Archive for July 2021

1 July 2021

Preparing for struggle in post-Covid Britain

Far from an era of sustained economic upswing, social peace and a Tory ascendency opening up for post-Covid Britain, the prospects ahead are for heightened class conflict and turbulent political times.

1 July 2021

socialism2022

5 July 2021

Socialist Party placards, London 3 July NHS march. Photo Paul Mattsson

Socialist Party placards, London 3 July NHS march. Photo Paul Mattsson

Socialist Party placards, London 3 July NHS march. Photo Paul Mattsson

5 July 2021

Batley & Spen byelection: Another condemnation of Starmer's New Labour

Labour's vote fell by more than 9,000 from the last election and by 16,500 from 2017

5 July 2021

Tories deliver second slap in the face to NHS workers

Protest at parliament to stop the Tories' Health and Care bill
On Saturday in towns and cities all over the country NHS workers were joined by their local communities at protests to defend the NHS and for a decent pay rise

7 July 2021

Fund the measures needed to stop the Covid spread in schools

The increasing number of Covid cases among pupils, and the need for school 'bubbles' to isolate, means that over 370,000 pupils are in isolation and having to learn at home

7 July 2021

Manchester death rate caused by deprivation

The Covid-19 death rate is 25% higher in Greater Manchester than in the rest of England. Average life expectancy has fallen by 1.6 years for men and 1.2 for women, an even bigger fall than the average

7 July 2021

Oaks Park strikers rally

Staff at Oaks Park High School - a large community school in Redbridge, east London - who have been striking over the victimisation of a trade union rep, and against a wider culture of bullying, lobbied Redbridge Town Hall in Ilford on 5 July.

7 July 2021

Safety campaign in DWP: What has happened to our ballot?

Months after a ballot on safety in Jobcentres was launched by the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union, members are left wondering whatever happened to the campaign to keep them safe.

7 July 2021

Striking Brush workers continue to protest 'fire and rehire'

Brush engineering workers, on strike for six weeks so far against 'fire and rehire', had negotiations with management on 6 July, but they are refusing to budge

7 July 2021

Striking Ealing parking attendants rally outside council

An Ealing parking attendants' strike rally on 30 June was lively and angry. The picket lines take place outside the council offices, in an effort to put pressure on the Labour council to intervene and

7 July 2021

Derby academies closed by strikes against brutal cuts and changes

Teachers, members of the National Education Union (NEU) at two Derby schools - Lees Brook Academy and Merrill Academy - were out on strike for a full day on 1 July

7 July 2021

Rising against a rigged and rotten system

Everywhere you look there is proof of the inability of capitalism to solve the huge problems faced by humanity. Capitalism condemns us to things getting worse.

7 July 2021

Why did I choose the Socialist Party?

I don't think we should just toil, pay up and die: When I was 12, I realised how much time I had spent watching my mum stress and sort her finances. Anything from bills to birthdays would be a matter of writing it out, and sorting it methodically.

7 July 2021

Stop environmental destruction in Barnsley

7 July 2021

"It's great to be back": Come to a Socialist Party in-person meeting

We're using the opportunity of easing Covid restrictions to organise safe, socially distanced Socialist Party meetings

7 July 2021

We need funds to fight Tory NHS attacks

A big thanks to all our members and supporters who made sure that we smashed through our fighting fund target and raised £29,959

7 July 2021

Road closures: Hackney residents have not been consulted

400 people took part in an anti-road closure demo in Hackney, east London, on 26 June. The protesters we spoke to recognised that something had to be done about the pollution, but felt that the way the

7 July 2021

Terry Fields MP, Prisoner DV 3695 - The jailing of 'poll tax' rebel and Militant

The late Terry Fields was Labour MP for Broadgreen in Liverpool, and a supporter of Militant, the forerunner of the Socialist Party.

7 July 2021

Bristol: Police to blame for protest violence

When a Bristol demonstration in March ended in clashes between protesters and police, it was splashed across the front page of every capitalist newspaper.

7 July 2021

Exhibition: What next for the statue of slave trader, Edward Colston?

No longer standing tall: A current exhibition asks: "What next for the statue of slave trader, Edward Colston?" A year after the battered and graffiti-covered statue was hoisted out of the River Avon, it now lies supine - and still toppled - in a harbourside museum

7 July 2021

TV - Statue wars: one summer in Bristol

This is a programme about the Black Lives Matter movement in Bristol. Historically, Bristol's economy has been built on exploitation, especially the blood, sweat and tears of kidnapped and enslaved people

7 July 2021

The story of Joe Clough - Britain's first black bus driver

Interview with playwright of Farewell Leicester Square: The Socialist spoke to playwright and Socialist Party member Neil Gore about Townsend Production's latest play, Farewell Leicester Square. It's touring in Bedford, Watford and London from 1-11 July.

7 July 2021

Housing: Join the service charge 'strike'

"I am in despair as to how to stop these atrocious companies any other way. We've experienced diabolical rip-offs, incompetence and lies.

7 July 2021

Israel: Hospital ancillary workers strike over pay parity and workload

Ancillary staff at government hospitals in Israel are taking strike action, starting on 13 July, after three years of negotiations with the ministry of finance.

7 July 2021

Fight is on to save our NHS

Thousands of NHS workers, in dozens of towns and cities, protested on Saturday 3 July against the Tories' insulting 1% pay offer. Just days later, on 5 July, it was announced that workers in the NHS will be awarded the George Cross medal. Not something that will pay the bills for the thousands of nurses who are forced to visit food banks.

7 July 2021

Book: The struggle for world socialism

'The Struggle for World Socialism' by Peter Taaffe is an incisive Marxist analysis of the key events both in Britain and internationally, following on from his second volume, which concluded in 2007.

7 July 2021

Royal London Hospital strike win

Strike action was suspended after Serco capitulated to most of the catering workers' demands.

7 July 2021

Private equity takeover proposals - Usdaw needs to move to a war footing

A bidding war is underway for Morrisons.

7 July 2021

COP26: Socialist change to end the climate crisis

An unprecedented heatwave in Canada and the US Pacific north west has left hundreds dead and caused wildfires.

12 July 2021

Kazakhstan: Nur Otan regime attacks peaceful protest

The Committee for a Workers' International (CWI) has received from a group of left activists in Kazakhstan known as 'Red Yurt' an account of a vicious attack on a demonstration in Almaty and an appeal for solidarity.

14 July 2021

Scrap the privatising health and care bill

For a publicly funded, democratically run, NHS: The Tories are in the process of forcing their new health and care bill through parliament, despite opposition from NHS campaigners and trade unionists

14 July 2021

Tories threaten to axe free prescriptions for older workers

Nearly four million people in England who currently qualify for free prescriptions face paying £9.35 per item if the Tories carry out their plan to raise the qualification age from 60 to 66.

14 July 2021

Defend the triple lock - Fight to end poverty pensions

More than 2.1 million British pensioners are living in poverty after paying housing costs, a rise of 200,000 on the previous year, and the highest for 15 years

14 July 2021

Wealth chasm widens

The rich have got richer during the pandemic. For those who own expensive property or other assets, they have seen a big jump in their family wealth, widening the already existing wealth chasm. The continued

14 July 2021

Dagenham school workers strike against 'fire and rehire' pay cuts

School workers at Valence Primary School in Dagenham, east London are on strike against grim mistreatment through 'fire and rehire' pay cuts and demotions.

14 July 2021

Brush workers into eighth week of strike

Unite members at Brush Electrics are now eight weeks into their strike against 'fire and rehire.' Their pay and conditions are being devastated by the contracts being imposed on the workers under the threat of 'sign or be sacked'.

14 July 2021

Workplace round-up

Bexley bin workers strike: Bexley bin workers have started a two-week strike. Taking confidence from the recent victory of bin workers at Thurrock, another Tory-controlled council, workers are striking against private company Serco.

14 July 2021

St Mungo's strikers end 12-week strike

St. Mungo's strikers have now been out on strike for 12 weeks. On 13 July, Unite celebrated their efforts by holding a small protest to salute their sacrifices, sending them back to work with their heads

14 July 2021

Telecoms workers angry at CWU deal with BT

After two stays of execution, BT and the Communication Workers Union (CWU) believe they have reached an agreement that will prevent a national strike over compulsory redundancies, site closures and relocation

14 July 2021

GKN Birmingham workers rally against plant closure

Socialist Party members attended the rally on 7 July to support workers at GKN Driveline Factory in Erdington, Birmingham (see 'Save jobs, save livelihoods, save GKN Automotive - nationalise the plant!' at socialistparty.org.uk)

14 July 2021

We need councillors who will end housing crisis - vote TUSC in Staines on 22 July

I am standing for the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) in the Staines ward by-election for Spelthorne Council.

14 July 2021

Stop Pimlico gentrification

Residents on a housing estate in Pimlico in London protested on 10 June. Redevelopment plans for their area include properties which will be at 80% of market rents.

14 July 2021

Everyone can spot Socialist Party in Stoke

Our campaign stall concentrates on demanding a 15% pay increase for NHS workers, and an end to NHS privatisation. It includes two tables end to end, and a red wraparound with six large posters.

14 July 2021

Socialist Party meetings say: We're ready to go out and campaign

50 people came to our meeting on 11 July, either in person or via Zoom. Socialist Party general secretary Hannah Sell led the opening discussion. Hannah congratulated the party for not just surviving lockdown,

14 July 2021

Youth Fight for Jobs is back

March and protest with us on 9 October: Young workers and students are organising Youth Fight for Jobs (YF4Js) in preparation for a day of action on 9 October. The Youth Fight for Jobs campaign is needed now more than ever.

14 July 2021

Right-wing study concludes youth like socialism

67% of young people would like to live in a socialist economic system: A right-wing think tank, the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) has concluded that younger generations - Millennial and Generation Z, people born early 1980s to early 2010s - are more politically engaged, and hold more anti-capitalist views

14 July 2021

LGBTQ+ workers' charter

LGBTphobia - discrimination, oppression, harassment and bullying of LGBTQ+ people - impacts the lives of every LGBTQ+ person

14 July 2021

Readers' comments

'Freedom Day' for who exactly?: Send your news, views and criticism, in not more than 150 words, to [email protected] - or if you're not online, PO Box 1398, Enfield EN1 9GT

14 July 2021

Putting the Olympic gravy train ahead of public health

On 8 July, just over two weeks before the games were due to open, Japanese premier Suga Yoshihide announced that the Olympics would be held without spectators

14 July 2021

Kazakhstan: Solidarity with protesters attacked by regime forces

The Committee for a Workers' International has received an appeal for solidarity from a group of left activists in Kazakhstan, known as 'Red Yurt', following a vicious attack by state security forces on a demonstration in Almaty, the country's largest city.

14 July 2021

Farewell Leicester Square - the story of Britain's first black bus driver

Farewell Leicester Square tells the story of Joe Clough - Britain's first black bus driver. It opens in Jamaica, where Joe was born and began his career as a driver working on horse-drawn carriages.

14 July 2021

New wave of radicalisation in Latin America

The new wave of struggle poses the need for mass parties of the working class

14 July 2021

We cannot trust this government over Covid

Confusion over rules and guidance, and a well-earned distrust of government actions have reigned throughout the Covid pandemic.

14 July 2021

Kick out the privatisers - Fight for a 15% Pay rise

The Tories are attempting to push their latest attacks through parliament

14 July 2021

Keep the Universal Credit uplift

£20 can be the difference between stocked-up cupboards, electricity on the meter, or travel.

14 July 2021

Build a mass movement for LGBTQ+ liberation and socialism

We need political struggle for LGBTQ+ liberation.

14 July 2021

Trade unions must continue the fight for Covid safety

While the Tories are rushing to dump all safety measures, employers still have a legal duty to protect workers from harm

14 July 2021

Why I joined the Socialist Party

My political interests stemmed from awareness of social issues - discrimination around race, gender, sexuality, and particularly from being a feminist

14 July 2021

England football team

As a football fan that supports England, I never thought I'd see what the team achieved in at the World Cup in the summer 2018 topped

16 July 2021

Football: Smash racism

19 July 2021

Germany: Flood disaster affects hundreds of thousands

Click here for an article by Caspar Loettgers, Mainz, and Tom Hoffmann, Berlin, members of Sozialistische Organisation Solidarität (CWI Germany)

19 July 2021

South Africa: Build working class unity for way forward for all

21 July 2021

Government departments move to impose pay cuts

Only by fighting will extra money be secured for pay and permanent contracts.

22 July 2021

Public sector pay - Prepare for action!

Health workers have been told that they are only worth a 3% pay rise. Teachers have been told they are worth nothing in terms of a pay rise this year. Hundreds of thousands of civil servants face a pay freeze. A million and a half council workers have already been told they are only worth 1.5%.

23 July 2021

New left NEC meets - Organise the fight back now

The left members of Unison's NEC must maximise use of their majority.

28 July 2021

Unite to fight Tory pay insults

The Tories' 3% pay offer is a direct attack on the NHS. It shows the contempt the government has for the health service and its staff. 3% is simply not enough, and makes it clear that the government does

28 July 2021

'Pingdemic' exemptions

The rows of empty supermarket shelves, missed bin collections and lists of cancelled train services have proved what socialists have been saying all along

28 July 2021

Tories and Labour fail on child poverty

Vast inequalities in the UK are predicted to worsen during the long, post-pandemic recovery, entrenching child poverty across the UK

28 July 2021

Bexley bin workers strike for better pay

Bexley bin workers have now been entered their third week of industrial action, with more strike action planned in August, effectively going indefinite.

28 July 2021

Cuban protests - what do they represent?

On 11 July, Cuba was rocked by the largest protests to have taken place since the 1994 'Maleconazo' protests

28 July 2021

TV Review: Stateless blames mismanagement rather than system

Australia has long been held up as a particularly repressive immigration system, and has served as an inspiration for both Labour and Conservative governments in Britain

28 July 2021

Fight Freeports to stop bonfire of workers' rights

Over 50 trade unionists from unions such as Unite, RMT, PCS, Usdaw, and NEU, and reps from local trades councils in Southampton, Hull and Liverpool met with the assistance of the National Shop Stewards Network (NSSN) to discuss what 'Freeports' mean for workers and how trade unions should respond.

28 July 2021

East London resident fighting eviction again

Nadia Zaman has to fight once again (see 'Protesters halt Nadia's eviction' at socialistparty.org.uk) - this time to stop her and her three children being relocated to Stoke-on-Trent

28 July 2021

Barnsley 'Big Green Space' protest

50 people marched behind a samba band on the 'Big Green Space' protest, calling for our local green spaces not to be destroyed by housing and warehouse developments

28 July 2021

Youth Fight for Jobs is officially relaunched

The relaunch of Youth Fight for Jobs officially got under way, with the national steering committee meeting on 14 July

28 July 2021

Selling the Socialist

I was very anxious about hitting the streets with the first campaign for the Socialist Party in Hereford. There is not a socialist base here.

28 July 2021

Scottish socialist breaks running record

Wow! At just after 3am on 21 July, Socialist Party Scotland member Luke Ivory finished the 518 miles of the NC500.

28 July 2021

Flood devastation in Europe

Capitalism responsible for climate change and lack of protection: The German federal states of Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia, as well as Belgium, the Netherlands and other neighbouring countries, have been devastated by torrential rains and massive flooding.

28 July 2021

Israel: Hospital ancillary workers' strike suspended

Following three days of strike action by government hospital ancillary workers, the employers have agreed to cancel the elimination of 200 posts created to handle the Covid pandemic

28 July 2021

Tower Hamlets Labour backs Tory cuts

Hugo Pierre is standing for TUSC in Weavers

28 July 2021

Thousands march to Reclaim Pride

The march was filled with radical people of all ages

28 July 2021

In brief: News, reports & analysis from the CWI

The following short extracts are from recent articles posted on the Committee for a Workers' International (CWI) website.

28 July 2021

Sheffield Uni UCU fights archaeological dept closure

Despite nearly 47,000 signatures on a petition and at least three protests of well over 100 staff and students, the Sheffield University Council voted on 12 July to go ahead with their Executive Board's proposal to effectively close the Archaeology Department

28 July 2021

Nationality and borders bill

Only those coming via 'safe and legal' routes will be considered for asylum.

28 July 2021

Jobs and homes for all

Protest on 9 October: Youth Fight for Jobs is back on the streets campaigning

28 July 2021

Labour expulsions confirm need for new mass workers' party

The proscription of a number of left groups by Labour's NEC will now make it easier for Starmer & Co to move more extensively.

28 July 2021

London floods: Privatisation and heavy rain are a dangerous mix

In the capital, hospitals, tube stations, roads and houses were flooded

28 July 2021

Further education set for industrial action over pay

UCU members in 15 colleges have voted for action over pay