Re: Ogmore By Election result

Date: 19th Feb '02

Name: Zak Dingle

I don't doubt that Scargill's reputation helped the SLP in this seat to some peripheral degree, and also that the candidate was a former NUM member himself, but it in no way fully explains the result, as much as such an "explanation" might appease some of the SLP's detractors.

As past results for the SLP have shown, standing a paper candidate, even in NUM heartlands, will not go anywhere just on the basis of Scargill's name.

What got the SLP a decent result here was that the candidate is a working-class activist who campaigned on issues that affect local people. Talking to local people, getting known to local people, all common sense stuff of course, but compared to the WSA's typical liberal-leftie "We know what's good for you" approach, it all goes to show what a difference genuine local campaign work can make.

6.5% is really the least that the Left *should* be getting in working-class areas in the current climate. But sadly this result is the exception, not the rule ... at least for the moment.

There are many good working-class activists in the SLP who have come to the much the same conclusions that IWCA activists have, and this particular result has shown that they are starting to see some tangible results to their none-too-glamourous or high-proflie (to the rest of the "left") work in their communities.

Time will tell if it can be sustained.

Back to discussion page                    RA home page