On Sunday 26 May – on the back of Rishi Sunak’s election announcement, along with contagious coverage of her takedown of Tory headbanger Suella Braverman – Fiona Lali, the national campaigns organiser for Revolutionary Communist Party (RCP), publicly declared her intention to stand in her local constituency of Stratford & Bow.
Two days later, over 100 RCP activists from across London met at short notice for an inspiring launch event for Fiona’s campaign.
Leading RCP members – including The Communist editor Rob Sewell, national organiser Ben Gliniecki, London organiser Lotta Angantyr, and Fiona herself – spoke to the energised audience about the upcoming campaign and its aims.
“We won’t approach this election campaign like the Labour Party,” Ben explained. “We won’t be doorknocking just to collect votes. We will be talking to ordinary people about the issues that affect them, linking these to the question of capitalism and the need to get organised.”
“We’re here to channel all of this existing anger,” Fiona elaborated. “It has to be connected to a bigger political force – one that can tackle every single problem that’s taking place.
“Whether it’s war crimes in Palestine, or austerity in this country, we want to tackle these problems at their root, which is the capitalist system underpinning them all,” comrade Fiona continued. “We have war criminals to bring down, and a world to win.”
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Super Saturday
Next up, on 1 June, around 50 comrades and supporters of the RCP were out in force for the first super-Saturday of canvassing across Stratford & Bow.
The day started with a rally in Sandal Street Park in Stratford. The atmosphere amongst the crowd was one of immense enthusiasm and optimism.
Speaking on the megaphone, comrades explained how we – as communists – are running this campaign not simply for votes, but as a platform for revolutionary ideas; to expose the warmongers in Westminster and the entire criminal British establishment.
They have endless money for wars, speakers noted, but never any money to invest in what workers and young people actually need.
Fiona concluded with a clear, bold message: We’re not politicians, we’re revolutionaries! We demand healthcare, not warfare! We want books, not bombs! We are fighting to overthrow the rotten capitalist system!
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Anger and audacity
Hundreds of people have already signed up to volunteer for Fiona’s campaign. And thousands have been raised in donations.
Some of these volunteers came along to this opening canvassing session. This included one RMT member who found out about the campaign through social media. He was bowled over by the ideas and audacity on display, and decided to join the RCP that same day. Before leaving, he gave our comrades a hug, saying that his life had been changed forever!
After these rousing speeches, comrades set off to canvass all around Stratford & Bow, covering every single ward.
Everywhere we went, we explained to voters that we’re running an anti-establishment candidate on a pro-Palestine platform. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with residents delighted and grateful to have the opportunity to support a local candidate with genuine principles, as opposed to right-wing Labour careerists.
In the Maryland ward, comrades went out doorknocking two days in a row over the weekend, in a mostly residential area. The widespread hatred felt towards the two major parties and the wider political situation was immediately obvious.
A sense of abandonment by the traditional parties and politicians was an overriding theme. People feel a lack of control over their own lives.
One man spoke at length about Parliament. “It’s one rule for them, and another for the rest of us,” he stated. “What we need is for every worker not to go to work, but to be out on the streets to show them who really runs society.”
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“Of course I know her!”
In Bow East ward, seven comrades canvassed around the Roman Road Market for a couple of hours as part of this super-Saturday. They were well received, especially by the local Muslim community.
Many – particularly younger people – said that they already recognised and knew Fiona from her viral videos online. In a local Tunisian café, one customer asserted: “Of course I know her! She’s the girl from TikTok!”
In most cases, this was immediately followed by a pledge to vote for Fiona.
Comrades also went door to door in Bow East, selling copies of The Communist and gaining contact details of supporters along the way. The next day, they set up a stall in Victoria Park, a popular public space in the constituency, where again they found a good reception and took more contact details.
In Forest Gate North, comrades canvassed around the rail station, covering around 60 doors. Fiona’s campaign gathered a lot of interest in this area, with comrades reporting that residents were eager to discuss politics, when presented with radical ideas and a clear class perspective.
Many remarked that they were adamant that they would vote for Fiona. This included two people who expressed interest in joining the RCP and getting immediately involved in our activity.
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Get organised!
Similar stories were reported from comrades out on the doorstep in all the other wards.
Across the constituency, and across the county, the mood is one of anger and frustration with the Tories, Labour, and the stinking system they represent.
Almost everyone we spoke to is sick of the politicians – disgusted by their lies, their corruption, and their continued support for Israel’s genocide against the Palestinian people.
There is clearly tremendous support for the campaign that Fiona is running, backed by the RCP, and for the ideas and demands that we are raising.
The task ahead is to turn anger into action, and channel this energy into building the forces of communism.
The struggle against this decrepit system does not end with the election on 4 July, no matter the outcome. Far from it – this is only the beginning.
We therefore call on workers and youth to get organised!
Wherever you are: support Fiona’s campaign by volunteering and donating; by taking posters and leaflets to distribute in workplaces, schools, and neighbourhoods; and, particularly if you’re outside London, by helping us phonebank, and by spreading the word on social media.
Join us in London this Saturday, 8 June, for a national demo in solidarity with Palestine. Join us on the campaign trail in the days and weeks ahead, with doorknocking, street stalls, and public rallies in Stratford & Bow. And above all, join us – the RCP – in the fight for revolution.
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