In this week's issue:

The Socialist 2 October 2008, issue 550

Socialist Party editorial

Market madness!

Defend worker's living standards! photo International Socialists

Profit system failing: The world economy, already in turmoil from the credit crunch, was swept further into an abyss by the thunderbolt news that the US congress had rejected a 'blank cheque' $700 billion bailout of failing banks, writes Judy Beishon, editor, The Socialist.

Credit crunch

Bradford & Bingley: We need real nationalisation

THE CAMPAIGN for a New Workers' Party (CNWP) issued the press release below, written by Coventry Socialist Party councillor and the CNWP national chair Dave Nellist...

The bishop and the 'bank robbers'

Russia: economic crisis looms

What is short-selling and will the ban have any effect?

Short-sellers back Tories

Another nail in New Labour's coffin

Socialist Students

Student debt soaring

Exeter Socialist Students organised a protest outside the office of the university vice-chancellor, photo Exeter Socialist Students

STUDENTS BEWARE! The price of beans, bread and beer is going through the roof! And with a financially punitive student loans system debt is piling up for those going to university...

Lots of new recruits for Socialist Students

Global Warming

Climate change calamities: Socialist planning needed

Climat change demo December 2005, photo Paul Mattsson

The "methane time bomb" has ignited, the Independent newspaper recently declared. The arctic permafrost is melting and releasing a greenhouse gas twenty times more powerful than carbon dioxide, which threatens to rapidly heat up the planet. Urgent action is needed...

Cuts and privatisation threaten new floods

Socialist Party workplace news

Local government pay dispute in Scotland: solid support for strike

Scotland council workers strike, photo International Socialists

Council workers across Scotland responded in massive numbers to the second national all-out strike day on 24 September...

Unison goes to arbitration - a strategy or surrender?

Union calls ballot over health pay

Unions must fight to defend Ford jobs

Lincoln - fight council cuts plan

Workplace news in brief

Socialist Party campaigns

Jean Charles de Menezes

ANOTHER INQUIRY is now underway into the killing of Brazilian electrician Jean Charles de Menezes in July 2005 in south London...

Comment

Conditions in China

Comment: With the US mired in crisis, some commentators look to China and other so-called emerging powers to fill the breach...

Socialist Party review

Liberty by Glyn Maxwell at Shakespeare's Globe

Reviewed by Nancy Taaffe Marxists are often accused of being idealists. However, in my mind, the million dollar questions are always whether the idea is any good, whether it can become a reality, and whether it moves history society forward or drags it back.