By James Wilkins
The latest economic figures showing that the British economy shrank in the last quarter of 2011 underlines the damage that Tory economic policy is causing – both to growth and living standards. A clear alternative to its ‘austerity’ policies is needed, but the Labour front bench’s recent further capitulation to the Tory economic framework weakens both the struggle for such an alternative and its own electoral position.
By Stephen MacAvoy
On 13 January Ed Balls, previewing a speech to the Fabians, launched a new Labour policy – that Labour supported the Tory-led governments public sector pay freeze and it would start from a baseline of maintaining Tory cuts.
By Andrew Williams
The Occupy movement, which has spread from Wall Street across the developed world, with a dynamic presence in London, marks a new wave of radicalisation in response to the global financial crisis. Its combination of radical forms of protest and a hegemonic political approach – for the 99 per cent – is a positive contribution to the opposition to austerity.
Across North America and Europe, governments are carrying out policies that hit the living standards of the majority of people, in order to increase profits and bail out failing banks. This is meeting an inevitable rise in discontent, but also a political fight over how this disaffection is expressed.
By Stephen MacAvoy
Falling real wages, record youth unemployment and collapsing living standards are not by-products but the aim of Tory economic strategy.
By Andrew Williams
Occupy London Stock Exchange (Occupy LSX), in just three weeks, has demonstrated it is an effective dynamic new movement, driving forward a progressive campaign opposing the current assault on the population’s living standards.
Several hundred people are participating and have set up tents for a continuous vigil at the heart of Britain’s principal financial centre. They are taking inspiration from the global movement that has been occupying public spaces in over 900 cities since the Wall Street protest started seven weeks ago.
We stand for progressive alternatives to making the majority pay for a crisis they did not create.
The Rally starts at 2pm and will be followed by a march to Parliament
Speakers include:
John Pilger
Bruce Kent
Seumas Milne – Guardian
Kate Hudson – Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND)
Josie Long – UK Uncut & award-winning comedian
Aaron Kiely, NUS Black Students’ Campaign
Weyman Bennett, Unite Against Fascism
Lindsey German, Stop the War Coalition
By Jane West
The Tories have spent the days after the inner city riots tore through London and other cities desperately trying to ward off any responsibility that might attach to their government’s policies for these uprisings. Their mantra to the media has been simple: any attempt to consider the reasons for the riots is in and of itself an excuse for criminality and constitutes a refusal to wholeheartedly condemn the violence.
By Jane West
It is entirely good news to see the convulsions shaking the British end of Murdoch’s global media empire and to bid farewell to the unlamented News of the World. Murdoch has of course created a stable of publications and news channels that are cheerleaders for an extremely right-wing politics, both in the Britain and the US.
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