In this week's issue:

The Socialist 7 October 2009, issue Needed a party for workers, not bosses

Needed a party for workers, not bosses

The Socialist Party protesting against capitalism - the G20 - in London, photo Paul Mattsson

Tories, LibDems, Labour - competing to slash our jobs and services: Like an impenetrable sea mist, the prospect of a Tory government hung over New Labour's conference in Brighton, writes Peter Taaffe, Socialist Party general secretary.

Afghanistan stop the war

International Socialist Resistance on the 15 March 2008 anti-war demo, photo Paul Mattsson

October 2009 marks the eighth anniversary of troops being sent to Afghanistan. It is clearer than ever that the invasion has resulted in a nightmare for the people of Afghanistan and the region and those...

Youth Fight for Jobs

Newsflash!: On 1 October a number of Future Jobs Fund placements began. These temporary schemes are designed to artificially push down the number of long term unemployed youth (see previous articles). Young people...

University accommodation scandal: Students must defend rights

University freshers fairs: Students seek out socialism

Wirral anti-cuts victory: 'If you fight, you can win'

WIRRAL RESIDENTS and workers are cautiously celebrating the decision by Wirral council's LibDem/Labour ruling coalition to do a u-turn and revoke their decision to close eleven libraries across Wirral, writes Dave Lunn, Wirral Against the Cuts, personal capacity.

Young parents need support, not attacks

Fight for a living wage

Not to Darling's pay freeze

Fast news

Campaign forces health Trust to save Crowlin House

An autumn of discontent in South Yorkshire

South Yorkshire Fire Brigades Union FBU demonstration, photo Yorkshire Socialist Party

Lecturers in the UCU union have already held one day strikes this term at Barnsley, Rotherham and Doncaster colleges, for the implementation of the 2004 pay awards and against cuts and job losses, writes Alistair Tice.

Leeds council calls for talks with unions

Fighting against outsourcing, defending working conditions at British Telecom

NUT vice president: Elect Martin Powell-Davies

Cambridge post workers strike

North Wales shop stewards network

Social care in crisis

Cuts, outsourcing and privatisation mean vulnerable adults and children are 'falling through the net'. Social care staff are struggling to cope with high caseloads, increasing red tape and worsening pay, terms and conditions at work.

Paul Couchman, a social care worker and branch secretary of Surrey County Unison writing in a personal capacity, analyses what is going on.

Ireland: Lisbon Treaty vote is not an endorsement for hated government

Reading the Socialist Party's leaflet during the 2008 referendum in Ireland, photo Paul Mattsson

A SIGNIFICANT two-to-one majority in the Irish republic, on a higher turnout, passed the Lisbon Treaty on 20 October, overturning the decision of the Irish electorate in June 2008, writes Kevin McLoughlin, Dublin.

Portugal: Voters turn to the left

Foreign aid - chaining the world to capitalism

Fish Tank directed by Andrea Arnold

I speak Fula by Bassekou Kouyate and Ngoni Ba