the IMG set itself the task of community, the Labour leaders.
Our campaign was based on building united working-class action around socialist mands. This is why we set ourselves practical tasks like organising a base inside munity for an on-going antiworkers on 24 February, 3000 strong Stechford antiracist demonstration that took place two dayslater.
Right throughout the 20 days of the by-election period, the The Stechford by-election result saw a swing of 17.6 per cent from Labour to the Tories. After three years of vicious anti-working class attacks by the Government that should surprise no-one.
But another response to the Government's policies the revolutionary left vote. In rebruary Tories were thrown out of office, the Workers Revolutionary Party candidate polled 280 votes, only just over 0.6 per cent of those cast.
Last week 871 people voted for revolutionary candidates - 2.4 per cent of the total poll. 494 votes went to Brian Heron of the International marxist Group and 377 [1 percent] to Paul Foot Workers Party. From the very beginning of the IMG continued its anti-racist Stechford by-election campaign work inside both the immigrant and fighting for a programme that working class, pouring out a showed militants that there was constant stream of propaganda an alternativeto the betrayals of in both English and Urdu. The anti-racist festival held on the last Saturday of the campaign brought together OYCE de- people - black and white.
On election eve, leaflets were distributed in the immigrant area announcing that working-class immigrant com- Heron and Tariq Ali would be calling in each street that night racist movement. Starting with todoshort meetings and discuss a meeting of over 90 immigrant with the people. As the IMG the mini-bus toured Birmingham IMG prepared for groups of Asian workers came an effective intervention on the out to meet the candidate and hissupporters.
ACTIVITY This sustained activity means that for the first time in that area thereis a real chance of building a genuine anti-racist movement with mass support in the Asian community. Furthermore the absolutely overwhelming majority of the Asians are factory workers which not only strengthens the anti-racist movement inside the factories and the trade unions, but also strengthens the fight of all workers against the right-wing leaders. - In no sense did our antiracist campaign weaken our acwhite working class areas. From the very beginning IMG members and supporters canvassed the working class housing estates of Shard End and Bromford Bridge. Night after night teams of people knocked on doors putting the white Brian streets, predominantly alism.
FED UP WHO an IMG vote.
tive effect ence split even more.
Nonetheless, public policies of revolutionary sociIn the afternoons on the main shopping parades, groups of comrades canvassed shoppers and talked to pensioners about IMG. our policies. Over the last five days nearly every voter who had expressed their support for, or interest in, our policies was revisited. Of course many of these voters reluctantly voted Labour because of their hatred of the Tories and their fear of the return of a Tory Government.
Often they would say: 'We are fed up with Labour. We agree with you. However we do not want to let the Tories in.' An examination of our canvass rethe council shows that for every five people generally supported our policies, only one was prepared to give a definite commitment of The existence of two revolu tionary candidates had a negaon these because they saw little differpro grammes and they were worried that the anti-Tory vote would be despite thest difficulties we got lots of new names and addresses which the Birmingham IMG will be contacuing very soon so mal people who are prepared to be active against the social contract and racism, and want to fight cuts in expenditure can be brought into organised activity.
Although the Labour Party clearly had its back to the wall, and its supporters were very de pressed about the possibilities of the Tories winning, there was a marked lack of hostility from the Labour Party workers to the Two of their supporters at the polling booths said to me: 'We want Labour to win. But we want the IMG to get a good vote. A good vote for your socialist programme will help the left wing inside the Labour Party and show the members why we need a left-wing programme.' More than one local Labour Party activist secretly admitted they were working for Davis, but voting Heron.
Stechford was more than an election campaign. It was a living practical demonstration that revolutionaries can find a response 2H01S3 ordinary working people. It showed that providing the organisation has a number of clear projects it can gain a base amongst groups of workers for genuine socialist policies and win some of those workers to the banner of revo lutionary Marxism.
BOB PENNINGTON Street meetings in Southall and Typically people were for fed up with rising prices and falling