The following candidates have all endorsed the Spotlight Socialist Manifesto. We’re proud to endorse every candidate on this list. Please lend them your support if you are able…
PLEASE NOTE: This list will be extended as we endorse more candidates over the coming days.
PETE McLAREN
(Standing in Rye & Eastern Rother division of the East Sussex County Council elections)
ALSO ENDORSED BY: TUSC
OTHER LINKS: (None)
CROWD FUND PAGE: https://gofund.me/7150fa367
CONTACT: Pete McLaren on 07881 520626, or pete.mclaren15@gmail.com Any physical help with door knocking or leafletting especially welcome!
I have been part of the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) since its inception 15 years ago, and I have represented independent socialists on its national Steering Committee continuously since 2014. I have regularly stood in elections, and was one of TUSC’s 135 Parliamentary candidates in the 2015 General Election. We have a number of reasons for standing in Rye & Eastern Rother…. 1) The Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition thinks it about time local Councils should stand up to central government and say “Enough is enough” regarding the decimation of local public services. Decades of austerity and privatisation have disproportionately hit the poor and ordinary working people, 2) TUSC councillors will refuse to implement austerity, using reserves and special borrowing powers to offset cuts whilst joining with other local Councils to demand the government adequately funds local services, 3) TUSC also wants to provide a socialist alternative to the divisive, racist policies of Reform UK and the far right. I feel particularly strongly about this. Immigrants enrich society. Our problems are caused by the greed of £billionaires, not the arrival of those desperate for a better life, free from war and persecution, 4) Everyone needs to know the facts around immigration. Asylum is a human right under international law, however you have travelled here, and however many safe countries you have travelled through. No asylum seeker is illegal. Over a period of time, migrants, including former asylum seekers, contribute more economically then they take out. We are the 6th wealthiest nation in the world. Resources should move to where asylum seekers and economic migrants live, 5) TUSC is also campaigning to improve public transport, including more (reliable) buses. In education, we would work to end academies and the privatisation of schools whilst improving special needs provision. We would demand the government nationalises the energy companies, using their profits to benefit customers and reduce bills. We want increased action to combat climate change and massive increases in social and affordable housing, lower rents, and an end to homelessness.
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JAY SINGH
(Standing in St Paul’s Ward for Sandwell Council elections)
ALSO ENDORSED BY: TUSC, Green New Deal Rising and Zarah Sultana MP
OTHER LINKS: https://www.instagram.com/jay4stpauls?igsh=MXJoczRpNXNmcTd4ag==
CROWD FUND PAGE: https://chuffed.org/project/174724-jays-independent-socialist-campaign-for-st-pauls
CONTACT: https://chat.whatsapp.com/EmYVRBlsjhc4B1UhqUmoef or call me on 07459 308301. Thankful for any support or contributions. All money raised from this will be used for the sole purpose of funding leaflets and other campaign expenses.
I’m a lifelong resident of Smethwick who has lived in St Paul’s for over a decade. I want to put forward a message of optimism and hope for the future, to counter the divisive racist politics of Reform UK, and provide an alternative to the abject failure of Labour to meaningfully improve people’s lives. Labour has run Sandwell Council for over 50 years and is also currently in national government. Having been a Labour member for over 5 years until 2025, I could not be more disillusioned with what my former party has become. From refusing to tax the exorbitant wealth of the super rich, to attacks on migrants, pensioners, the disabled and LGBTQ+ people, and of course supporting the horrific genocide Israel is conducting in Gaza. Starmer’s party is not the Labour Party we once knew. This is why I’m standing as Socialist, progressive candidate for St Paul’s, my home ward. I am also a member of the community Union Acorn, as well as a signatory of the Vote Palestine pledge on behalf of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign.
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ARAN BAILEY
(Standing in Garrison, Preston Council elections)
ALSO ENDORSED BY: Jeremy Corbyn MP
OTHER LINKS:
CROWD FUND PAGE: Preston Independent campaign account for funding…
CONTACT: 07796 896856. Any campaign support would be appreciated.
I am Aran Bailey and I am running in Garrison as part of the Preston independents, who are a group of socialist independent councillors in Preston. I am a signatory of the Candidate pledge for Palestine and the Green new deal rising. I care deeply about our community and want to see it thrive. I’m standing as a Preston independent because, like many others, I’ve grown disillusioned with the major parties. Whether it’s Reforms false promises or non-existent Labour councillors, Garrison deserves better. I want to truly represent those hit hardest by austerity. My values are rooted in fairness, equality, and community. I will always listen, speak up, and ask the right questions on behalf of the local people of Garrison.
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JAE ROBINSON
(Standing in Acocks Green, Yardley elections)
ALSO ENDORSED BY: TUSC
OTHER LINKS: (None)
CROWD FUND PAGE: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/acocks-green—may-7th-time-for-change
CONTACT: Jae Robinson on 07763 829601 or email me at jae2702@hotmail.com. Any help would be extremely welcome!
I support the emerging Spotlight manifesto and have contributed when and where I have been able to, I will no doubt add some more if I feel suitably qualified and my comments would add something to consider. I particularly like how it is inviting input from those reading it. I am a disabled woman and have had quite a dramatic and fraught life as a mum and grandma. I have experienced homelessness (a learning curve in DV), defended Bham Council Housing, was chair of Direct Payments forum in Adult Sevices and a lifelong campaigner in equality, justice and rights. I am a pain in the ass for BCC as I ask the questions Cotton refuses to answer even being ejected from full council for telling him he was a disgrace for taking a pay raise and cutting workers pay at the same time putting up council tax. All 3 parties voted on this and passed a cuts budget again! Enough was enough and I decided to actually stand for election in Acocks Green as an Independent TUSC candidate. I will answer to nobody save the people of Acocks Green not Keir not even Nigel Farage. I will focus only on Acocks Green and Birmingham issues as I want to provide a genuine voice for my community. The arrogance of Cotton finally pushed me over the edge. I firmly believe that BCC councillors should lead by example and if cutting wages by 26% then allowances must be cut by the same amount and this should apply to senior management also (who are raking it in). I would advocate a full inquiry into how the debt occured and mismanagement of residents money, including Commonwealth Games, computer systems (didn’t work out with adult social care years ago so why stay with a failure?), pensions overpayments and management structure.
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