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The Socialist issue 901

11 May 2016

Tories retreat: now drive them out!

PDF | Audio | 2016 Back issues


The Socialist issue 901

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Socialist Party news and analysis

spotTories retreat: now drive them out!

Cameron’s government has been one of retreats. We need to press home this advantage by campaigning for coordinated strike action – including a 24-hour general strike – to defend all our public services and to build a powerful anti-austerity movement.

spotNo to the bosses’ EU, yes to international solidarity

For an independent workers’ voice: The debate on European Union (EU) membership has been reduced in the establishment media to a clash between different wings of the Tory party. But what about if you’re outside the 1% elite?

spotTeachers force Tory academies u-turn

Tory education secretary Nicky Morgan’s zig-zag over academies is a testament to the campaign work spearheaded by the National Union of Teachers. But the threat to teachers’ pay and conditions still stands.

spotTUSC announces ’20-city tour’: the socialist case against the EU

The Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition has released the initial dates of a 20-city tour it is hosting in May and June under the heading ‘The socialist case against the EU’.

spotIndependent inquiry into Orgreave now!

“It’s time for a public inquiry into the policing of the miners’ strike, not just Orgreave and the role of the police, but also the role of politicians.” Surprisingly this comment is from Sir Peter Fahy, former chief constable of Greater Manchester Police.

spotBlair played matchmaker between Saudi oil barons and Chinese dictators

Former prime minister Tony Blair played matchmaker with the Chinese dictatorship for Saudi royalty’s oil concerns.

spotWhat we saw

The director of hit historical drama Wolf Hall slammed Tory attacks on the BBC with his Bafta acceptance speech. Peter Kosminsky said government cuts would “eviscerate” the Beeb and Channel 4.

spotThem & Us

It’s one world for the super-rich, and another one for the rest of us. Royal baby’s gold rattle versus millions in childhood poverty; disused garage fetches record price and Sadiq Khan’s landlord links.

Socialist readers’ comments and reviews

spotJohn Mann’s Israel hypocrisy

The letter the Guardian wouldn’t print: That the serious issue of anti-Semitism is being used as a proxy charge against Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership of the Labour Party is confirmed by the high-profile role of John Mann MP.

spotCouncil estate exhibition shows the full picture

Photographic review: ‘Estate’ Photographer Robert Clayton’s exhibition ‘Estate’ is a valuable reminder of what it meant to live in a council estate, and how Thatcherism continues to ravage this.

spotFilm review: Eddie the Eagle

Tribute to working class Olympic spirit: “The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not winning but taking part… the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle.”

spotThe Socialist postbag

Do you have something to say? Letters to the Socialist’s editors. End Labour witch hunts; Khan bus-ted; lessons Leicester FC’s victory; Israel fail; Brum bailiffs.

Elections 2016

spotElections showed anger and fragmentation

To defeat the right means starting to mobilise the currently fragmented anti-austerity mood into a mass, democratic movement. This will not succeed if it remains trapped within the current undemocratic structure of the Labour Party, vainly trying to compromise with ‘the 4.5%’ – the Blairite representatives of big business in the Labour Party.

spotTUSC election campaigns show opposition to cuts

Elections took place on 5 May for the Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales, the Greater London Authority, and for 124 local authorities in England. The Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition stood to show opposition to the cuts consensus.

spotOver 1,700 votes for TUSC in Warrington

Following a tremendous campaign with huge support from local residents, TUSC Councillor Kevin Bennett missed out on re-election in Fairfield and Howley by a narrow margin. Polling 921 votes, Kevin was behind the third-placed Labour candidate in the three-seat ward by only 76 votes.

spotScotland: SNP wins but new openings for socialist alternative emerge

An increasing mood of disappointment in the actions of the SNP in power; their implementation of Tory austerity and the lack of a viable national left alternative has led to an increasing alienation in many working-class areas.

spotWales: no change and all change

On the surface there has not been a huge change in the political complexion of the Welsh government – Welsh Labour lost just one seat and will be able to hold on as a minority government. But under the surface the election showed how much things have changed in Welsh politics.

spotNorthern Ireland elections: positive moves against sectarian politics

The Northern Ireland Assembly election was a dull and uneventful affair. The result has brought little change. Yet there were significant signs that the growing alienation from sectarianism, austerity and backward social policies is beginning to find a positive expression.

spotOver 1,800 votes for TUSC candidate in Bristol

Bristol’s mayoral election saw the TUSC vote rise by over 450 from 2012 to 1,876 first preference votes.

spotThird anti-cuts councillor elected in Southampton

Southampton anti-cuts candidate Tammy Thomas was elected with 45% of the vote and Labour nearly 500 votes behind. All three seats are now held by anti-austerity councillors against the Blairite cutters.

spotTUSC increases vote in Coventry by 25%

In Coventry TUSC won 3,108 votes across the city increasing the vote by 25% from the last set of comparable local elections in 2014. The highest vote was for TUSC national chair Dave Nellist in St Michaels ward where TUSC received almost 20%.

spotFourth place for TUSC in Liverpool

The TUSC candidate for the mayor of Liverpool, Unison national executive member Roger Bannister, polled 4,950 votes, a 5.1% share, over 1,400 votes ahead of the Tories.

Workplace news and analysis

spotBlacklisted workers win millions in legal victory

Blacklisted workers have won millions of pounds in compensation after a long-running legal battle finally ended in victory. The total figure for compensation paid out by the blacklisting firms is estimated at £50 million with an additional £200 million worth of legal costs.

spotGovernment blinks first in junior doctors’ dispute

The Tories appear to have blinked first in the junior doctors’ struggle. TTory Health Minister Jeremy Hunt was clear that it was too late to stop his imposition of the new contract but just hours later softened that position to temporarily suspending it.

spotTrade Union Bill becomes law

The Tory Trade Union Bill has completed its journey through the parliamentary process to become law. Disgracefully, the Trade Union Congress has not organised a single national demonstration against the bill. But the National Shop Stewards Network, along with thousands of union activists, will be fighting for mass action to defeat the Tories.

spotPrison officers walk out over health and safety

Over 50 workers at Wormwood Scrubs prison walked out over health and safety issues on 6 May. The Prison Officers’ Association said the move comes after recent assaults on staff, and said the jail was “flooded with drugs, mobile phones and weapons”.

spotPotential new steel bosses refuse to take on pensions

It is becoming increasingly clear from the different bids to take over all or part of Tata Steel’s UK operations, that none of the potential buyers will take on the £15 billion pension scheme. This includes Excalibur who are proposing 1,000 extra job cuts.

spotWorkplace news in brief

Short reports on some of the latest trade union struggles. Lecturers and Topshop cleaners plan strikes over pay.

Socialist Party reports and campaigns

spotLet kids be kids: children ‘strike’ against Sats tests

Along with thousands of other children, my daughter went on strike on 3 May. She was aware she was on strike and why, and this in itself is a valuable lesson in standing up for what you believe in.

spotWhat way forward for Tamil rights?

Come to 4 June Solidarity Day: Unfortunately, the establishment Tamil organisations seem to have lost sight of the need to build a strong, grassroots movement.

spotSave Paignton Hospital campaign launched

Paignton Community Hospital is being closed with a rumoured loss of 100 beds. The Clinical Commissioning Group has made no clear promise to replace these beds and services in the community.

spotMay Day demo says: no cuts to childrens’ centres!

“No ifs, no buts, no children’s centre cuts” was the rallying cry at the largest Chesterfield May Day demonstration for many years on 2 May.

spotSupport for junior doctors at campaign stalls

Public shows huge support for BMA strike at Socialist Party stalls in Carlisle and Leicester.

International socialist news and analysis

spotGreek general strike: more needed to defeat austerity

Public transport was brought to a halt on 6 May as Greek workers began a 48-hour general strike against austerity.

spotHow to trump Donald

Donald Trump, the sleazy, racist, reactionary billionaire, has all but secured the Republican Party presidential nomination in the US. His arch rivals Cruz and Kasich conceded defeat following the most recent primary contests.

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