Len Arthur

Nominated by Andrew Burgin and Kate Hudson (Haringey LU)

We are facing class war and in the words of one US financier you and I, the working class are losing. We live in a planet where humanity is in imminent danger from global warming. We are paying for the financial crisis which we had no hand in creating: as Lenin said somewhere ‘capitalism will survive so long as the working class can be persuaded to pay the cost’.

It should be the job of a socialist party to speak out and reveal these dangerous trends. More than that, the party should be prepared to support and help organise a fightback offering an alternative in every way possible – through direct action and elections.

I’m committed to helping build Left Unity into the socialist party we need in Wales and the UK despite the losses to the LP http://leftunity.org/in-defence-of-the-left-unity-project/

In Wales I’ve worked closely with comrades to help bring Left Unity Wales into being, providing a democratic and accountable way for all members to take an active part and for us to work in complete public openness. Hopefully comrades feel this has continued as NC rep over the last year. We have already been involved in important campaigns such as No NATO, arguing for welfare not warfare and are now supporting the People’s Assembly Wales petition, calling on AMs to vote against cuts and defy the Tory government; and engaging politically with the post Corbyn LP: http://chwithunedigcymru.blogspot.co.nz/2015/10/wales-labour-ignores-corbyns-politics.html

Ann Bennett

Nominated by Andrew Burgin and Kate Hudson (Haringey LU)

I subscribe whole heartedly to the Left Unity Manifesto. I am a committed socialist ,have been for 40 years . I believe we must have a socialist society and will work, as I have done for decades , to achieve that

Anna Bluston

Nominated by Brighton and Hove Left Unity

I have been an active member of Left Unity for over two and a half years. I am currently job-sharing the role of Branch Secretary of Brighton and Hove Left Unity, and have been elected to this position for a second term. I have previously been South-East regional rep on Left Unity National Council for two terms, and have attended and participated in almost every meeting.

I have been a dedicated activist for social justice for many years in a variety of groups and campaigns, though Left Unity is the only political party I have ever joined. I am an active member of Global Justice Now, attending Brighton Global Justice meetings, and also People’s Assembly Against Austerity: as well as attending national People’s Assembly meetings and demonstrations, I am a member of Worthing People’s Assembly and attend regular meetings and actions.

I believe that Left Unity continues to be needed as an independent party with a distinctive voice to stand for the majority of people who are suffering under Capitalism, and that we need to work together in the struggle for Socialism, equality and justice for all.  Left Unity needs as broad a representation as possible from all different people who may have different perspectives but will unite together to change society and make it work for all. We need to appeal to people who have been turned off participation in politics by the neo-liberal dogma of all mainstream political parties that works in the interests of the rich at the expense of the masses, and create a genuine democratic alternative that is in the interests of all. I would like to do all I can to contribute to our shared vision of socialism and equality.

Siobhán Dancey

Nominated by Andrew Burgin and Kate Hudson (Haringey LU)

In being nominated to be on the NC for Left Unity I am very appreciative. The dramatic changes across the political landscape of Britain this past year; the election of a Tory government, the dominance of the SNP in Scotland and the emergence of the Corbyn shift within the labour party, has created a more polarized political atmosphere in which there seems to be greater political awareness and activism amongst the general population. I feel that Left Unity has a role to play in this landscape, today and in the future.  Support for the Corbyn movement is obvious but I feel there is necessity for more than one party to the ‘left’, to shift the balance of politics and offer people a choice of political options on the left should people they feel they are not truly Labour. Options of a party which offers the newness and freshness of Left Unity and which gives people the opportunity to be active and work to support campaigns for developing an equal society, with equal representation and acknowledgment of rights for all people no matter what their demographic. I feel also as a nominee speaking from Scotland that there is need in Scotland in particular for a party to the left which is not campaigning mainly for the independence of Scotland. The options in Scotland currently for people who are not extremely nationalist but have more internationalist socialist views is lacking and I hope that Left Unity may be able to offer an option to people currently in this niche.  I hope then to be an active member within the Left Unity to contribute my time and energy to supporting the development of the party across the UK.

Felicity Dowling

Nominated by  Kate Hudson (Haringey LU), Lesley Mahmood (Liverpool LU), Stephen Hall (Wigan LU)

I am standing for this election because 2016 presents challenges and opportunities for Left Unity and our communities. We need a party, with full democracy, to recruit people new to struggle.

As principal speaker, I have worked on the Housing campaign, stood in the general election, written and spoken on women’s rights and children’s rights, including the opposition to Child Sexual Exploitation, developed links with European Left, including on migrant safety. I spoke at different branches. I will campaign for safe spaces and safeguarding, I am a teacher and an active campaigner in Merseyside and Cheshire

The Conservatives operate with impunity, although, daily, more people challenge them. Resistance is growing to;

• Funding cuts, marketisation and privatisation of the NHS.
• The housing crisis.
• Benefit caps that will make more people homeless.
• Low pay, hunger, and sanctions, making fear a reality.
• Vicious cuts, many focused on children
• The Government attacks on people with disabilities, (though they fight back the hardest!).
• Vicious Local Authority cuts.
• Libraries facing closure.
• Cuts and marketisation of education.
• The deepening oppression of women by cuts, poverty and gender based violence
• Trade union rights being taken.
• War in Syria, Iraq, Palestine, Libya, Yemen, Ukraine, in whole areas of Africa.
• The economy in crisis.
• Renewal of Trident

We organise against this government and the right wing leadership of much of Europe. The Euro referendum highlights solidarity with struggles across Crisis Europe. We need solidarity with struggles that challenge the rule of the very rich across the world. We are truly internationalist. We support refugees and migrant and oppose racism.

Corbyn’s struggle in Labour gives socialism a wider audience, which we welcome Our ideas, though, are more radical than Labour, being both anti-capitalist and for the ending of capitalism, opposing patriarchy and violence against women.

A better world is possible.

Jon Duveen

Nominated by Terry Conway (Camden and Islington LU)

Left Unity faces a difficult time with the election of Jeremy Corbyn to the leadership of the Labour party. A difficult time but a time of opportunity for the left. As yet the Labour Party is still, at many local levels and  in the majority of the Parliamentary Party, an austerity party. Where we can we need to be working with the Labour Party and others to develop the campaigns we have prioritised but we should also be prepared to criticise the LP where they are not consistent in their opposition to cuts and austerity. We have to be the non-sectarian party not afraid of debate but working to develop a broad and  fighting opposition to austerity.

Rhea Ewan

Nominated by Leeds LU

Richard Farnos

Nominated Jospeh Healy (Southwark LU)

We should be proud of what we have built, a party not dominated by either sect or ego.  Left Unity is capable of avoiding errors the left made in the last century. We reject vanguardism, and recognise that ends do not justify means, on the contrary means determine ends.

The need for a party left of Labour has never been more necessary.  Far from undermining Corbyn’s leadership, we  can support it by challenging the Labour right and exposing their collaboration with neo-liberalism.

I would love to devote myself to the party full time, but like most members I simply can’t afford to,  I am a wage-slave.  That is why I am standing as one of the 15 national NC members  I  have practical organisation and facilitating skills.   I would hope to use these to help the party develop.

I see our priorities as:

• Widen the involvement in the administration of the party
• Consolidate members in areas currently without branches into branches
• Create a dynamic website that is integrated with social media to become a point of focus of the wider Left.
• Campaign more in our own name
• Stand against New Labour quislings.

I was involved in the peace movement in the 80’s ,  I was one of the ground troops at Wapping in 85, Join Labour, then the Militant, left the Militant and join the Socialist Labour Party – from which i was expelled.  I have been involved in the LGBT movement  from my mid twenties including being National Secretary of the CPSA lesbian and gay rights group .  I have been one of Left Unity’s LGBT Caucus Co-conveners for the last couple of years.

Steve Freeman

Nominated by   Russell Caplan  (Haringey LU),Matthew  Hurry (Southwark LU), David Veitch (Southwark LU)

Comrades, at the last conference Left Unity decided to continue rather than dissolve into Labour. But we did not decide what new direction to take. I am standing for National Council as a republican socialist to encourage an urgently needed national debate. At present we are drifting along.

Left Unity was conceived as a new party standing in the “Spirit of 45”. Subsequently the Scottish referendum (2014), the general election and the rise of Corbyn has overturned the original idea of the kind of party we could become.

Austerity policies have added to widespread distrust of Westminster. The UK’s parliamentary system is in crisis. Both major parties are divided. The future of Scotland and the UK’s relationship with the EU is unresolved. Osborne’s “Devolution revolution” is raising fundamental democratic questions.

Left Unity needs to become the party of democratic revolution. We should take our inspiration from the democratic and republican tradition of the Levellers, Diggers, Tom Paine, the Chartists and Suffragettes who fought for democracy by extra-parliamentary means in contrast to the betrayals of the parliamentary Labour Party.

I am seeking your vote and your support for changing Left Unity into a party committed to leading the fight for democracy at work, in local communities, in our unions and for a democratic system of government in which we, the people, can govern ourselves in a social republic. It will take time for LU to change from Labourism to fighting for democracy at every level.

We must make a start now. 1) We urgently need a special national conference. 2) We need a discussion on how we relate to present struggles for democracy. 3) We need to reconsider our position on the EU now we have seen Cameron’s Dirty Little Deal. 4) We must realign with Rise in Scotland.

Graham Gifford

Nominated by Wigan branch

Over the last year, I’ve served on the Disputes Committee, and handled a range of cases that have given me a good insight into some of the issues within the party, plus a decent grasp of the constitution.

I stood as an LU candidate in the 2015 local elections, and have been active in street campaigns, such as anti-fracking, support the doctors, end disability discrimination, and various anti-fascist activities.

Through the People’s Assembly, I also have helped to promote green initiatives, awareness of homeless issues, and food poverty.

I’d like to serve on the NC because I’m keen to promote Left Unity as an effective campaigning party that it is. Although many comrades are now working with Momentum, I think it’s important that we also continue to function as a strong, separate and unique party in our own right, and continue to campaign on the issues that are central to our values.

Steve Hall

Nominated by  Wigan Branch, Felicity Dowling, Phil Pope, Alison Treacher, Matthew Caygill, Martin Ralph, Eve Turner, John Pearson, Bianca Todd, John Catterall, Kate Hudson, Oliver New, Andrew  Burgin, Garth Frankland

I want LU to grow as an independent party, and be able to have a much greater influence on the development of unfolding events.

Key for me, is not so much our orientation towards ‘Momentum’, or the Labour Party, but how we generally operate and work in the entire working class movement, and our local communities.

We need to build ourselves via consistent work in the unions and our localities as champions of the people, and as facilitators of better working class self-organisation at all levels. Also, as supporters of pluralism and inclusivity, as the greatest advocates of a class against class united front approach to beat back the Tories’ and bosses attacks, and of building up a movement capable of bringing forward the date of the next General election.

What should we be focusing on, like in Wigan?

• building more generalised support for, and mass movement behind the Junior Doctors, and defence of NHS.
• Labour Councils to join with unions and communities, to develop a strategy to fight cuts rather than meekly implement them, also to resist fake, undemocratic devolution.
• building the opposition to fracking, to commit Labour to the creation of one million climate jobs, and a million more in construction, building social and other housing, to tackle both the climate and housing crises.
• building People’s Assemblies or similar on a local level, as expressions of a united front of the working class, and mass of the people opposed to the Tory Government.
• making sure in the EU referendum debate that we remain highly critical of the EU as a neo-liberal anti-working class institution, and focus ourselves on the context in which the vote is taking place, which at this moment is driven more by immigrant bashing than by any progressive brexit argument.

Louise Harrison

Nominated by Andrew Burgin and Kate Hudson (Haringey LU)

I am currently working for Doncaster women’s aid, however, due to funding cuts as of March 31, I will be the 101st domestic abuse specialist since 2010 across the country to lose my job.

I have recently helped to set up the ‘women’s lives matter campaign- save domestic violence services ‘, in Doncaster which is fighting to save this and other vital services that protect women and children.

Since 2008, I have been campaigning in this town around austerity which I believe is state violence against women.

I have organised many meetings in Doncaster in order to save libraries, to celebrate 30 th anniversary of the miners strike and to support other campaigners fighting for justice, like Janet Alder.

Today, we took our campaign into the council budget meeting.

We held our banners high and chanted “dead women can’t vote – save Doncaster women’s aid.”

We also took our ‘women’s lives matter’ banners on the great anti trident demo last Saturday.

I helped to organise an anti trident meeting in our town in February as I believe that scrapping trident is one of the key arguments to saving important services like women’s aid.

I hope very much we see a Jeremy Corbyn victory at the next election, but I don’t believe we have to wait til then to save jobs, save services or save lives.

In terms of saving domestic violence services that have seen 54% national cuts since 2010, this is a necessity as cuts will always cost lives.

Our campaign has asked our labour council to ring fence funding for women’s aid and fight along with our three labour MPs to force the government to fund these services.

Because ‘Dead women can’t vote.’

Nick Jones

Nominated Leeds LU and Matthew Caygill

I am a founder member of Left Unity in Leeds, was a local election for candidate for Left Unity-TUSC last year and have helped maintain branch activity and ensure that we are involved in supporting local strikes, campaigns against cuts, racism, for the NHS.

I am an active Trade Unionist and have been a school representative and local officer for the National Union of Teachers for over fifteen years. I have served as Health and safety officer and currently represent LGBT+ members at Regional level.

I am a founding member of Keep Our NHS Public Leeds, local treasurer, and have been instrumental in organising numerous marches, street protests and involved in supporting local strikes across the region to defend the NHS.

The election of Jeremy Corbyn has been a welcome break in the recent past history of Labour’s pro war and pro cuts agenda. I am keen that we support his campaign and the work of those in Momentum.

Although the Labour party has attracted some new enthusiastic supporters it is still important that we have a party based upon socialist principles that oppose cuts in services, defend trades unions, oppose wars and campaigns vigorously for the welfare state: free health, education and housing for all. Sadly many Labour Councils are still implementing cuts. It is important that we work alongside those in Labour but also with those outside labour party too and challenge cuts.

I would like to share my experience with Left Unity nationally and help focus Left Unity focus on key campaigns, ensuring that we are rooted locally with a view to standing in future elections where necessary:

• Defend the NHS- no cuts, privatisation
• Defend the Welfare State- against attacks on benefits, housing and social care
• No war- oppose Trident
• Free Education
• Equalities for all

 Stuart King 

Nominated by Brian Green  (Norwich LU) and Andrew Burgin (Haringey LU)

Left Unity has to re-orient itself to the Jeremy Corbyn leadership of the LP and to the emergence of Momentum. This means working alongside the Labour left, fighting the cuts, including Labour councils carrying them out, joining and building trade union and independent actions wherever we can. We need to present our distinct positions on migration, no cuts budgets, supporting strike action in these struggles and to LP/Momentum members to strengthen a socialist movement in and outside the LP

I have been a member of the revolutionary left since the late 1960s. Joined Left Unity as a founding member. Active in South London Left Unity and Lambeth Momentum. Trade Unions: member of the lecturers union NATFHE then UCU for 25 years, branch secretary and various other positions for 20 of those years. GPMU and NUJ for 10 years. Now a member of Lambeth and Southwark Unite Community Branch.
 

Fred Leplat

Nominated by Terry Conway (Camden and Islington LU)

I am standing for the NC in order to help continue the project of Left Unity. The welcome election of Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader puts LU in a new situation. We must support the Corbyn leadership, as it is like Left Unity, opposed to austerity and war. But Labour has yet to be transformed into a democratic and campaigning organisation.

For the time being, I believe that we can best help the Corbyn leadership by remaining independent, supporting Momentum and working closely with like-minded Labour members in defence of the NHS, council housing, and public services.

We should also be working with other parties in Europe to the left of pro-austerity socialist and social-democratic parties that have embraced neo-liberalism. The period ahead threatens to be dangerous: the Tories are re-doubling their assault on what remains of the welfare state, and the referendum campaign will unleash the more right-elements in politics.

The need to organise and campaign against racism and xenophobia, and for social and economic justice must be at the top of the agenda of Left Unity.

I will work for Left Unity to participate in these struggles and put forward its view of an alternative system that meets the needs of people and the planet, not that of private profit.

Pete Mclaren

Nominated by Marion Wakelin (Rugby LU), Phil Pope (Bristol LU) Liz Peck  (Rugby LU)

MY ROLE IN LU

• I am an independent socialist who has been committed to LU since its birth, founding the branch in Rugby
• I have been a member of the LU NC throughout, attending almost every meeting
• I regularly report on line from NC meetings and, if elected, will continue to do so.

FIGHTING FOR UNITY ON THE LEFT

• My political work since expulsion from the Labour Party in 1992 has been to try and build unity across the left as part of the process of building a new mass, open, democratic socialist party. LU can play a vital role in that.
• I moved the successful resolution at last March’s Conference committing LU to open discussions with other left parties to avoid electoral clashes and form pacts
• As an officer of the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition, I was subsequently in an ideal position to help broker the deal enabling LU branches to stand as LU-TUSC, and the majority of LU General Election candidates stood under that joint ticket.

LU AND LABOUR

• The election of Jeremy Corbyn is very significant, but it hasn’t yet changed the nature of the Labour Party which remains undemocratic and which will, yet again, be cutting local services – which we must oppose
• We must oppose that whilst building unity with the Labour Left, including Momentum, where we can.

• It is vital that we demonstrate there is an alternative to austerity – Labour Councils will implement massive cuts without a fight, despite Jeremy’s victory.  The working class needs a voice.

The jury is out on how Labour will develop.  We need a new socialist party which opposes austerity, privatisation, war and all forms of discrimination and bigotry.  Let’s help build that, with, or without, support from Labour.

Darren McCourt

Nominated by Andrew Burgin and Kate Hudson (Haringey LU)

I am a member of Birmingham Left unity and a founding member of our party. I have previously served as one of the reps for West Midlands for a year and have attended this year as many NC meetings as an observer as I have been able.

I came into Left Unity with no previous political experience. I have learnt a lot over this time and am now much more confident speaking on different issues. I was till recently a member of Unite Community but have just found new employment on minimum wage and relying on tax credits so I understand the real struggle the working class are facing. I joined Left Unity as I felt and still feel there is no other party representing people like me. Far from believing that now is the time to abandon our project now is the time to step up and build it. If Jeremy Corbyn can lead Labour in a new direction then I will happily support him in that, I don’t feel however that this is in anyway a done deal.

I am active within our branch and now feel I can step forward and offer more to help build our party further. These are important times for us and our children’s futures and we need to step up to the struggle and not hope that it will all be ok in 2020.

I would like to help us become stronger both in Birmingham and nationally for a better future.

Julie Morrow

Nominated by Andrew Burgin and Kate Hudson (Haringey LU)

I am standing for election because I hope to contribute to the development of Left Unity. I have thirty six years of experience in public service, the last twenty four of these as a head teacher in Preston, Lancashire. I qualified as a teacher in 1980, and have worked in both special and early education. I am a strong advocate of early preventative services and am horrified by the destruction of so many of these as Local Authorities impose unprecedented cuts, starved of funding by the Tory government.

I am a member of the National Union of Teachers and am active in my local branch.

I am a founder member of Preston People’s Assembly and active in opposing austerity by highlighting the obscene amounts of money spent on war and weapons of mass destruction when the most vulnerable are being condemned to existing in poverty.

I am an active opponent of racism and fascism and support local and national groups in promoting the plight of refugees and welcoming them into my community.

My political beliefs and affiliation are driven by my experience of working in areas of disadvantage. I offer my passion and leadership skills to this role and if elected I will work within the N.C. to shape and nurture our party.

Susan Pashkoff

Nominated by Stephen Hall (Wigan), Garth Frankland (Leeds), Bianca Todd (Northampton) and Felicity Dowling (Liverpool)

I have worked in Left Unity helping to set up the Waltham Forest Branch and still serve on its branch committee. I am on the LU Economic Policy Commission and helped the Social Security Commission, and I helped build the LU women’s caucus and LU Disabled Members Caucus as a member of both groups.  I am a committed Socialist Feminist and ecosocialist.

I have helped to build LU at many different levels from doing registration and access officer at our conferences to writing articles for the website. I participate in demonstrations, help organise events, and have spoken at different branches on economic and women’s issues and how they are interwoven. I have attended the LU EC and NC meetings as a representative of the LU women’s caucus.

All levels of participation are of equal importance to me and I believe that building the organisation requires participation at all levels to the best of our ability and this is why I am running for the LU National Council as I can contribute more to the organisation.

I remain committed to Left Unity. I recognise that Jeremy Corbyn’s election as Labour Party leader has opened new arenas for struggle and believe that we should work in Momentum (if possible) and work alongside the left of the Labour Party on campaigns that strengthen the working class.

I bring knowledge and experience as a life-long political organiser working around women’s issues, anti-imperialism and anti-austerity issues (e.g., eviction resistance).  Although I am no longer working as an academic economist, my knowledge of the discipline is useful and I can contribute to economic analysis and the struggles against women’s oppression for Left Unity.

I am a member of Socialist Resistance and support the struggle for a non-sectarian broad left party.

Doug Thorpe

Nominated by  Stephanie Grant   Andrew Burgin and Kate Hudson (Haringey LU)

I am the Haringey LU Branch organiser and have been involved in building LU locally since the beginning.

I am currently a London Region Representative on the outgoing National Council and have been the London Region representative on the Executive Committee. I am an active member of the London Regional Committee.

I have an interest in Housing and am actively involved in Housing campaigns (Defend Council Housing, Radical Housing Network, Kill the Housing Bill Campaign) at a branch, regional and national level.

I believe I can continue to make a useful contribution to Left Unity as a member of the National Council

Alison Treacher

Nominated by  Andrew Burgin and Kate Hudson (Haringey LU)

I have been in Left Unity since the founding conference and have been elected chair of Left Unity Stockport for the past two years. Our branches’ membership has been consistent and we have gained activists recently due to our commitment to local grassroots campaigns including saving our local wellbeing centre and being instrumental in founding Stockport United Against Austerity.

I am active in the People’s Assembly and have worked hard with other local activists to form Levenshulme People’s Assembly after mobilising in our community for the Conservative Party Conference. I am also a trade unionist and am involved with Unite’s Regional Activists.

I do not see electoral work as Left Unity’s main priority in the coming months however I do not oppose established branches standing in elections as a tool to convey our socialist message. I would, however, oppose standing in any marginal as I think it is critical for Labour to do well in both local and by elections to further Corbyn’s chances of success in the 2020 election.  The welfare state has been decimated by the Tories but if Corbyn is unsuccessful in 2020 it may not longer exist and the working class will return to days reliant on charity. I think to jeopardise a Labour victory for 150 votes is pointless.

Left Unity should take this time to consolidate and work on conveying a clear message to the left of Corbyn. We should confidently advocate for open borders and use the EU referendum as a platform to defend refugees and migrants and counteract the hateful, xenophobic message which will no doubt be central to the ‘out’ campaign.

David Trussler

Nominated by Judith Gibbons and Kate Hudson

I have been a member of Left Unity since the founding conference and have been branch organiser in Coventry for the last two years. I have been an NC member for the past year, as a representative for the West Midlands region, and a member of the EC. I have been politically active on the left for more than 30 years during which time I have been part of various organisations and campaigns, primarily the Labour Party, Workers Power and Socialist Alliance.

I am standing this year as a directly elected representative, in which capacity I am keen to play a part in steering Left Unity through a challenging time ahead. The election of Jeremy Corbyn as leader of the Labour Party was one of the most significant events of the previous 12 months in UK politics. It also took a particular toll on our organisation, and the reverberations from that will continue to be a significant factor within the British left for the next period. How that is approached will be key to Left Unity thriving as an independent party of the left, and I want to play a full role in helping the organisation do that in the best way for its own health and that of the wider left and labour movement.

I firmly believe that Left Unity has the most effective political positions on a full range of issues amongst the UK left. I would use my membership of the NC as a means to continue to help develop these excellent positions that characterise our party on issues such as the EU, climate change, anti-war and international issues. Flowing from that I would be committed to helping to ensure that our activities as a party reflect those positions and perspectives.

Annie Tunnicliffe

Nominated by Andrew Burgin and Kate Hudson (Haringey LU)

Grew up in a politically aware household, father both left wing and an active conservationist, so red and green in my blood. My political history is activism-based, early CND, anti Vietnam war and anti apartheid demonstrations and campaigning, then in the 80s setting up CND groups at local level then at Greenham Common and Upper Heyford bases. 2 years on the National Council of CND organising non-violent direct actions at bases etc. and (with others) setting up the non-violent action network. Still doing it, involved in the Faslane blockade and other disarmament activities as well as NHS, housing and other vital issues of our times.

Paid work has included teaching, community work, addictions work, teamworking, organisational consultancy, counselling and mediation, and training people in conflict resolution.

An early adopter of LU, I went through the baptism of fire that was the first Disputes Committee and still want to be in LU! Did not leave when Jeremy Corbyn got elected although am a staunch supporter, because my inner cynic says LU will be needed when the Labour Party finally manage to dump him.  I do not believe we should stand candidates until this happens (or in the miraculous situation where Labour could get elected).

Eve Turner

Nominated by Andrew Burgin , Kate Hudson (Haringey LU), Chris Hurley, Laura Stringhetti (West London LU)

I am standing for the election to the National Council as I want to do everything I can to help to build a socialist alternative to Labour. Left Unity has some excellent policies and principles but we need to move forward and build a base of support in community campaigns, trade unions and among those fighting back against austerity.

This means we have to be open, democratic and inclusive.  Thriving local Branches are the key to this and we need to strengthen and support Branches and retain LU as a bottom up grass roots organisation. We also need to share experiences and learn from the excellent work being done by our comrades on the ground.

I am not a member of any other parties or tendencies, but have been in other left groups in the past and was Chair of my local Constituency Labour Party.

I am a Welfare Rights Trainer and have been a trade union activist in local government, health and the voluntary sector. I was a shop steward and convenor for over 20 years. I am currently Secretary of Ealing Trades Council which we have established as a militant community campaigning organisation and I am Secretary of Ealing Save Our NHS campaign.

Over the years I have been actively involved in numerous campaigns including anti deportation, defending abortion rights, anti cut campaigns, miner’s strike support committees and the anti poll tax campaign –  and plan to keep on going!

I live in Southall. I am Membership Secretary of West London Left Unity and represent my branch on the London Regional Committee.

I would be delighted to be re-elected onto the National Council.

Bob Williams-Findlay

Nominated by: Terry Conway (Camden and Islington LU) and Susan Pashkoff (Waltham Forest LU)

What I can bring to the table is forty years of experience as a political activist, trade unionist and theorist. I joined the struggle for socialism in the 1970s when I was a student at Essex. For over three decades I have been involved in campaigns across the board, but in particular, around racism and disability.

An active member of Birmingham Trades Council for many years, I played leading roles in the local the Anti Nazi League, anti-deportation campaigns and disabled people’s self-organisation. My background includes being Chair and Vice Chairperson of the British Council of Disabled People; representing BCODP at an International level as delegate leader to the first European Parliament of Disabled People. Through
BCODP and activity in MSF I co-established the Trade Union Disability Alliance and actively influenced TUC policy on disability related issues. I co-authored ‘The Empire Strikes Back: Race and Racism in 1970s Britain’, while studying at the Centre for Contemporary Cultural Studies.

In more recent times I was a co-founder of Disabled People Against Cuts and the LU Disabled Members Caucus. I am on the steering group of the Social Work Action Network and a regular contributor to political discussion and education through social media blogging. Locally, I am involved with the Black Country People’s Assembly and Birmingham Left Unity branch.

My last post before retiring was that of Equality Training Officer at the University of Wolverhampton. A UNISON member with thirty six years engagement inside West Midlands’ politics, a background in campaigning and developing anti-oppressive strategies, I believe my knowledge and experience would be an asset to Left Unity. My activism includes holding a variety of leadership roles at local, regional and national levels and therefore I understand the significance of being a representative in a political movement.