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From The Socialist newspaper, 5 June 2019
Them & Us
Them...
- All the main parties have suffered drops in donations, says the Electoral Commission, but none so much as the Tories. They hauled £3.7 million in the first quarter of 2019, compared to £7.4 million the previous quarter, and almost £5 million in the first quarter of 2018.
- A column in the 3 June Financial Times warns utility shareholders not to insist on market value if they are nationalised. Lower but more stable alternative valuation measures are proposed. The bosses are worried a Corbyn government is round the corner. No to payouts for fat cats - compensate only for proven need!
- A Guardian investigation has found 169 peers in the House of Lords - one in five - also work as paid advisers to private business. Meanwhile, lords claimed tens of thousands each in expenses last year, while around a third took almost no part in parliamentary business. 245 of the 785 unelected lawmakers rarely spoke, 88 never spoke, and 46 never voted, found the Guardian. Abolish the Lords!
...and us
- The anger of private tenants suffering in the housing crisis forced the Tories to ban letting fees in England - and it's now come into effect. Citizens Advice reckons the charges were costing renters £13 million a month. Government assessments estimate the ban will set landlords back £83 million and agencies £157 million. They have threatened to claw some back with rent hikes - now cap rents too!
- Energy price hikes could add £362 a year to bills for households that don't switch tariffs. Gas and electric regulator Ofgem has raised its price cap on default rates by a whopping 10%. Almost 193,000 homes could be affected, for a potential total rip-off of £42 million. Nationalise the utilities under democratic workers' control and management!
- Over three-quarters of the poison-spewing diesel cars which manufacturers cheated tests to sell are still on the road. Transit NGO Transport and Environment estimates the remaining 33 million will stay in use for another two years. Nationalise the car-makers - fund affordable, clean public transport for all!
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Finance appeal
The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.
The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.
The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.
- The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
- When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.
Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.
We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to donate to our Fighting Fund.
In The Socialist 5 June 2019:
What we think
Corbyn must go on the offensive against the right with socialist policies
News
Tories deny dire poverty ...look around you! Boot out the Tories
Theresa May admits tuition fees system is broken - but plans new attacks on students
Laughable research denies low-pay scandal
Tiananmen square
The Tiananmen Square massacre - 30 years on
Workplace news
Strike together to kick out the Tories!
Nationalise the threatened Glasgow 'Caley' railway depot
Welsh train fleet workers' victory
Fighting to stop school meals privatisation
UCU conference 2019: Preparing for struggle
Sexual harassment of LGBT+ workers shows need for unions to fight
Universal Credit workers' strike
International socialist news and analysis
India: Modi victory underlines need for real socialist fightback
Nineteen Eighty-Four
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
Tens of thousands march against Trump
Worcester libraries campaign victory
South Yorkshire: No to fire service cuts!
Protesters condemn Tory candidate
Step forward for campaign to reverse mobility pass cuts in Nottingham
LS26 campaign lobbies council to save their homes
Neglected Newham tenants demand action
Protest against Send education funding cuts
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