The Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) today announced that it would officially register as an exit campaigner in the forthcoming referendum on EU membership.

TUSC, which stood the sixth largest number of candidates in May's general election (after the Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats, UKIP and the Greens), was co-founded by the late Bob Crow, the RMT transport workers' union leader who was well known for his opposition to the EU as an agency of anti-worker and pro-austerity policies.

Dave Nellist, the former Labour MP who is now the chair of TUSC, said:

The Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition National Election Agent Clive Heemskerk introduces the debate at the September 26th TUSC conference on TUSC's core policies for the 2016 local elections, and outlines the vital role TUSC can play, building on Jeremy Corbyn's Labour leadership victory, in helping to organise the resistance to the new round of local council cuts that are coming.

The president of the RMT transport workers' union, Peter Pinkney, addresses the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition conference in September 2015.

The president of the RMT transport workers' union, Peter Pinkney, addresses the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition conference in September 2015.

Last Saturday saw over 200 people assemble in London for the autumn Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) conference.

The opening session on the role of TUSC in the new situation was introduced by platform speakers from the main constituent organisations of TUSC, headed up by an address from the president of the RMT transport workers' union, Peter Pinkney.

Other sessions agreed TUSC's core policies for the 2016 local elections (see http://www.tusc.org.uk/17112/09-09-2015/the-tusc-2016-local-elections-draft-policy-platform) and, in a separate debate, that TUSC would campaign against EU membership in the forthcoming referendum, while guaranteeing the right of TUSC participating organisations, members and candidates to present an alternative position.

Saturday 26 September, 11am to 4.30pm

Student Central, Malet Street, London, WC1E 7HY

Chaired by the TUSC national chair and former socialist Labour MP, Dave Nellist

Sky News interviewed Dave Nellist, chair of the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition on 13 September 2015 the day after socialist Jeremy Corbyn was elected leader of the Labour Party in a landslide victory for socialist ideas. Sky wanted to know what TUSC's reaction was.

Sky News interviewed Dave Nellist, chair of the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition on 13 September 2015 the day after socialist Jeremy Corbyn was elected leader of the Labour Party in a landslide victory for socialist ideas. Sky wanted to know what TUSC's reaction was.

The Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) national chairperson Dave Nellist has warmly welcomed Jeremy Corbyn's decisive victory in the Labour leadership contest.

Speaking shortly after the result was announced at the Queen Elizabeth Conference Centre in London, Dave Nellist, a former Labour MP who served in the Commons alongside Jeremy Corbyn in the 1980s, said:

"Jeremy's clear victory will now give a voice to the depth of anti-austerity feeling in Britain. He has clearly inspired huge numbers, particularly young people, with his call for free education, public ownership of rail and energy, and for councils to stand together in opposition to government cuts.

The September meeting of the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) national steering committee has revised the agenda for the forthcoming TUSC conference to take account of the tremendous anti-austerity movement that has mobilised around Jeremy Corbyn's Labour leadership bid.

The TUSC conference is taking place on Saturday 26th September at Student Central, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HY, from 11am to 4-30pm.

The opening session, under the title 'The role of TUSC in the new situation', will be a chance to assess what needs to be done, after Jeremy Corbyn's hoped for success, to continue the process of re-building independent working class political representation.

The Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) national steering committee has agreed a draft statement of core policies for the 2016 local council elections (see below).

First published at the start of the summer, the statement has been updated to take account of the tremendous anti-austerity movement that has mobilised around Jeremy Corbyn's bid for the Labour leadership.

The draft platform will be debated at the TUSC conference being held on September 26th. Local TUSC groups, constituent organisations or individuals who want to move amendments should send them to the TUSC national agent, Clive Heemskerk, at [email protected], by Friday 18th September to be included in the conference discussion.

Fleetwood town council has voted to oppose controversial plans by the Halite Energy company to build a gas storage facility on the Fylde Coast.

The government Department of Energy and Climate Change has recently granted permission to Hailte to develop a huge underground gas storage scheme in salt caverns at Preesall (Over Wyre), in Lancashire, despite massive public opposition.

The Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) Fleetwood town councillor Simon Roberts had organised a protest before the council meeting on August 25, which drew together members of the public including Preesall residents and anti-fracking campaigners.