People’s Alliance for Change and Equality

By Mike Foster

The Peoples Alliance for Change and Equality (PACE) was formed two years ago and had its launch conference on May 10th 2025 with 300 in attendance and Jeremy Corbyn as the guest speaker.
 
PACE is an alliance of local campaign groups fighting Kirklees Labour Council’s cuts and closures programme. These groups have had a lot of success in pushing the Council back. They have been joined in PACE by other campaign groups such as Freedom for Palestine, The Muslim Vote, Disabled People against the Cuts, Alternative Pride and of course independent councillors.
 
There are a total of 69 council seats. I’m standing as a PACE candidate, alongside a host of left independents. All polls are pointing to a huge loss for Labour which has presided over horrific cuts and a hiking up of the council tax and rents. The PACE election campaign has found a massive anger against Labour in all areas which will see them lose their minority control over the Council. In the recent past they have had to rely on the Tories to get any votes through the Council.
 
PACE has been out on the streets every day with no shortage of volunteers, taking our socialist message across the area and meeting with a very friendly response. I’ve never known such hostility to Labour in any election campaign over the last 40 years.
 
PACE was asked to apply for sponsorship from Your Party and requested sympathetic affiliate status. After some deliberation, this was agreed and several candidates have now been endorsed by both PACE and YP. Unfortunately, the sponsorship came too late to make any significant impact, as all candidates had already started their campaigns and produced election literature.
 
PACE members have been dismayed by the CEC decision to rescind conference policy to support dual membership and have continued to welcome all socialists on their campaign regardless of party affiliation. We hope this decision can be reversed, but if YP continues down this destructive route, PACE members and supporters will be reviewing their relationship with YP.  
 
In the meantime, the election campaign continues and spirits remain high that the Labour Council will be removed and a healthier alliance of anti-cuts councillors will emerge. Campaign progress can be accessed via Instagram and Facebook.

(Previously published in Connections Newsletter no. 2 on 24 April 2026)