In this week's issue:

The Socialist 29 September 2010, issue We need action against the cuts... and a socialist political alternative

We need action against the cuts... and a socialist political alternative

Barnet council workers protest at plans to cut services and run a 'no frills' council, photo Suzanne Beishon

Almost every report of Tory chancellor George Osborne's impending cuts assumes that "of course, everyone knows cuts are necessary", writes Dave Nellist, Socialist Party councillor, Chair, Campaign for a New Workers' Party.

Fight the cuts! - demonstrate on 23 October

Stop wholesale sell-off in Suffolk

Suffolk Unison member speaks

Councils must defy cuts

Children's homes: Bosses' 'Tribalism' defeated

Fighting to save our services

Service users defend Ealing health centres

Anti-cuts demonstrations planned so far

No 'lurch to the left' for Labour

National Shop Stewards Network Lobby of TUC congress 2010, photo Paul Mattsson

Editorial from The Socialist, issue 640: Does the victory of Ed Miliband over his elder brother David - a modern Cain and Abel drama in reverse with the younger brother 'knifing' the elder - represent the dreaded 'lurch to the left' feared by the right-wing press...

Stop the NHS sell-off

Community health services in Nottinghamshire will be well on the way to privatisation by Christmas. Almost every part of healthcare that is not in an acute hospital or a GP's consulting room is affected...

Death at Kington Court community care centre shows "regime of neglect"

UN fails to meet development goals

Housing bosses' pay goes through the roof

Unison elections: Socialists stand for a fighting and democratic trade union

Students: Why we must all protest!

Staff and students unite in protest at Sussex university, photo Socialist Students

Comprehensive spending review - 20 October: The brutal Con-Dem government's spending review on 20 October is expected to announce further devastating cuts in jobs and services, writes Becci Heagney, Leicester.

Socialist Students: showing an alternative to cuts and fees

Defend students' democratic rights

Britain on the brink

Barnet council workers protest at plans to cut services and run a 'no frills' council, photo Paul Mattsson

"A tidal wave of protest is rolling towards the coalition government, roaring, foaming, darkening the sky, sucking every political argument into a lethal wall of water, writes Peter Taaffe.

What's the point of the unions?

Bob Crow, RMT general secretary, addresses National Shop Stewards Network (NSSN) lobby of TUC conference in Manchester 2010, photo Suleyman Civi

Following the highest-profile TUC conference in almost a generation, the Dispatches programme: What's the point of the unions? promised to shine a light on trade unionism in 2010, writes Greg Maughan.

South Wales: Fight for car workers' jobs

Ballot victory against social enterprise

Bosses try to rewrite history

Workplace news in brief

Right-wing government re-elected in Sweden

THE RECENT Swedish elections were historic in many ways. In a polarised vote, with an increased turnout, the right-wing 'Alliance' was again the biggest bloc while losing its overall majority. The racist...

Is Ireland's economy going bust?

THE IRISH government has imposed a series of savage austerity measures to reduce the country's large budget deficit...

Global AIDS crisis: Profits punish poor

The Millenium Development Goals summit recently brought together the leaders of 140 countries to review the progress made in the decade since the eight development goals were set...