COMRADES, I had to revise this week’s figures at the very last moment.   

As I was about to send this column over to our ever-patient subeditors, my doorbell rang.

It was an old friend from the Labour Party, one of London’s former council leaders.

“I’m just off to Scotland for a fortnight,” he told me.

“And I couldn’t leave without knowing I’d done my bit to help save the Morning Star,” he explained, handing me a cheque for £500.

This act of solidarity helped lift this week’s postbag up to a very respectable £5,482.

Talking of respectability, I was humbled to receive the Royal Seal of Approval from one reader.

“Though I am a monarchist (“oh dear,” I hear you saying), I have just sent £25 to your appeal, since it is important to keep the expertise of your authentic campaigning and clear straightforward journalism flourishing,” he wrote.

Don’t apologise, comrade. Not only am I happy to take donations from Her Majesty’s subjects, I’d be delighted to personally pop round to Buck House to relieve Liz of any cash she’s saved during lockdown.

And don’t worry, I know how to bow and do my tie up straight. I’ll even offer to take the corgis for a walk if she throws in a couple of silver spoons.

Heading north-west from the Royal council house, a Covid survivor from Watford who is “glad to be alive” sent £500 for “our class.”

£20 arrived from an “old socialist” in Midlothian who promised to leave her copy of the paper in the local library as soon as it reopens.

And a supporter from Yorkshire sent £90 for the Morning Star’s 90th birthday “in appreciation of all the staff.”

Among the dozens of other donations I received this week was £50 from a reader in Sutton, £25 from Cheshire, and £1,000 from east London.

Another reader sent £200 in praise of two of our “outstanding columnists,” Solomon Hughes and Peter Frost.

And in South Yorkshire, the local readers and supporters group has emptied their “political account” and sent the £700 to the appeal.

“We value the paper and those who work to keep it going more highly than words can express,” they wrote.

Comrades, we have 16 days to raise £14,000 to keep the voice of the working class on the newsstands.

In the words of the reader from St Austell who sent £100: “The Star must go on!”

Calvin Tucker is Morning Star campaigns manager

Please make cheques made payable to: The People’s Press Printing Society and post to: The Morning Star appeal, William Rust House, 52 Beachy Road, London E3 2NS.

Bank transfer to Payee: The People’s Press Printing Society Account, Bank: The Co-operative Bank PLC Bank Branch: Islington Sort Code: 089033 Account Number: 50505115, Reference: Appeal (Or P4P8 if the donation is for the Pedal for Progress event raising money for this appeal)

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