Clean sweep for left in Socialist Health Association London elections, despite right-wing campaign

Encouragement for left in other regions to organise

Left candidates won a clean sweep in tonight’s executive elections of the London branch of the Socialist Health Association (SHA), despite a concerted campaign and membership drive by Labour First and the party’s right wing.

Coral Jones won the position of chair by 380 to 258.

Jude Ellis and Jessica Parsons (job share) won secretary by 400 to 238.

Sina Lari won treasurer by 404 to 235.

Norma Dudley and Sarah Pillai won the vice-chair positions by 389 and 378 to 249 and 238, with the left taking the full set of 30 places for the branch’s delegates to the Central Council.

Right-wing MP Wes Streeting participated in the meeting but will have been disappointed by the result.

The right’s efforts to win dominance in the SHA, an official affiliate of the Labour party, shows that it matters – and tonight’s result shows that the left can win if it organises.

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