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From The Socialist newspaper, 6 May 2020
Peter Hadden remembered
Peter Hadden, 1950 - 2010, photo Paul Mattsson (Click to enlarge)
Many Socialist Party members will remember Peter Hadden, who died ten years ago, on 5 May 2010 ('Obituary: Peter Hadden - an inspiring life for socialism' - socialistparty.org.uk).
Peter was a leading member of the Irish section of the Committee for a Workers' International (CWI), to which the Socialist Party in England and Wales is also affiliated. Along with his CWI comrades, in the North and South of Ireland, Peter spent decades fighting for workers' unity and socialism. He wrote extensively on Marxism and the national question (marxists.org/history).
Peter's polemical pamphlet, 'The Struggle for Socialism Today' (marxists.org/history) is particularly relevant in today's world of crisis-ridden capitalism, and with the challenges facing the left.
Peter argues, in common with the CWI, that to achieve full, lasting liberation of all the exploited and oppressed, requires building powerful working-class parties, united on a bold socialist programme, while avoiding the pitfalls of political opportunism and ultra-leftism.
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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 6 May 2020:
What we think
Bosses push to lift lockdown - they only care about profits
Coronavirus news
Bail out the real wealth creators, not the rich
Homes needed to end overcrowding
Homeless left on streets during pandemic
Pay full fees for virtual courses? - No way!
Your donations can keep the Socialist going
Test and trace
Test and trace: workers need a real plan
Tories using pandemic to shift lab testing out of NHS
Workplace news
Nationalise British Airways to stop 12,000 redundancies
Postal workers force Royal Mail back
No increase in transport capacity without adequate safety precautions for workers and passengers
Unsafe Workplace? "It's up to you" PCS tells reps and members
Further protests in Ireland against Debenhams closures - UK fightback needed
Rolls Royce threatens 8,000 job losses
EDF Energy workers furloughed on 100% pay
International news
India: Fighting the curse of capitalism and coronavirus
US: Trump's public health cuts have condemned thousands worldwide
Trump puts profit before safety (again)
Lessons from history
The Tyneside apprentices' strike during WW2
Obituary
Readers' opinion
Going viral: Socialist comments and letters on the corona crisis
TV Review BBC Panorama: PPE shortage - how many lives will be lost?
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2020