privatisation at the National Gallery and calls for the reinstatement of Candy Udwin

Do Public Services Have A Future? – 7pm, Tuesday 19 May

How Labour Can Make Our Votes Count 2pm, Saturday 23 May

Let’s Build the Houses – Quick! – 2pm, Saturday 30 May

Refreshments available half an hour in advance of start times at all events

Download and display our poster covering all three of our 2015 Brighton Fringe events

All the fun starts at 7pm next Tuesday, 19 May, in the South Wing conference room at Community Base, when  you can join LRC National Chair John McDonnell MP, Mark Serwotka, General Secretary of the campaigning PCS Union, and Laura Watson, spokeswoman for the English Collective of Prostitutes, to discuss how we stop Cameron’s Tories treading the same old path on pay and the public sector. 

Austerity has devastated public services and increased inequality. The Coalition used a global financial crisis caused by unregulated corporate and personal greed to ideologically attack public services, pay and pensions.  As even the OECD says the UK must redistribute wealth to boost our economy, discuss how by uniting together trade unionists, Labour members and community campaigners we can defend jobs, our public services, welfare state and communities.  Do public services have a future?  Unite to ensure that they do.

This meeting is the LRC’s fringe meeting for PCS conference 2015.

Download and display the poster for our PCS fringe on Tuesday 19 May

Next at The Brighthelm Centre at 2pm on Saturday 23 May, we discuss how Labour can make our votes count.  With no real economic recovery under austerity and Cameron only having a tiny Tory majority, there’s still much that Labour MPs can do to push, push, push the Tories in parliament, as well as to lead opposition to cuts nationwide.  Join Jeremy Corbyn MP, Nancy Platts and firefighters’ leader Matt Wrack (FBU General Secretary) to discuss the major changes Labour can bring about by opposing austerity and tax cuts and instead calling for increased public investment and wealth redistribution. 

Everyone will benefit from restoring our communities, public services, welfare state, NHS and economy. We must ensure that Labour makes our votes count.  Come along to this meeting to discover some definite ideas as to how we can do this.

Finally, back at Community Base, at 2pm on Saturday 30 May we discuss different solutions to the housing crisis with Join Michael Meacher MP and Saskia O’Hara (Focus E15).  We say let’s build the houses – quick!  Unlike Labour, Cameron’s Tories have no real plan of action for this.  Is this because high rents and house prices suit the Tories?

Housing is a basic need for all.  It must be met.  Our local housing stock is old, insufficient, often of poor quality and inaccessible to many, while strong demand means we suffer some of the highest private rents and house prices in the country.  Can we build our way out of the housing crisis, or do local land shortages mean we need different solutions?  What should we demand from our elected representatives? Is it effective to take direct action ourselves?  Cheer on the resolution of firefighters who have decided to defy callouts to evictions.  And what about proposals for a Land Value Tax?

Get your tickets now for our upcoming Brighton Fringe events, which are all priced at £5 (waged) or £3 (concessions) per event.  Contact us if you want to buy tickets with no booking fee or if you are a PCS member applying for a free ticket for the meeting on Tuesday 19 May.  Alternatively, tickets for all our Brighton Fringe events are available via the Brighton Fringe Box Office online or on 01273 917272.

We hope to see you at our LRC events during Brighton Fringe 2015.  If you’re undecided, take a look at the main speakers from our 2012, 2013 and 2014 Brighton Fringe events via Sussex LRC TV .  Here’s one recommendation:

Tony Benn at Brighton Fringe 2012; (c) Morten Watkins

6.30pm – 8.30pm, Tuesday 12 May

Mander Hall,  Hamilton House, Mabledon Place, London WC1H 9BD

With a Tory majority government now elected for a five year term, the meeting of the Left Platform  on Tuesday 12 May is critically important.  As working class people face a Tory programme of harsh cuts, privatisation, and attacks on civil liberties including trades union rights, it is vital that the Left meets to discuss what role we can play in resisting the Tories.

We must ignore feelings of despondency, to get on with the job of organising the resistance to the Tories’ plans.  CLASS has begun by suggesting five ways to deal with the Tory government.

The election of the new Labour Party leader offers trades unions the chance to publicise a shortlist of key policy demands, invite all candidates to say where they stand on each, and publish candidates’ responses.  Jon Rogers explains that this would inform union and Labour members, and improve the links between the Labour Party and the trades unions.

Ian Lavery and Andy Burnham are two names being touted as possible candidates from the Left in the Labour leadership election.  We hope to hear more from the Socialist Campaign Group of MPs at the Left Platform on Tuesday 12 May 2015.  Register now to attend the Left Platform!

There are many reasons to vote Labour in the elections on 7 May 2015.  What’s in store for us all if Labour doesn’t win is very frightening.  The Tories will be coming for everyone whether young or old, healthy or sick, working or not.  Just for starters we can expect further attacks on our welfare state, declining schools as the Tories push the failed Swedish “free” schools model, attacks on trade union rights, and the privatisation of the NHS.

The NHS is at the heart of Britain. Don’t let the Tories tear it out

We join Owen Jones in encouraging everyone to vote.  We also say, vote Labour! – and try to persuade all on the left to do the same.  Labour’s policies are not the same as the Tories, as has been recognised by bodies as diverse as The Institute for Fiscal Studies and the Socialist Campaign for a Labour Victory.   The explosion in the use of foodbanks since 2010 and the Tories’ attitude toward them is indicative of this.

The number of people using all foodbanks 2005/6 – 2013/14

Undeniably the lives of millions of working class people in Britain will be better under a Miliband-led government than under another Cameron Coalition.  For those of us fighting cuts and opposed to austerity, it will be easier to pursue these aims under Labour.  We urge those on the left thinking about voting for TUSC, the Greens or any other alternative party, and those who may decide not to vote, to first consider these reasons working class radicals should vote Labour.

LRC Chair John McDonnell begs disaffected Labour voters to come home

LRC Chair John McDonnell has made this eve of election appeal: “I never thought I would see shanties being erected or families staying in sheds and garages just to put a roof over their children’s heads. I didn’t think that people would be going hungry or would have to rely on charity to eat, but so many in my town now do. And how wrong I was when I believed the days of landlords evicting families to increase the rent or for simply complaining about the damp were over.

Do Public Services Have A Future? – 7pm, Tuesday 19 May

How Labour Can Make Our Votes Count 2pm, Saturday 23 May

Let’s Build the Houses – Quick! – 2pm, Saturday 30 May

Refreshments available half an hour in advance of start times at all events

All the fun starts in the South Wing conference room at Community Base on Tuesday 19 May, when  you can join LRC National Chair John McDonnell MP, Mark Serwotka, General Secretary of the campaigning PCS Union, and Laura Watson, spokeswoman for the English Collective of Prostitutes, to discuss how we stop the new government treading the same old path on pay and the public sector. 

Austerity has devastated public services and increased inequality. The Coalition turned a global financial crisis caused by corporate and personal greed into an ideological attack on public services, pay and pensions.  We must demand that this political con-trick be reversed by any Labour government.  Do public services have a future?  We must act to ensure that they do.

This meeting is the LRC’s fringe meeting for PCS conference 2015.

Next at The Brighthelm Centre on Saturday 23 May, we discuss how Labour can make our votes count.  Whatever the election results, with no real economic recovery under austerity, what will Labour do for us?  Join Jeremy Corbyn MP, Nancy Platts (by then, we hope, Labour’s new MP for Brighton Kemp Town & Peacehaven) and firefighters’ leader Matt Wrack (FBU General Secretary) to discuss the major changes Labour can bring about by insisting on increased public investment and wealth redistribution. 

Everyone will benefit from restoring our communities, public services, welfare state, NHS and economy. We must ensure that Labour makes our votes count.  Come along to this meeting to discover some definite ideas as to how we can do this.

Finally, back at Community Base, on Saturday 30 May we discuss different solutions to the housing crisis with Join Michael Meacher MP and Saskia O’Hara (Focus E15).  We say let’s build the houses – quick!

Housing is a basic need for all.  It must be met.  Yet our local housing stock is old, insufficient, often of poor quality and inaccessible to many, while strong demand means we suffer some of the highest private rents and house prices in the country.  Can we build our way out of the housing crisis, or do local land shortages mean we need different solutions?  What should we demand from our elected representatives? Is it effective to take direct action ourselves?  And what about proposals for a Land Value Tax?

Get your tickets now for our upcoming Brighton Fringe events, which are all priced at £5 (waged) or £3 (concessions) per event.  Contact us if you want to buy tickets with no booking fee or if you are a PCS member applying for a free ticket for the meeting on Tuesday 19 May.  Alternatively, tickets for all our Brighton Fringe events are available via the Brighton Fringe Box Office online or on 01273 917272.

We hope to see you at our LRC events during Brighton Fringe 2015.  If you’re undecided, take a look at the main speakers from our 2012, 2013 and 2014 Brighton Fringe events via Sussex LRC TV .  Here’s one recommendation:

Tony Benn at Brighton Fringe 2012; (c) Morten Watkins

Hastings & Rother LRC public meeting

2pm – 4.30pm, Saturday 14 March 2015

The White Rock Hotel, White Rock, Hastings TN34 1JU

Millions exist on the breadline due to austerity.  Over the past five years ordinary people have paid a high price in lost jobs, low wages, reduced hours and wrecked public services.  This massive attack on our living standards has all been to bailout failed bankers, provide tax cuts to millionaires and pay for wars overseas. We say: Austerity – That’s Enough!  Why not increase taxes on the rich and use the billions spent on war and weapons for our NHS, homes, jobs, public services and schools?

Discuss these and other issues with leading anti-austerity campaigner and the LRC’s National Chair John McDonnell MP, Jay Kramer, Chair of Hastings & Rye Labour Party, who retired as one of Tressell ward’s councillors in 2014, and Simeon Elliott from Labour CND.

Meet Hastings & Rother LRC at this public event at The White Rock Hotel, starting 2pm on Saturday 14 March 2015.   Hastings & Rother LRC members hold regular, friendly and informal meetings.  You will be able to obtain details of the group’s next meeting at this event.

7.30pm, Tuesday 3 March

Brighton & Hove LRC meeting

Speaker: Carol Hayton on Labour’s policy-making process

The Mesmerist, 1-3 Prince Albert Street, Brighton BN1 1HE

Carol Hayton, one of Labour’s National Policy Forum regional representative for the South East region and a member of Horsham Labour Party, will talk generally about the Labour Party’s policy-making process and why it is vital to elect more people from the left onto the National Policy Forum (NPF).

Labour Party members have until 10 June 2015 to elect conference delegates, nominate candidates for the NPF elections for the South East seats and also for the Conference Arrangements Committee (or CAC – which determines the agenda of annual conference) and National Constitutional Committee (or NCC – which rules on constitutional and disciplinary matters).  The Centre Left Grassroots Alliance candidates for the CAC are Katy Clark MP and Jon Lansman, and for the NCC is Gary Heather.

Brighton & Hove LRC holds friendly and informal meetings every other month, usually chatting around a table in a pub room.  All welcome.

Solidarity with Firefighters’ 24 hour strike

Starting 7am Wednesday 25 February 2015

Support FBU pickets at firestations across Sussex

Support FBU “No More Lies” rally

For over a year now firefighters have been striking against Coalition attacks on firefighters’ pensions and the reckless cuts to the Fire & Rescue Service – cuts happening nationwide, not just across Sussex.  Please stand together with firefighters as they take action again on Wednesday 25 February 2015.  Support picket lines outside fire stations in East and West Sussex.

Many FBU pickets across Sussex will be barely staffed as firefighters and supporters descend on central London for the FBU’s No More Lies rally and protest, after Tory Fire Minister Penny Mordaunt MP gave non-existent guarantees to secure MPs’ votes in the recent parliamentary debate on firefighters’ pensions.

FBU General Secretary Matt Wrack explains why firefighters are striking again: “Firefighters are justifiably angry with how this government is treating them.  MPs, the public and firefighters were completely misled and given a false guarantee in order to pass the legislation. This is wrong.”

Firefighter Paul Drinkwater has also caught the determination and mood of all firefighters in his brilliant beat poem.

We encourage you to support the FBU’s London rally if you can and, if not, to show solidarity with pickets at local firestations. We’re sure spirits will be high when firefighters return to picket lines tonight. The defence of firefighters’ pensions is the defence of our Fire Service. Stand together united!

Solidarity with Firefighters’ 24 hour strike

Starting 9am Tuesday 9 December 2014

Support FBU pickets at firestations across Sussex

Defend Firefighters against “No Job, No Pension”

For over a year now firefighters have been striking against Coalition attacks on firefighters’ pensions and the reckless cuts to the Fire & Rescue Service – cuts happening nationwide, not just across Sussex.  Please stand together with firefighters as they take action again on Tuesday 9 December 2014.  Support picket lines outside fire stations in East and West Sussex.

Hastings firefighters say Save Our Fire Service!

We are seeing continued huge and reckless cuts to Fire Services in both East and West Sussex and across the country.  The FBU reports that central government funding has been cut by over 20% under the Coalition, with more than 5,000 frontline firefighter jobs cut in the UK since the Coalition took power in 2010.  This jeopardises the Fire Service’s ability to deal with floods and all major incidents.  Firefighters perform over 100 rescues a day, including 4,000 people annually from fires.  That level is similar to a decade ago but cuts mean that the average response time to dwelling fires in England is now almost two minutes slower than two decades ago, while response times to road traffic collisions have also slowed substantially.  We say: Save Our Fire Service

Picket outside Eastbourne Fire Station, 4 November 2014

During 2014 Sussex has been battered by storms and flash floods, including the tail-end of hurricane Bertha.  We have seen the resulting travel chaos on road and rail, plus numerous major fires, most notably the devastating blaze on Eastbourne Pier.  Why doesn’t the Coalition recognise the work of the Fire & Rescue Service during floods, give it statutory responsibility to deal with flooding and the necessary funding?  Rather, the Coalition continues to cut Fire Service budgets and force through an increase to firefighters’ retirement age from 55 to 60, with plans to reduce a key firefighter fitness standard from 42 to 35 VO2.  Such a drop in fitness of nearly 20%  will put everyone’s lives at risk in the emergency situations when we most rely on our rescue services.  Do we want to test whether crews of 60 year old firefighters could have coped with 2014 in Sussex?

Coalition plan for firefighters

We now have Cameron’s third Fire Minister in four years,  but Tory MP Penny Morduant has carried on as before by dissembling to the FBU leadership, trying to ignore firefighters’ elected representatives and issuing misleading press releases, rather than entering into a constructive dialogue to settle this dispute.  The responsibility for next week’s strike, as with earlier strikes, lies entirely with the Coalition.  Please support the FBU’s Hands Off Our Pensions campaign.

Firefighters picket outside Crowborough Fire Station, 1 November 2014

Recently Morduant met with Brighton Tory MP Simon Kirby but discussed only roads – not the reckless cuts to East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service, which will particularly hit emergency cover in Hove, Brighton & Hastings.  Still only 1 Sussex MP is among the 260 MPs to have signed EDM454 to defend firefighters’ pensions.  Keep urging your MP to sign up until the deadline of 11 December and also ask MPs to support Labour’s call for a parliamentary debate of this Early Day Motion.  You can also ask your local councillors to pass an emergency motion in support of local firefighters in their pension dispute.

Clear message from Preston Circus firefighters, 31 October 2014

Firefighters remain united and determined.   Please show firefighters your support by standing with them on FBU picket lines at local firestations, sending solidarity messages and posting support on social media.  Firefighters are there for all of us, providing fire and rescue services in the most dangerous of conditions, whenever needed.  This is routine for firefighters, who are deeply committed to their local communities and do not take strike action lightly: “People do not become firefighters to become rich…(but) to serve the public, to put other people first, to risk their lives to save others” Simon Herbert, Chair, East Sussex FBU.

Nancy Platts joins pickets outside Hove Fire Station, 31 October 2014

On Tuesday 9 December, please make an effort to show firefighters your appreciation and support.  If you cannot attend a picket at your local firestation, please ensure that you have supported the FBU campaign Justice for our Firefighters by signing the petition calling on East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service to pay the compensation due to the families of Brighton firefighters Brian Wembridge and Geoff Wicker, who were killed at Marlie Farm in 2006.  It is nothing short of a scandal that East Sussex Fire Authority members allow ESFRS management to continue to contest this case despite damning court judgements.

Picket outside Battle Fire Station, 1 November 2014

Remember, an attack on workers’ pensions is always the first step of a government preparing to sell-off a public asset, as private companies do not want the open-ended liability of paying staff pensions.  Cutting a service to the bone is the second step – in an attempt to persuade people that the service could be better run privately.

Purna Sen supports pickets outside Preston Circus Fire Station, 31 October 2014

Please support firefighters’ picket lines during this 24 hour strike from 9am Tuesday 9 December to 9am Wednesday 10 December 2014.  The Fire Service is facing huge cuts under the Coalition.  We must stand together with firefighters now to defend our Fire Service.  This must include demanding the reinstatement of firefighter Ricky Matthews, who was sacked by Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service for participating in the last strikes.

Always a warm welcome from firefighters picketing outside Bohemia Road Fire Station, Hastings