Cllr Brendan Young's Campaign Fund

My name is Brendan Young. I have been a campaigner for social justice and equality in North Kildare, Ireland, the UK and elsewhere for most of my adult life.  I was elected to Kildare County Council in May 2014 as an independent on a principled anti-austerity campaigning platform, having led and organised resistance in the area since the crisis hit. We now use the council as well to give voice to the struggles of ordinary people and those discriminated against.

I am running in the General Election in the Kildare North constituency with the same in mind. For example, none of the other sitting TDs or leading candidates who represent working people are supporting the boycott of water charges - yet about half of people are boycotting Irish Water. My campaign will represent those who have not paid and those who have paid reluctantly - forcing other candidates to respond to their constituents on this matter. I also seek to represent an unambiguous position in support of women who choose to have abortions and to lift the ban on it. The 8th Amendment should be repealed to allow that to happen in Ireland, to treat it as a medical concern and stop the export of this to England and elsewhere. End the direct provision system that denies refugees equal opportunities and the right to participate in Irish life.

Unlike the other candidates, my candidacy is a contribution to a clear alternative to Fine Gael, Labour and Fianna Fail in the area. As I have done on the council, I have made a committment to not support putting any of those back into government.  Our group have always and will continue to seek to work with other candidates and groups on the left towards developing a new left alternative.  We are also signed up to the Right2Change principles document and call for people to transfer left.

We will use your donations to that end and be grateful for them. Major costs in an election campaign are our posters and manifestos. A single poster is e10. We are a grassroots group. We are not an establishment party, we do not have corporate sponsors - everything we do is powered by what the average person can spare to donate.

With that in mind we are asking you, our supporters and well-wishers to contribute to our campaign so we can shake up politics in North Kildare and contribute to a national movement. You might not be in a position to help canvas or leaflet right now, but this would still help enormously. Any and all amounts are greatly appreciated.  We have ran an election in the area before in 2014, we have experienced campaigners from successful general election campaigns and we know what we are doing. Everything is planned right and in motion. It is just a matter of doing it and paying for it now. Please consider making a donation.

If you would like to talk to me first or know more about our campaign, please do . You can contact me any time  on 0857131903 and email [email redacted]

In Solidarity

Cllr Brendan Young