Phil Clarke, Brighton KempTown, Socialist Party

Link / contact details for potential supporters

www.brightonsocialistparty.co.uk  is the best place to go to keep up with us locally, or
www.socialistparty.org.uk  nationally.

i.
What do you think is the most important issue in this election?

Offering an alternative to the neo-liberal polices that all the three main parties are putting across.
While they are argue about small differences they are united in their belief in privatisation, and the introduction of market forces in all spheres, all of which benefit big business over the needs of working people.

ii.
Why did you make the decision to stand in this constituency and for this party?

My local party branch selected me.

iii.
What kind of vote are you expecting on May 5th?

Very difficult to say and I wouldn’t really like to make a prediction. From canvassing and campaign work I can see the obvious anger against New Labour and careerist politicians generally, so we hope to make an impression.

iv.

Aside from the vote what are you hoping to get out of this campaign?

The main aim of our campaign is to raise socialist ideas and reach people who will help fight for the interests of working people. Standing against Labour and exposing their pro-business agenda is important is a new mass party based in and around the trade unions is to emerge.

v.
In your view what is the greatest threat to our civil liberties at the moment?

The ’War on terror’, Project for a new American century, ID Cards, Anti-asylum seeker propaganda, unfortunately the list goes on.

vi.
Blair has taken us to war three times since coming to power (not including the occasional ad hoc bombing raid) in the Balkans, Afghanistan and Iraq. Can war ever be justified?

In those cases war certainly was not justified and imperialism of the sort we saw in Iraq must be opposed and the warmongers brought to account. War cannot be justified when waged by imperialist capitalist governments, and is very difficult to justify under any circumstance.

vii.
There is very little left to privatise in this country, if you had your way what would be brought into public hands?

To start with the privatised utilities water, electric, air traffic control railways etc would be the obvious choices. The Socialist Party stand for the
taking in to public ownership the major 150 companies that control the economy, the banks being the main targets for this. This would decisively break the control of capitalism over our lives. On a more recent issue Rover should be immediately be brought under public control.

viii.
Some environmental campaigners have started talking about nuclear power as a way to bring down CO2 emissions - what do you think of this?

This is not a way forward to provide a solution to the environmental problems brought about by the capitalist system. Real investment in publicly controlled energy companies could put the environment before profit and really begin to tackle climate change.

ix.
Asylum and immigration will be central issues in this election. What action on this issue would you like to see the next government push through?

Scrap the current unfair asylum laws and end this sucking up to the right wing presses ungrounded calls against people fleeing persecution. A foreign policy that rather than starting wars helped people organize in less developed countries so they can end the reasons that force them to leave in the first place. 

x.
What question do you wish was on this list but doesn't appear?

How can we build a new mass party made up of and representing normal people and putting need before profit.
 

2005