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uk

We need an alternative...

FIGHT AUSTERITY & RACISM

SUPPORT TUSC CANDIDATES
M

illions of people want

to see the back of this rotten
Tory government but Labours
failure to provide any alternative to
austerity and racism means that it still
remains too close to call in the polls.
Commentators are once again flagging
up the prospect of a hung parliament.
Last weeks leaders debate was in some
ways a breath of fresh air and also further
exposed why it is that Milliband isnt
making more ground on Cameron. It was
refreshing because the SNP, Green and Plaid
leaders gave a feel of the possibilities of life
beyond the Westminster consensus.
There was at least a sense of some kind of
challenge to the cuts agenda and immigrant
bashing. The smaller parties were at least
prepared to take on Nigel Farage and his
racist lies.
Thursday mornings ruck over Trident
further highlights the problem. Ed Milliband
should have said that regardless of whether
or not Labour are in favour of building
alliances with the SNP they are in favour of
scrapping the weapons renewal programme.
But he didnt because Labour support
Trident renewal!

NHS

At a time of austerity the prospect of an

estimated 100 billion nuclear submarine
programme is an insult to everyone who will
suffer the impact of cuts to public services.
That is a huge amount of money that
could be invested in the NHS for example.
But Milliband is much more comfortable
scapegoating immigrants than taking on
austerity.
He is tailing Farage and the Tories on
their filthy immigration lies and did so
again at the leaders debate saying that its
immigrants that are to blame for low wages.
So much is this a part of Labours
manifesto that we now know that theres
even a Labour Party merchandise antiimmigrant mug.
The danger in all of this is that Farage
benefits. His horrendous lies over the
numbers of people with HIV, allegedly
coming over here to exploit our health
service, shows the depths that UKIP are
prepared to plumb.
Every effort must be made to prevent
their growth. Organisations like Stand Up

Last weeks leaders debate

to UKIP (standuptoukip.org) are taking up

that fight.
Britain is crying out for a break from the
austerity politics of divide and rule.
The election of Syriza in Greece and the
meteoric rise of Podemos in Spain show the
desire for such alternatives across Europe.

Ninewells

The SNPs growth in Scotland following

the referendum is another taster of this
mood. But while many are backing the SNP
because they want an alternativein reality
their resistance to austerity is mixed.
In Dundee, for example, where the SNP
hold local power they are pushing through
cuts.
And the current strike for fair pay by
hospital porters at Ninewells and the Royal
Victoria hospitals in the area have had little
support from them.
The truth is that we need more strikes
bold enough to fight to winjust like the
Glasgow council workers who work for the
citys homeless services. They are also on
all-out strike for fair pay.

We need a national movement against

austerity and we need to push our union
leaders to organise coordinated strikes to
fight back no matter whose in power.
The Trade Unionist and Socialist
Coalition is standing candidates who will
back all workers taking a stand against
the cuts. TUSC is giving a clear challenge
to austerity and to racism. Back their
candidates where you can!
www.tusc.org.uk

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