Candidate(s):

Kate Hudson – Nominated by Barnet, Cardiff, Crouch End,  Southwark, West London, Liverpool

Statement(s):

Kate Hudson
Nominated by Barnet, Cardiff, Crouch End, Liverpool,  Southwark, West London

The people of Britain need a political alternative. Elsewhere in Europe, left parties already exist and we need such a party here in Britain. Since the economic crisis in 2008 and the onslaught of austerity policies in Europe, I have been working closely with these parties on the left, such as Syriza, Die Linke, Bloco and others, through anti-austerity solidarity work. These parties have been an inspiration to me as they have steadily built popular support for an anti-capitalist alternative, defining themselves as socialist, environmentalist and feminist.

Following the first European-wide anti-austerity day of solidarity strikes and actions on November 14^th, 2012, I began to work with others who wanted to help end the anomaly: that we were one of the few countries in Europe without such a broad party of the left; particularly when Labour has betrayed its roots and principles so comprehensively.

So after a year of practical work and political discussion Left Unity has been founded and I want to help take it forward. I have thirty five years of political and campaigning experience, with a background in the communist movement. For the last twenty years I have been committed to a regroupment of the left, to overcoming previous divisions and building on our common principles and values, with no interests separate from those of the working class. And to learning from other parties and movements in Europe, Latin America and elsewhere, to build a broad inclusive party, to effectively challenge capitalism.

I have worked in the university sector for twenty years, teaching, researching and writing, until taking up the post of General Secretary of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament in 2010, following seven years as its Chair. I am also a national officer of the Stop the War Coalition and serve on the committees of the Venezuela Solidarity Campaign and the Greece Solidarity Campaign.

I have been acting National Secretary since January 2014 and would like to ask for support to continue in that role.