Britain

The ideological point of the benefits cap

14th January 2014 Socialist Action 0

By Linda Anderson

New government figures underline that the benefits cap is all about ideology.

The figures show that 33,000 households were affected by the bedroom tax. Undoubtedly hard news for those people affected – and many of those bearing the brunt will be children. More than half of the total number of households affected so far are single parent ones. Single parent households are, in the vast majority, headed by women. So this is a policy hitting women – part of an assault on the post-war welfare state that is sledge-hammering away at the social and economic status of women – and children in the poorest households.

Osborne puts energy company profits before saving lives and the climate

6th December 2013 Socialist Action 0

By Bridget Robertson

Rising energy bills mean that a quarter of the population of Britain now has to spend more than 10 per cent of their income on energy, at the same time as energy company profits have increased by 77 per cent in one year alone.

This has meant thousands of households are being forced to choose between heating and eating as the Tory assault on living standards takes its toll. However, for the vulnerable the consequences are even more serious. Last winter 31 000 people died prematurely, with around a third of those deaths attributable to living in a cold home.

Labour needs an alternative to austerity

21st November 2013 Socialist Action 0

By Paul Roberts

Since using Party conference to shift the campaign agenda to defending ordinary peoples’ living standards, Labour’s support has risen in the polls, party activists have been invigorated and within sections of Labour’s ranks a discussion on alternatives to austerity has opened up.

Wave of anti-austerity protest sweeps across Britain

6th November 2013 Socialist Action 0

By Jennifer Nash

Report on the People’s Assembly National Day of Action which took place on Tuesday 5 November 2013

Yesterday’s National Day of Action against austerity coordinated by the People’s Assembly Against Austerity saw a wave of protests across Britain, with local groups organizing actions in 40 towns and cities.

This National Day of Action built on the upturn of struggle against austerity we have seen in recent months, with the 4,000 strong launch of the People’s Assembly in June, the massive anti-Tory demonstration in Manchester in September and a wave of strike actions from teachers, lecturers, university staff, fire-fighters, probation officers and others in recent weeks.

Students assemble against austerity and prepare for action

5th November 2013 Socialist Action 0

By Jennifer Nash

On Saturday 150 students from more than 50 campuses attended the Student Assembly Against Austerity to discuss ideas and actions to take forward the struggle against austerity nationally and on campuses. Upbeat, energetic, optimistic – students are ready for action against austerity and to play our part in the upturn of struggle.

The event was one of the biggest gatherings of the student anti-austerity movement since the height of the student fight back against tripling tuition fees and the scrapping of EMA in 2010.