Chris Talbot -- The Socialist Equality Party candidate for Haltemprice & Howden

Chris Talbot, 62, has been a member of the International Committee of the Fourth International for 40 years. He joined the Trotskyist movement as a student in 1967, at a time of major working class struggles in Britain and throughout Europe. 

As a regular contributor to the World Socialist Web Site, he focuses on the African continent, particularly the renewed turn to colonialism by the major powers. He also writes articles on science policy questions from a socialist standpoint. 

Born in Runcorn, Cheshire, he is a lecturer in engineering mathematics at Huddersfield University. He is married with three adult children.

Chris Talbot explains why he is standing

The Socialist Equality Party took the decision that we would stand in the Haltemprice and Howden by-election very quickly after David Davis announced his resignation.

For years we have, on the World Socialist Web Site, consistently drawn attention to the labour government’s constant erosion of fundamental civil liberties in the name of combating the terrorist threat.

We have insisted that the responsibility for defending democratic rights rests with working people and demands a political break with Labour and the building of a genuine socialist party.

Firstly we have explained that Labour’s assault on our freedom to speak, to organise and to enjoy some safeguards against the constant intrusion of the state is not merely the product of an erroneous response to the threat posed by Islamic fundamentalism.

This places the cart before the horse. It is because Labour took Britain to war—first in Afghanistan, then Iraq and now it appears ever more likely against Iran—that has created the deep well of anger that is exploited by terrorist groupings.

That is why it is impossible to seriously oppose the attacks on democratic rights outside of a political struggle against militarism and war.

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