In this week's issue:

The Socialist 14 May 2008, issue NHS under threat

NHS under threat

Keep the NHS public! On the 'Save the NHS' march, 3 November 2007 , photo Paul Mattsson

Urgent action needed: JUST WEEKS before the 60th anniversary of the National Health Service, government plans to reorganise and privatise it could mean the end of a health service that is publicly owned and free at the point of use, writes Lois Austin.

Unison witch-hunt

Unison witch-hunt: Rory Bremner and Mark Thomas speak out

Onay Kasab, photo Paul Mattsson

"On the face of it, Unison are about to make themselves look a laughing stock", Rory Bremner comments, on the accusations against Onay Kasab.

Anti-racists protest at Unison witch hunt

Letter sent by Markhan S Bajwa, director of Greenwich Council for Racial Equality to Unison general secretary Dave Prentis to protest about the treatment of Onay Kasab, Greenwich Unison branch secretary.

Unison witch-hunt: Defend the four lobby of hearing

Pictures of lobby

International socialist news and analysis

Burma cyclone disaster: Wealth and privilege put before aid

The appalling effects of the cyclone which hit the vast Irrawaddy river delta, have shocked people all over the world, writes Keith Dickinson.

60 year anniversary of Israel: Can there be a resolution of the Palestinian/Israeli conflict?

Scottish National Party: One year in power - but little for workers to celebrate

Global capitalist crisis: Confidence in a socialist future

Socialist Party women

Defend and extend abortion rights

Pro choice protest in Wales against Ann Widdecombe, photo Dave Reid

No reduction in the time limit, End the two-doctor rule: On 20 May Tory MP Nadine Dorries intends to move an amendment to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill to cut the current upper limit for abortion from 24 to 20 weeks, writes Eleanor Donne, Basildon Socialist Party.

Ladyfest: culture, politics and women

Socialist Party news and analysis

What will Boris Johnson mean for London?

After the 1 May elections: BORIS JOHNSON'S election as Mayor of London capped a string of successes for the Conservatives in the 1 May local elections, indicating that a Tory victory in the next general election is a serious possibility, writes Neil Cafferky.

Price rises hit workers

MORE BAD news ahead for the Brown government - and for workers. While Brown keeps on pushing the need for a 2% pay deal for public-sector workers, prices...

Don't evict Ricky Jones!

The BNP have no solutions...and no clue!

Sussex students uphold 'no platform'

Students 'study-in' in Manchester

Opposing cutbacks in Lincolnshire

Why Labour lost Bury

Socialist Party workplace news and analysis

Left wins in PCS executive elections

Left Unity by itself has an overall majority on the national executive - an endorsement of the left's leadership in the face of the government's cuts and privatisation programme, writes Janice Godrich, PCS president, personal capacity.

North west shop stewards

Wales TUC: Right wing attack on democracy

Delegates to the annual conference of the Wales TUC, meeting in Llandudno on 21-23 May, face the prospect of a right-wing offensive to undermine the democratic traditions of the trade union movement, writes Alec Thraves, Swansea trades council delegate..

Socialist fighter honoured by lecturers' union

Socialist Party member Andrew Price is retiring from work next February, so he is standing down from his position as the UCU national executive member for Welsh Further Education...

Socialist Party review

Review: 'Marx in London' by Asa Briggs and John Callow

This is a revival of the book first published in 1982 by the BBC to accompany a TV series of the same name, authored by the well-known academic and social historian, Asa Briggs, and John Callow...