The Socialist

The Socialist 25 July 2012

Olympic Britain - We’re priced out

The Socialist issue 728


On your marks.... Get set.... Fight back!

Outsourcing fails again. For publicly owned and run services!

£13 trillion hidden from tax by super-rich

Not-guilty verdict in Ian Tomlinson case

Olympic Watch

Them & Us


Kazakhstan - Workers struggle against bloody, corrupt regime

Spain's austerity government is facing revolt from below

Miners light up Madrid and show the way to struggle!


1972: dockers face down the Tory government


Austerity Games highlights plight of young people

Save our jobs: We need a 24-hour general strike

Newcastle pride

Pre-emptive arrests: "straight out of 1984"


Kick private profiteers out of the NHS

Virgin vultures swoop on vulnerable people's services

Leicester: Not one cut in the NHS

Kirkby campaigners get support

Olympic protest as South London Healthcare trust forced into administration


Olympic victory for London bus workers

Solidarity with PCS members fighting to defend services

RMT demo in Portsmouth against Condor's 'sweatships'

Remploy strike a big success

Workplace news in brief


TV review: "What have the Olympics done for me?"


Save our server!

Summer printing schedule

Socialist Party Summer Camp

 
 
 
Socialist Party logo Socialist Party on the climate change demo December 2007, pic Paul Mattsson Socialist Party News
Socialist Party Policy statements
Socialist Party contemporary Marxist analysis

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Newcastle pride

Commercialism vs politics

Bobbie Cranney

Newcastle Pride took place on Saturday 21 July. It soon became clear that the march was going to be bigger than last year. At least 1,000 people assembled and the march set off around 12 noon, going through the town centre and then to the Exhibition Park.

The mood on the march was light and jolly. When we got to the park there was a festival atmosphere. And there were many stalls from the Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) groups from colleges, universities, trade unions and workplaces.

There was a stage, but if there were any speeches I missed them. It was mainly cheesy music.

We set out our Socialist Party stall outside the women's tent, which had a different vibe - less mainstream and less commercial.

There had been some opposition to a women-only space. According to one organiser the women's tent had the lowest budget of any tent, with all acts performing for free. It was generally judged to be a great success, and sitting outside was a good location for our stall.

Over the course of the day we sold over 30 of the Socialist Party's LGBT pamphlets as well as copies of the Socialist and pamphlets on how the cuts would affect women. Many people signed the petition against homophobia and the government's spending cuts. And there was a lot of discussion about how the cuts would affect LGBT people.

Although the mood of people seemed fairly laid back, there was a feeling of rebellion in some quarters.

Despite Pride becoming largely commercialised and depoliticised over the last few years there is a mood against this among Pride supporters all over the country. It will be interesting to see how this mood develops in the coming years and how Pride changes in these interesting times.


Sexuality, austerity & socialism - a Socialist Party LGBT pamphlet

£1.50 including postage.

Women: Fighting Austerity, Fighting for Equality - a Socialist Party pamphlet

£1.50 including postage.

Special offer to readers - both pamphlets for £2.50. Payable to Socialist Books, PO Box 24697, London E11 1YD. Discounts for bulk orders (5 or more copies) - phone 020 8988 8789.


In this issue


Socialist Party news and analysis

On your marks.... Get set.... Fight back!

Outsourcing fails again. For publicly owned and run services!

£13 trillion hidden from tax by super-rich

Not-guilty verdict in Ian Tomlinson case

Olympic Watch

Them & Us


International socialist news and analysis

Kazakhstan - Workers struggle against bloody, corrupt regime

Spain's austerity government is facing revolt from below

Miners light up Madrid and show the way to struggle!


Socialist history

1972: dockers face down the Tory government


Socialist Party reports and campaigns

Austerity Games highlights plight of young people

Save our jobs: We need a 24-hour general strike

Newcastle pride

Pre-emptive arrests: "straight out of 1984"


Stop NHS cuts & privatisation

Kick private profiteers out of the NHS

Virgin vultures swoop on vulnerable people's services

Leicester: Not one cut in the NHS

Kirkby campaigners get support

Olympic protest as South London Healthcare trust forced into administration


Socialist Party workplace news

Olympic victory for London bus workers

Solidarity with PCS members fighting to defend services

RMT demo in Portsmouth against Condor's 'sweatships'

Remploy strike a big success

Workplace news in brief


Socialist Party review

TV review: "What have the Olympics done for me?"


Socialist Party appeal & news

Save our server!

Summer printing schedule

Socialist Party Summer Camp


 

Home   |   The Socialist 25 July 2012   |   Join the Socialist Party

Subscribe   |   Donate   |   Bookshop

Related links:

Newcastle:

triangleDoncaster: For a mayor that would really stop the bedroom tax!

triangleWhy we're standing for TUSC

triangleCampaigning against the cuts

triangleCampaigning against the cuts

triangleAnti-cuts protester arrested for using right to free speech

Pride:

triangleBrighton Pride 2012: anti-cuts group blocked

triangleBrighton Pride: Anti-cuts bloc threatened and kettled

triangleLeeds Pussy Riot solidarity

trianglePride march through City of York for the first time

Women:

triangleCombating violence against women: A socialist perspective on fighting women's oppression

triangleSick Of Your Boss: young people in work - your stories

triangleLack of enthusiasm for Labour

LGBT:

triangleCardiff Mardi Gras protests against homophobia

trianglePride should be about protest, not profits!