Thanks from Karen as results are out

Thanks for all your support through the campaign.

We got badly squeezed at the end when people thought (rightly) we risked a Tory government and so voted Labour even though they did not like them as they (rightly) thought Liberal Democrats would do a deal with Tories and let the the Tories in

Lots of our ‘definite’ voters changed their minds in last few days .

But we did get to know lots of really good people. We did put argument there is an alternative and we do not need cuts and can fight to defend jobs and services.

We definitely need to build this alliance now Tories look likely and are much better placed after election campaign in Gorton to do this.

Right to work conference in London on 22nd may is one start for this

So thanks again and we will keep in touch.

Election 2010: Manchester Gorton
Qassim Afzal (LD) 12,508
Tim Dobson (PP) 236
Justine Hall (Grn) 1048
Peter Harrison (CP) 254
Caroline Healy (Con) 4224
Gerald Kaufman (Lab) 19,000 plus
Karen Reissman (TUSC) 337
Mohammed Zulfikar (Respect) 507
Turn out 50.7%

‘Thanks’ says Karen as polls close

9.30pm at the campaign ‘picket caravan’ on Heald Place in Rusholme

Karen Reissmann spoke to activists as the polls closed in Manchester.

I must admit I have enjoyed the campaign, its been great! Meeting so many people, all those who have been out helping with the campaign. A big thank you to everyone!

Fighting in elections is part of fighting back. You can be sat at home miserable and frustrated in front of the TV, or be out taking the arguments about fighting back to people on the door steps. That is what is so enjoyable. Whatever the result, our campaign has already been successful. It has brought so many people together. We have met dozens of new people who want to get involved, who want to be part of resisting.

The new government, whoever they are, will bring in cuts that even we will be shocked by. We have seen what the fightback against cuts looks like in Greece. When the cuts come people will remember that one of us knocked on their door and talked about resisting. That is what our campaign was about.

We have not got a national profile like the other parties. This seat has moved from ‘safe’ Labour to a ‘marginal’ and two new arguments have now come up. People say that they agree with what we say about fighting the cuts, but if we get the Lib Dems then they will do a deal with the Tories – and so I am voting Labour to keep the Tories out. The other is that by voting Lib Dem we will get a hung parliament and then proportional representation will help people like us. There are more people who agree with us than will vote for us. People are thanking us for standing.

There is one more thing. Immigration has come up on the door step. We have taken the anti racist arguments head on. You have to put down a marker. It was not good enough for Gordon Brown to shout ‘biggot’. What about the fight for jobs and housing, for that we need to be united.

Manchester Users Election Special Question Time Report

Manchester Users Network

Election Special Question Time for staff, users and the public.

It was a well-organised event held in the friendly venue of The Cleveland in Crumpsall. MUN had invited a number of candidates to attend and it was pleasing to see some had accepted that invite in order to respond to questions about mental health– an area frequently under-prioritised in election campaigning. On the panel were Qassim Afzal, Liberal Democrat PPC for Manchester Gorton, James Edsberg, Conservative PPC for Blackley and Broughton, Caroline Healy, Conservative PPC for Manchester Gorton, Marc Ramsbottom, Liberal Democrat PPC for Manchester Central, Karen Reissmann, Trade Union and Socialist Coalition PPC for Manchester Gorton and Graham Stringer, Labour PPC for Blackley and Broughton.

Would candidates consider holding a local referendum in the cases of sacked health workers who had been ‘honest’ about the NHS?

Trades Union Support for Karen Reissmann

In Greece the trades unions, pensioners and students all united to protest on May Day against the  cuts imposed on them by bankers, speculators and politicains. May Day in Manchester was also about who will pay the price of the deficit.

‘Already in Manchester they have announced a 16% cut in the health budget over the next 4 years. There is no alternative – we have to fight back” asys Karen Reissmann. “Pay, penisons, conditions services all face cuts.’

“When they say – cut back!     We say – fightback!’

Karen Reissmann marched with trades unionists, refugees, anti racist and anti war campaigners on the protest organised by Manchester Trades Council and the refugee support group RAPAR.

Nahella Ashraf, as chair of Manchester Stop the War Coalition, spoke, ‘We all need to stand together and say enough is enough!’   Watch here.

Union support for Karen Reissmann’s election campaign has been growing. The Fire fighters union and the Rail Workers unions, the Civil Servants Union leader have all backed Karen. Read the trades union endorsements. Fire fighters. Rail Workers Civil Servants

Watch Karen’s Election Launch speech here

Karen at street meeting

Karen Reissmann takes the campaign to the streets of Manchester. Hear her explain why she is standing as a candidate for teh Manchester Gorton seat.

speaking out on Market St Manchester