By Jane West and Nicky Dempsey

The crisis in the SWP has provoked a discussion including everything from prurient gossip and snide sectarianism to serious political analysis. For those interested in advancing the cause of socialism a potentially disintegrative crisis in the numerically largest current of the British far left is a serious matter, therefore worthy of serious comment.

There are really two issues involved. First, why this crisis in the SWP has developed. Second why the capitalist media, who are implacable enemies of anything progressive, have decided to take such an interest in the matter. As will be seen the two issues are very different.

By Nicky Dempsey

David Cameron’s long-delayed speech on Europe does not mark a decisive turning-point for Britain’s economic relations with the EU. But it may signal a breach by the Tory Party with the vital interests of the British ruling class. If so, this will severely damage its electoral prospects and will mark a new stage in the long-term decline of the Tory Party and the recomposition of British politics.

By Jane West

Across Europe, governments of right and left are implementing ‘austerity’ policies. The claim that excessive government debt and ‘unaffordable’ welfare and services require extraordinary cuts in public spending is being used to legitimise the biggest post-1945 assault on the living standards and hard-won rights of the working class in Europe.

Resistance to this assault – through mass actions and by presenting a political and economic alternative – is the most mass task of the class struggle in the continent today.

By Nicky Dempsey

The Financial Times has reported that the government’s plans to boost spending on infrastructure have effectively been blocked by the leading banks and investment funds (Infrastructure hopes hit by City stand-off, November 18).

By Nicky Dempsey and Jane West

The media consensus on the assessment of both the Labour and Tory conferences indicates a growing acceptance of the political consequences of what the polls are showing – that Labour looks set to win the next General Election or at worst be the largest party, and this will occur under Ed Miliband’s leadership.

By Jane West

After the elections in Western Europe in the first half of this year it is a good moment to take stock of the overall state of the class struggle in the region.

By Jane West

The combination of the news that the UK economy remains in a double dip recession with July’s sharp and unpredicted increase in public sector borrowing were widely recognised as still further evidence that the disastrous ‘deficit cutting’ strategy of Osborne and the coalition government is failing.

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 Stephen MacAvoy

The mobilisation of several thousand anti-fascists - including local Muslim and other faith communities, trade unionists, students, LGBT organisations and many others - in Tower Hamlets on 3 September landed a huge defeat on the EDL by preventing it from entering the borough.

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.