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From The Socialist newspaper, 6 January 2021
UNICEF feeds children in the UK for the first time
Photo: UNICEF Ukraine (Click to enlarge)
Archie, Waltham Forest Socialist Party
"It is a real scandal that UNICEF should be playing politics this way" was the response of millionaire and Leader of the House of Commons Jacob Rees-Mogg to the announcement that UNICEF will be responsible for feeding children in the UK for the first time in its history.
This perfectly sums up the callous attitude the ruling classes have for working-class children. While Jacob Rees-Mogg can lavish his children with all the privileges that money and prestige can buy, 30% of children living in the UK are deemed to be living in poverty. Their health and living conditions are rapidly deteriorating following ten years of Tory austerity, and now exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic.
It is no surprise that Rees-Mogg spouts such bile. He and his Tory peers have always openly proclaimed their disdain for working-class children. Speaking in the Houses of Parliament earlier this year, in the debate over giving children free school meals throughout half term, Tory MP Ben Bradley claimed that this would result in the "nationalisation of children". This was before tweeting that free school meals vouchers would be directed to "crack dens and brothels" if issued.
The real scandal is that huge layers of the population have to rely on charity simply to survive. Charity can only offer small relief from the relentless drive for profit. Only a democratic socialist planned economy using the vast resources that exist in society can end poverty and provide everyone with a decent standard of living.
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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 January 2021:
Feature
2020 - a year which drove home the catastrophic failures of capitalism
Schools
Workers' action wins Tory U-turn on school safety
News
3 lockdowns, 20+ U-turns ... We can't trust the Tories
Nottingham City Council: Major battles against cuts ahead
UNICEF feeds children in the UK for the first time
Hospital security staff on strike for £12 an hour
British Gas workers on strike against fire and re-hire pay cut
NHS
Protect the NHS - Funding, Pay, PPE, Public ownership
Protect lives and livelihoods, fight to defend the NHS
Engels
Engels on the origins of women's oppression
Universities
Universities: refund the rent, cancel the fees, for fully funded, publicly owned education
University teaching moves online in England
Reader's opinion
Books that inspired me: The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
Technology and AI response: Capitalists only invest for profit
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