The campaign to offer a challenge to the austerity establishment parties in the elections taking place in Doncaster on May 1st has gathered momentum in the past week.

The acclaimed film-maker and playwright Ken Loach, producer of well-known films and documentaries such as Kes, Cathy Come Home, and I Daniel Blake – and many more dealing with social issues such as poverty, homelessness and workers’ rights – has sent a message of support to Tosh and Nikki McDonald who are standing as Independent Trade Union and Socialist candidates in the Town ward in the Doncaster city council elections.

Tosh is the former president of the train-drivers’ union ASLEF, and Nikki a former public sector trade union rep, and previously Labour councillors for the Town ward.

Ken Loach wrote: “Tosh and Nikki McDonald have long been committed to improving the daily lives of ordinary people.  They understand how to get things done, after great experience in political struggles and their work in their trade unions.  They stick to their principles, unlike Starmer’s Labour party, and they are the real opposition to the dangerous newcomers, led by Donald Trump’s ally Nigel Farage”.

“I am pleased to support Tosh and Nikki McDonald in the coming election – let’s ensure they win!’’

Tosh and Nikki say: “Both of us are former trade union representatives and have lived in Town ward since November 1999.  We have previous experience as councillors for this area, but we resigned from Labour in early 2021, as under Starmer it no longer represented working people so we finished our term as Independents until May 2021”.  

“Now we are back!  We are ready to give you, again, the full time help (being early retired) that you deserve.  As ‘Independent Trade Union and Socialist candidates’ we are fully free from Labour’s divisive local party politics and can concentrate fully on tackling the council issues that affect us all daily”.

“We stand for peace and love NOT war and hate”.

Mayoral challenge on

Tosh and Nikki are two of the eleven candidates standing for council seats using one of the TUSC-registered descriptions on the ballot paper in May, alongside Andy Hiles who is standing in the contest for the Doncaster city mayor taking place on the same day.

Andy says “I grew up supporting the 1984/85 miners’ strike, am a painter and decorator by trade, have worked in the building industry most of my adult life, and always been an active trade unionist representing members in the workplace”.

“I’m now a benefits advice buddy representing people at appeals and tribunals.  I’m standing for mayor to offer Doncaster people a working class and socialist alternative to the establishment parties and Reform”.  The challenge is on. ■

Andy’s insert in the election booklet that will be sent to every Doncaster voter for the mayoral contest can be read at https://www.tusc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Doncaster-booklet-insert.pdf

And a public meeting with Andy Hiles, Tosh McDonald, and the former Labour MP Dave Nellist (1983-1992) – who only took a workers’ wage when he was in Westminster not the bloated MPs’ salary – has been organised for Tuesday 22 April, 7pm, at C-View Centre, Church View, DN1 1AF, to which everyone is welcome.