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Report on Tory party 'hostile environment' racism ignored

Try to imagine a situation where the publication of the Equalities & Human Rights Commission (EHRC) report on antisemitism in the Labour Party had brought forth no statement from the party leader or his predecessor, and the media provided minimal coverage.

Difficult to imagine? That was the Tory response to the EHRC report on the impact of the Home Office's hostile environment immigration policy on the Windrush generation. No statement by Boris Johnson, Home Secretary Priti Patel, nor Theresa May, prime minister when the impact of the hostile environment policy became publicly known and home secretary when the policy was implemented.

This wall of silence was not challenged by the capitalist media that gave the publication minimal coverage. There was also a suggestion of 'news management' as the report's publication coincided with the government's long-awaited spending review, including the announcement of a pay freeze for many public service workers.

This government policy clearly illustrates state racism, which was recently depicted in Steve McQueen's film 'Mangrove' on BBC1 , based on events in Notting Hill, west London, during the 1960s - the first decade after the arrival of the Windrush generation (See 'Mangrove' at socialistpary.org.uk).

John Merrell, Leicester

Thank you for an excellent article

I would like to praise the article on Friedrich Engels in issue 1111 of the Socialist (See 'Friedrich Engels: A revolutionary who played a pivotal role in the development of socialism' at socialistparty.org.uk). I am studying for a history degree with the Open University and have previously analysed a text by Engels for an assignment. This article has provided me with a further in-depth understanding of his motivations and his partnership with Marx. I shall retain this article for future studies. Thank you Lenny for an excellent article.

A further point of relevance was the article on disabled people. I have just written an assignment on the 'deserving' and 'undeserving' poor and how they had to meet certain standards to qualify for relief. That was in the 16th century, nothing has changed much in over 400 years (See 'Criptales' at socialistparty.org.uk).

Mary Medd, Coventry

Shocking poverty not hidden anymore

The item on the BBC ten o'clock news about poverty in Burnley was shocking. In the fifth richest country on the planet, people are living in the depths of degradation and horror. People from the church who were handing out food were mobbed and brought to tears.

It's all going on now, often hidden before but not anymore. There is absolutely no need for it, it is not beyond the wit of mankind to put an end to this. Socialist planning and workers' democracy is the only way out. Join us in the Socialist Party now, build an alternative to this rotten system.

Bill Mullins, South East London

Thatcher statue - forever is too soon

cartoon Alan Hardman (Click to enlarge)

In Grantham the local council is spending £100,000 erecting a bronze statue of Thatcher. It's seven years since she died, forever is too short a time to consider it's appropriate to put up a statue to her. It is adding insult to injury to the working class.

Clare Wilkins, Nottingham

Dentist rip-off

What are they hiding? There's a £1 billion cut to the railways, and I have been forced to take out a £2,000 loan for dental work. This is why I am a campaigner for the NHS. I was thinking that as I left a private dentist brushing past a Porsche and a £200,000 Bentley, who needs socialism?

Mike Marx, Southampton

Capitalism's cure?

I have found a vaccine that will inoculate us all against poverty, hunger, homelessness and environmental degradation. It is explained inside the pages of this newspaper, it's called socialism.

Martin Reynolds, Waltham Forest

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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.