GEARING UP FOR A GENERAL ELECTION

Parliamentary column GEARING UP FOR A GENERAL ELECTION The General Election is a matter of weeks away and every poll puts the Tories ahead of Labour. Members of the RMT Parliamentary Group have stood up for socialist politics, for sustained investment in public services and consistently argued that it is an absolute disgrace that working class people are being made to pay for a financial crisis that was not of their making. It is essential in the next Parliament that we have a maximum socialist representation and the Labour MPs in the RMT Parliamentary Group are proven, dedicated and hard working socialists with every chance of getting re-elected. But we have the Tories breathing down our necks. This is the same nasty party of Thatcher, now bankrolled by Ashcroft's millions. As my friend Jeremy Corbyn MP said, "The Tories do not need or want the support of the most needy and desperate in society". I am proud to be a friend of this union and honoured that your Council of Executives has determined to do everything it can to support members of the RMT Parliamentary Group at the forthcoming General Election. This is my unashamed call to all RMT members and socialists to get behind us - we need your support now more than ever. You don't have to be a Labour Party member, we are mobilising trade unionists to come and campaign for us. See the table below for information on how you can get involved. Over the last Parliament, the Labour MPs of the RMT Parliamentary Group have been tireless campaigners on issues which make a real difference to RMT members, such as fighting job cuts, against staff assaults, for employment rights for seafarers, for a publicly-owned railway and Tube and for repeal of the anti-trade union laws. Most recently, we have been forcefully opposing Network Rail's proposed cuts to maintenance staff. The political work in Parliament supports the Union's industrial strategy and we have been busy tabling Early Day Motions, hosting meetings, initiating and intervening in debates, tabling amendments to legislation, leading and participating in delegations to Government ministers and asking questions in the House of Commons. We desperately want to continue to do this work on behalf of RMT members and that is why we must win the election. In stark contrast to the language of cuts, as well as supporting RMT policies, members the RMT Parliamentary Group has championed progressive causes, affecting the livelihoods of every working class person: The People's Charter, a massive programme of council house building, keeping the Post Office public, stopping welfare reform and tackling head-on the racism of the BNP. We all know too, that taxes on the wealthy are too low, that Trident should be abandoned, ID cards cancelled and troops withdrawn from Afghanistan. We stand on the positive platform of increasing the state pension, ending tuition fees for students and real measures to tackle poverty and inequality. Please support us now as we prepare for the General Election, contact the Election Agents below as soon as you can. We need as many RMT volunteers as possible and stand with us together, as socialists. Bob Crow writes: The RMT Parliamentary Group of MPs, led by John McDonnell, have never shirked from rolling up their sleeves and campaigning as hard as they can for RMT members. They are loyal friends of this union and as socialists, we want to everything we can to get them re- elected. RMT activists should contact the Election Agents below without delay to find out how they can get involved. Volunteering is not just about Election Day itself, these MPs need us working for them now, in the weeks leading up to the Election. Labour Party Prospective Parliamentary Candidates Karl Turner and Nancy Platts have also agreed to join the RMT Parliamentary Group if elected and have been endorsed by the RMT Council of Executives. Don't worry if you haven't helped on a canvas before, there will be plenty of help and support available and you'll be amongst friends and colleagues of the trade union movement. RMT helpline 0800 3763706 :: march 2010 :: RMTnews 9 John McDonnell MP calls for support for RMT-backed Labour candidates at the General Election on May 6 Name Constituency Election Agent Contact Details Abbott, Diane Hackney North & Stoke N Clark, Katy North Ayrshire and Arran Gordon Mckay 01505 684127; gandjamckay@aol.com Corbyn, Jeremy Islington North Mark Ferguson 07772 364925/0207 272 3889 Davidson, Ian Glasgow South West Tommy Morrison 07825 521269; thomas.m.morrison@btinternet.com Dismore, Andrew Hendon Anna Coffey 0208 202 2145; annac@hendonlabourparty.com Drew, David Stroud Jonathan Ellenor 01453 840080; jd.ellenor@hotmail.co.uk Flynn, Paul Newport West Fern Coster 01633 262348; newportwest@hotmail.co.uk Hoey, Kate Vauxhall Kevin Craig kevin.craig@plmr.co.uk <mailto:kevin.craig@plmr.co.uk> Hopkins, Kelvin Luton North Francis Steer 01582 730764 McDonnell, John Hayes and Harlington John Holmes 020 8569 0160; jholmes1946@btinternet.com McGovern, Jim Dundee West Jenny Marra jennymarra@hotmail.com; 01382 322100 Platts, Nancy Brighton Pavillion David Arnold 07790 453458 davidcsarnold1@yahoo.com Prosser, Gwyn Dover & Deal Martyn Errington 01304 201199; martyn@doverdeal-clp.new.labour.org.uk Riordan, Linda Halifax Martin Burton 07979 715524; martinburton143@btinternet.com Singh, Marsha Bradford West Paul Meszlaros 01274 402220; 3rd Floor, 76 Kirkgate, BD1 1SZ Smith, Geraldine Morecambe & Lunesdale Phil Farrell 01772 321879(h)/01524 411368(w); pfarrell@blueyonder.co.uk Turner, Karl Kingston Upon Hull East TBC Election contact details for members of the RMT Parliamentary Group and Labour PPCs endorsed by the Council of Executives