It is 100 days to the election and Trades Unionist and Socialist Coalition plans to mount our biggest ever socialist election challenge are coming on nicely.
Across the UK we are more than half way to reaching our target of 100 parliamentary candidates and 1,000 council candidates in May. At the recent TUSC Conference we also saw a number of Labour councillors, fed up with that party's support for continuing Tory cuts, pledge their support for TUSC. Standing against all cuts has attracted Labour councillors from Southampton, Leicester, Warrington, London and elsewhere to the TUSC banner.
Here in Wales, we don't have council elections in May but we look to have already found enough parliamentary candidates to reach the threshold where we should qualify for balanced press coverage and an election broadcast.
In this corner of Wales, we already have candidates who are all rank and file trade union leaders, in place to challenge in Llanelli, Swansea West and Aberavon.
The contest in Aberavon highlights more than most the differences between TUSC and the modern Labour Party. We're standing a member of the RMT Union, which played a central role in founding TUSC and is the first trade union (hopefully of many to come) to commit officially to TUSC. He'll be standing against a London-based businessman who personifies the political establishment - one of the Labour 'princes' (second and third generation offspring of Labour politicians) and spouse of the prime minister of Denmark, Stephen Kinnock.
If you're looking for an alternative to the establishment parties. One that is committed to opposing all cuts and fighting for socialist policies in the interest of trade unionists and working class people. Then consider how you can help to build TUSC.
Swansea TUSC representatives will be meeting at least once a month to plan our election challenge and how we can support others fighting cuts. Our next meeting is on February 11, 7.30pm in Dyfatty Community Centre. If you're fed-up of the establishment's cuts-consensus and want to do something about it, come along and join with like-minded people.