Rebel councillor wins regional support

MEMBERS of TUSC – the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition – from across the North West will be drafted in to help Warrington councillor Kevin Bennett’s election campaign this spring.
This was agreed a North West Socialist Party conference at Warrington at the weekend – the first time the conference has ever been held in the town.
Cllr Bennett, the Labour rebel who became a TUSC councillor after quitting Labour  last year, addressed the conference at the King’s Head in Winwick Street.
He introduced a discussion on the forthcoming local elections and the TUSC challenge in the region this year.
Cllr Bennett said: “Delegates from across the region attended the conference to assess the pre-election situation and make plans for the local elections on May 5.
“With only just over two months until this year’s elections, it is important to build and strengthen local groups, welcoming all individuals and groups and standing candidates in May when 2,000 councillors face election.”
Regional secretary Hugh Caffrey said: “Re-electing Kevin Bennett this year will be the priority task for TUSC in the North West.”
The conference agreed that regular regional mobilisations to help Cllr Bennett will be organised and that all Socialist Party/TUSC supporters in the region are urged to attend.
Socialist Party national industrial organiser Rob Williams travelled from London to address the conference.
Enthusiasm for Cllr Bennett’s campaign was reflected bya collection which raised more than the cost of the conference and gave a significant boost to Warrington TUSDC>