Support the People’s Assembly Against Austerity
By Nicky Dempsey
The People’s Assembly Against Austerity has been called for 22 June. It is an important initiative to take steps to bring together a national movement against austerity.
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Why the bourgeois media offensive against the SWP?
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.
Save Lewisham Hospital
By Adam Jones
Up to 25,000 people marched in Lewisham on Saturday to protest at the closure of the local hospital. The demo was led by trade unionists, especially in the NHS, community groups and local residents. It was supported by unions nationally as well as local MPs and councillors.
Autumn statement – crisis paid for by workers and the poor
By Nicky Dempsey
There is very little attempt to disguise the class interests served by George Osborne’s latest Autumn statement.
The government claims that its overriding aim is to reduce the public deficit yet corporation tax is to be cut once again, now down to 21 per cent. Altogether the statement includes £5.7 billion in tax cuts and giveaways to the corporate sector over the next several years. At the same time a series of partial freezes on welfare entitlements and tax thresholds, holding them to one per cent increases – which is below the rate of inflation, show that the burden of the crisis continues to paid for by workers and the poor.
Budget Day Protest: Cut War Not Welfare
Wednesday 5 December 6pm-7pm Downing Street LondonThe government plans to intensify the assault on the population’s living standards, with further deep cuts to the welfare state, whilst at the same time ring [Read more]
Why the dynamic of Britain’s political situation will pose the need for left unity
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.