Archive for January 2019

2 January 2019

Opinion: China's Orwellian 'social credit system' is a product of capitalism, not 'communism'

In reality, Chinese workers are fighting the same beast as we are in Britain: an exploitative economic system protected by a cold-blooded political elite.

2 January 2019

Our new year's message: Tories out - general election now!

Corbyn must use the opening weeks of 2019 to go on the offensive

2 January 2019

New Year. Same Universal Credit misery. Scrap it now!

Christmas was far from merry for many - we need a living wage and welfare system!

2 January 2019

Rip-off landlords make money out of misery

600 homeless people died in 2017 in England and Wales. If people can't afford to rent, then rents should be capped, controlled and cut.

2 January 2019

The Socialist Inbox

Do you have something to say? Letters to the Socialist's editors. German revolution, Brexit red lines, Harry Leslie Smith, flue jab jibe.

2 January 2019

Early morning cabinet meeting nods through £24 million cuts

Swansea Labour's cabinet meeting agreed a projected loss this year of 145 teaching posts and 161 council jobs

2 January 2019

Yet another wage-busting fare hike? Nationalise rail now!

Queues and scuffles to squeeze aboard, delays and cancellations as the life sweats out of you

9 January 2019

Ferry workers protest against £2.45 an hour pay

The scandal of low pay by profiteering shipping lines is being fought by a sustained campaign of the RMT transport union

9 January 2019

Bringing socialist ideas into movements on women's rights

Over 40 women members of the Socialist Party met on 5 January to discuss the important work we do in fighting the attacks on women and raising socialist ideas with women and men who are becoming politically active on these issues

9 January 2019

Carmarthenshire council: Unison demands no-cuts budget

Just before Christmas, Carmarthenshire county Unison union branch sent a letter to councillors demanding they set a no-cuts budget to prevent more job losses and further reduced services

9 January 2019

Linking LGBT+ rights to the fight for socialism

The growing Socialist Party LGBT+ group held its first national meeting of the year on 6 January, writes Fred Ray.

9 January 2019

Tories Out. End austerity. Mass working-class action for a general election

Few things sum up the complete disarray of this Tory government like the 'Brexit ferries'debacle.

9 January 2019

Death in a doorway: struggle can end homelessness

Joby Sparrey died on Christmas Day in the doorway of a shop in Malvern, Worcestershire. Brays is a long-established shop with large doorways so he was probably able to stretch out to sleep.

9 January 2019

Them & Us

It's one world for the super-rich, and another one for the rest of us including millionaire Miliband and the Queen's golden piano.

9 January 2019

What we saw

Press coverage for Socialist Party campaigns in Southampton and East London

9 January 2019

PCS Left Unity assistant general secretary election rerun

Chris Baugh is standing for the PCS Left Unity assistant general secretary nomination in a rerun of this election.

9 January 2019

Far right attack on Manchester rail workers' picket line - trade union fightback needed

Far-right protesters, wearing yellow vests, verbally abused the RMT transport union picket line at Manchester Victoria station on 5 January.

9 January 2019

Grayling's attacks on rail workers wages 'un-fare'

The government continues to claim that Britain's economy is doing great and that everyone's wages are sky high.

9 January 2019

Heroic martyrs of German Revolution

January 15 marks the 100th anniversary of the murders of Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht, two of the outstanding leaders of the German and international working-class movements.

9 January 2019

Tremendous effort sees Socialist Party smash fighting fund target in 2018

Socialist Party members and supporters raised £44,171 in the final three months of 2018 - 147% of the target of £30,000! Because of this huge effort we also surpassed the annual fighting fund target, raising £130,632 altogether.

9 January 2019

NHS funding crisis: Tory 'super-plan' is a super-con!

Theresa May has been trumpeting an increase in spending on the NHS and a ten-year 'super-plan' for NHS England. But this is not what it seems.

9 January 2019

North Tyneside Campaigning to save our footbridge

Following an initiative of the North Tyneside Socialist Party, a 60-strong public protest took place on 29 December against Labour-run North Tyneside council's plan to demolish the historic Borough Road footbridge in North Shields' town centre.

9 January 2019

Protests continue to rage in Sudan

Sudan has been rocked by extensive anti-government protests since 19 December. People in the diaspora have come out in large numbers outside Sudanese embassies to show their solidarity. In contrast, most media outlets in neighbouring countries have been silent.

9 January 2019

Blocked for years, but the Socialist Party of Nigeria is now standing in elections

After years of campaigning to be officially recognised, the Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN - launched by the Democratic Socialist Movement and others) is able to stand in elections.

9 January 2019

Theatre review: Women of Aktion - the heroic story of how World War One was ended

Women of Aktion by the Bent Architect Theatre Company tells the story of the women and men whose heroic actions brought World War One to an end.

9 January 2019

The Socialist Inbox

Letters to the Socialist editors

9 January 2019

'Socialism: Utopian and Scientific'

Socialist Books has announced its next upcoming title

9 January 2019

'Fat Cat Friday' shows where all the money's gone

I hadn't even received my first paycheque of the new year when the average chief executive of a FTSE 100 company had already 'earned' more than my entire annual salary - in less than three days!

9 January 2019

Javid's migrant 'emergency'

Home Secretary Sajid Javid declared the rising numbers of migrants attempting to cross the Channel in small boats an "emergency" over Christmas. He held a conference call with officials from the Border Force, Immigration Enforcement, and National Crime Agency.

9 January 2019

For a socialist alternative to the Tory deal and bosses' EU

Parliament reconvened after the Christmas break with no let-up in the government's crisis over the coming Brexit vote.

9 January 2019

Disruption of Socialist Party meeting shows need for unions to lead real struggle

Leeds Socialist Party's meeting was harassed by individuals from 'Antifa Watch'

9 January 2019

Solid strike by Arriva bus drivers

650 bus drivers, members of Unite the Union employed by Arriva, commenced a week-long strike on 6 January in a dispute over low pay. Drivers based at Darlington, Durham, Redcar and Stockton believe they are the second-lowest paid Arriva bus drivers in the country.

15 January 2019

May facing Brexit vote catastrophe

Corbyn must put workers' movement on a war footing!



The Tories are at each other's throats - now let's get them out!

16 January 2019

Re-elect Chris Baugh for AGS

The voting meetings are starting in PCS civil service union Left Unity for the re-run contest for the Assistant General Secretary (AGS)

16 January 2019

After Grenfell, thousands still in high-rise firetrap blocks

Cladding off now! Landlords and Tories must pay! Across England, 437 high-rise buildings are still covered in combustible cladding

16 January 2019

Them & Us

It's one world for the super-rich, and another for the rest of us. Cancer waiting times; outsourcing explosion; tube pollution; Universal Credit

16 January 2019

Glasgow: huge turnout to fight closure of Whitehill pool

Council cuts: In total, seven pools/gyms are threatened plus libraries, golf courses and bowling greens

16 January 2019

Surrey: save our children's centres

Council cuts: Surrey has just concluded a consultation over £250 million of cuts

16 January 2019

Caerphilly: right-wing Islwyn Labour councillors fight to impose cuts

Council cuts: A battle is raging inside and outside the Labour Party in Caerphilly council against the cuts

16 January 2019

Nothing to declare? Dodgy councillors hide vested interests

59 of our 62 listed local councillors had claimed 'special dispensation'

16 January 2019

North Tyneside: march to save our footbridge

Council cuts: The second meeting of the Save Borough Road Footbridge campaign took place on 12 January

16 January 2019

The 1979 'Winter of Discontent'

It was the biggest stoppage in Britain since the 1926 general strike

16 January 2019

USA: federal workers without pay - but immediate mass action can end shutdown

On 22 December, Trump shut down the government, demanding $5.7 billion for his infamous 'border wall'

16 January 2019

India: biggest general strike ever

Why did 200 million workers strike on 8-9 January?

16 January 2019

Robbing the working class

The fundamental problem with Universal Credit is austerity

16 January 2019

France: union-led action and assemblies can defeat Macron

After a slowdown over Christmas, it seems the 'gilets jaunes' movement is back in full swing.

16 January 2019

Mexico: police silence on horrific attack on CWI member

On 20 December 2018, one of our members was raped, robbed and kidnapped for more than an hour

16 January 2019

Unions must fight and demand nationalisation to save thousands of car industry jobs

Bridgend Ford bosses have said over 1,000 workers will lose their jobs over the next two years, with 370 to go this spring

16 January 2019

Hundreds join Manc RMT picket line in solidarity after far-right attack

This followed the recent attack on pickets by a far-right group

16 January 2019

UCU: Vote Yes and Yes in the higher education pay and equality ballot

In October we voted by 70% for strike action - but Tory anti-union laws mean we don't have a legal mandate

16 January 2019

Sorry to Bother You: "Socialist film Botox that made me feel young again"

Film review: Union organisation and action in telesales are the backdrop to the film

16 January 2019

Brexit: The Uncivil War - an interesting but inaccurate portrayal of EU referendum

TV review: Not an accurate portrayal, or even a good drama

16 January 2019

The Socialist Inbox

Letters to the editors: Do you have something to say? Keresley shooting, debt crash, BT tribunal

16 January 2019

'Tories out' demo

Unions should be visibly campaigning at the front of the movement to oust the Tories instead of subcontracting the business

16 January 2019

A key task - strengthen Tamil Solidarity campaign

Tamil Solidarity campaign had a very successful Annual General Meeting on 13 January

16 January 2019

30% of English secondaries in deficit

Almost one in three council-maintained English secondary schools were in budget deficit in 2017-18, according to damning new figures