What underpins Sinn Féin’s rise in the southern Irish state

17th February 2012 Socialist Action 0

By Frances Davis

Almost one year on from the general election in the southern Irish state, which saw the crushing defeat of the Fianna Fáil government and the election of a Fine Gael/Labour coalition, the Irish economy remains in deep crisis. Implementing the same austerity policies as the previous government, the devastating impact on living standards continues, in parallel to the effect of similar Tory policies in Britain.

Photo: Christina Kekka

Solidarity with the people of Greece

14th February 2012 Socialist Action 0

The Coalition of Resistance and the People’s Charter are appealing for support for a campaign against the extreme ‘austerity’ measures being imposed on the Greek population.

The statement, set out below, should be given widespread backing and can be signed here.

Hester’s bonus and Goodwin’s knighthood – hue and cry conceals the real scandal

1st February 2012 Socialist Action 0

By Jane West

While it is welcome that Stephen Hester, CEO of the publicly-owned Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has been forced to forego his grotesquely inflated bonus – and that his predecessor Fred ‘the Shred’ Goodwin has been stripped of his knighthood – the truth is the whole furore has been used to divert attention from the most central issue and real scandal relating to the banks.

Photo by: wheelzwheeler

Economic stagnation underlines error of Labour policy retreat

26th January 2012 Socialist Action 0

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.