In this week's issue:

The Socialist 3 February 2010, issue ‘Filthy rich’ get richer: Challenge the bosses’ greed!

'Filthy rich' get richer: Challenge the bosses' greed!

Dave Nellist on the Unite Jobs demo , photo Harry Smith

Record wealth gap: AFTER 13 years of Labour rule, the gap between the rich and the rest of us is now wider than at any time for nearly 70 years, writes Dave Nellist, Coventry Socialist Party councillor.

Taliban insurgency, poverty and corruption Brown's Afghan crisis deepens

Former Prime Minister Tony Blair as Pinocchio - cartoon by Alan hardman

WITH THE body count of UK troops at over 250 and with a general election looming, Gordon Brown is desperate for an exit strategy from Afghanistan, writes Dave Carr.

Chilcot Inquiry: Millionaire Blair has no regrets

Fight new attacks on London's NHS

HOSPITALS ACROSS London will close, accident and emergency departments will be lost, and thousands of beds will go, writes Paula Mitchell.

Save our A&E!

Civil service Young workers get organised

Young workers/students: The PCS young members' network is one of the best organised youth sections in the trade union movement, giving young workers the confidence and skills to change their situation at work...

Youth Fight for Jobs (YFJ) activities

No cuts and no fees in further education

Young people blocked from access to education

Council criminalises dissent

"You're committing a crime. Do you like being a criminal?" These were the words of Waltham Forest's Environmental Crime enforcement officer as he confronted members of Walthamstow Socialist Party...

Socialist councillors back school's protest

Weak growth - the best that capitalism can offer

Fast News

Trade unionist and socialist coalition

Clive Heemskerk reports on developments around the recently launched Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition...

Bob Crow launches Portsmouth TUSC

Scottish TUSC steering committee set up

TUSC Coalition sponsors

Unison general secretary election: Fighting left challenge needed

Unison conference 2009: Roger Bannister pulls no punches, photo Paul Mattsson

Following the announcement of an election for the general secretary of Unison, a meeting of the left in the union took place on 30 January, writes Glenn Kelly.

Defend the four: Courts show what side they're on

Civil service strike ballot as talks fail

Fujitsu strikers determined to save jobs and pensions

Sri Lanka: Violent election campaign puts Rajapakse back in power

AFTER THE most violent election the country has seen, Mahinda Rajapakse remains president of Sri Lanka, writes Elizabeth Clarke, Committee for a Workers' International, CWI.

Tekel workers demand general strike in Turkey

Betrayed - PTSD casualties of war