Anti-austerity and anti-war councillors, even when they are working as a minority in the council chamber, can make a difference, as a republished case study of the record of two socialist councillors under the last New Labour government shows.

The councillors were elected in the south London borough of Lewisham in 2006, under the Tony Blair government that was pioneering the ‘profit before people’ policies of austerity and privatisation that the Labour government still emulates today. The Socialist Councillors Are Different! pamphlet, now published online, gives a blow-by-blow account of the role that even just one or two determined councillors can play to protect working class interests against the establishment politicians.

Over the years the TUSC all-Britain steering committee has produced regular briefings, reports and guidance material on how councillors could fight back, including our 55-page briefing, Preparing a No Cuts People’s Budget, the 2025 How Much Reserves Have They Got? report, and a September 2025 discussion document on the opportunities a base in councils could provide for the then prospective Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana new party.

Now we are pleased to make the Lewisham pamphlet more widely available. And look forward to discussing and working with any councillors elected under any banner who are seeking the means to fight austerity all the way. ■