British Politics

Photo by jon smith

The right turn in politics and crisis of the Tory party

24th May 2013 Socialist Action 0

By Jane West

No one should underestimate the depth of the crisis now confronting the Tory Party, which has snow-balled from the moment in January that Cameron conceded to the Eurosceptic wing of his party and made a pledge for an in-out referendum on Europe if the Tories won in 2015.

This was an enormous miscalculation, undoing all the work that Cameron had done in turning the Tory Party towards the centreground in British politics with his mantra that ‘banging on’ about Europe had alienated the voters.

Terrorism has never broken London or its unity – it never will – it will fail

23rd May 2013 Socialist Action 0

By Jane West

The murderous attack on a soldier in Woolwich yesterday was horrifying, and nothing justifies such a vile act. The only response that is appropriate – apart from expressing sympathy for the victim’s family and friends – is to isolate the approach of the perpetrators and for communities to stand together in condemnation of this attack, as Ken Livingstone spells out in the article we reproduce below.

UKIP and the stakes for the left

7th May 2013 Socialist Action 0

By Jane West

The results of the local elections were above all a devastating blow to the Tories.

But while they confirm Labour is on course for a win at the 2015 General Election, this at present is not due to a significant turn to the left in the population.

ONS

Labour should propose a growth plan not spread austerity more widely

26th April 2013 Socialist Action 0

By Nicky Dempsey

The growing recognition that the 2015 election is Labour’s to lose has led to increasing rightwing pressures on the Labour leadership to maintain the essential thrust of ‘austerity’ policy.

The overwhelmingly Tory press focuses on the demand that Ed Miliband in particular commits to maintaining Tory spending plans.

Building the People’s Assembly Against Austerity is the key task of the left

24th April 2013 Socialist Action 0

By Jane West

Recent weeks have seen a clear up-tick in the struggle against austerity in Britain.

The nationwide response to the Bedroom Tax, a number of very significant demonstrations against hospital closures, a jump in size of pickets and protests called against other local cuts and the decisions by NUT/NASUWT to call a series of one day strikes are among the evidence for this. The movement against austerity and the cuts has begun to move up a gear for the first time since the student struggles of late 2010 and the 2011/12 pensions’ actions.