Corporate Labour

LORD GOLDSMITH, Blair's former attorney-general, has a new job at a US law firm on a salary of about £1 million a year. The government's former chief legal adviser 'advised' Blair that Britain should join Bush's imperialist war in Iraq in 2003.

Other ex-Blair cabinet members to be doing well from 'advice' include former health secretary Alan Milburn. He gets £25,000 a year as an adviser to Pepsi-Cola and £30,000 a year for his role on Lloyds pharmacy's health advisory panel and £35,000 as an adviser to the European board of Bridgepoint Capital Ltd, a finance company with an interest in health care.

Corporate Labour 2

WHO WAS in charge at New Labour's recent party conference? The big corporations dominated the fringe meetings. Coca-Cola sponsored and spoke at a meeting on "corporate social responsibility." What is it about New Labour? All bubbles but no substance.

Health minister Dawn Primarola was speaking on the obesity crisis in a meeting organised by Nestlé, the chocolate and food multinational that has vending machines in schools for its fattening produce!

Boots sponsored a Fabian meeting aimed at getting high street chemists (like Boots) to deliver NHS services. Private health firm BUPA paid for another Fabian meeting where health minister Lord Darzi spoke on: "Beyond hospitals, transforming the NHS." Pharmaceutical giants Pfizer and Merck, Sharp and Dohme were amongst sponsors/ speakers at a meeting addressed by Lord Warner, former health minister.

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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.