By Conor Rosoman
The Green Party are now in overall control of Waltham Forest council in north London, despite never having had any councillors there before. The Greens had initially agreed not to stand against the left independents in Cathall ward, but they ended up standing paper candidates, one of whom was duly elected.
Waltham Forest Independent Socialists would like to thank everyone who voted for us in Cathall ward on 7 May. While we are naturally disappointed not to have been elected, to finish in fourth place on our first outing as an independent grassroots campaign is something to be proud of. For us, this is only the beginning.
Most of all we want to thank the dozens of activists whose tireless campaigning work made our stand possible. Every leaflet delivered and door knocked has helped to put us on the map, and will be built upon in the months and years ahead.
We ran an amazing campaign. In a very short period, we created canvassing software, a logo, and a media strategy that included a professional website, clear and punchy flyers, and a canvassing operation that covered the ward several times.
Across our borough, working class people voted for change, and created a political earthquake, electing the first ever Green-led WF council, without delivering a single Reform councillor. We offer our congratulations to Waltham Forest Green Party for an historic victory.
In the coming years, Independent Socialists, trade unionists, housing, antiracist and antiwar campaigners will have an important role to play in our borough. A decade and a half of cuts must come to a definitive end. Waltham Forest must divest from companies complicit in genocide. And action to address the housing crisis needs to be urgently set in motion.
With that in mind, we will support the new council in any and all measures which further the interests of working-class people – and stand ready to hold the new administration to account where necessary.
Find out more about Waltham Forest Independent Socialists
(Previously published in Connections Newsletter issue no. 3)
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