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Socialist Party news and analysis
Child poverty rises by 200,000 in a year
In the space of just one year, 2014 to 2015, the number of children living in poverty in the UK has risen by a staggering 200,000. This brings the total number to 3.9 million, according to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
Welsh Assembly to scrap ‘right to buy’
The Welsh Assembly has announced it plans to scrap Thatcher’s ruinous ‘right to buy’ policy in Wales. The Socialist Party welcomes this move – but this alone will not be enough to solve the housing crisis.
Nine-month prison sentence for fleeing ethnic cleansing
Abdul Rahman Haroun, a 40-year-old Sudanese refugee, was sentenced to nine months in prison for trying to reach the UK by walking the Channel Tunnel.
What we saw: Angela Eagle Facebook meme
Labour right winger Angela Eagle’s bid to topple Jeremy Corbyn did not start well. Press walked out of her launch conference halfway through due to developments in the Tory leadership race. Meanwhile, her Alan Partridge-esque “I’m with Angela” Facebook meme has attracted thousands of comments. Almost every one is some variation of “#ImWithCorbyn”. At time of writing, there’s over 44,000 of them.
It’s one world for the super-rich, and another one for the rest of us including facts and figures about new PM Theresa May and the M&S pay cut.
Fighting racism
Fight racism: for jobs, homes and services for all
Solidarity with #BlackLivesMatter: Eljeer Hawkins of the Socialist Party’s US co-thinkers reports on the anti-racist struggle there.
Police racism still lethal in Britain
A storm of proud fury swept through Brixton, south London on 9 and 10 July as hundreds marched against police racism. 3,000 followed in Manchester on 11 July. Other cities plan to join them.
Majority support migrants staying – fight hate crime
Reader’s comment: Online reports of hate crime were five times higher than an average week in the seven days from the EU referendum polling day. The media and establishment want to suggest that anti-migrant abuse surged overnight purely because of the result.
What we think
Step up the campaign to back Corbyn’s fight
It’s a victory – reflecting enormous pressure from Labour members and trade unionists – that the attempt to stop Jeremy contesting a new Labour leadership election has been defeated.
Tory coronation is attempt at stability that can’t work
The new Tory PM, Theresa May, was hastily chosen by only 0.0004% of the electorate on Monday 11 July.
Chilcot report
Chilcot Iraq report: More piles of evidence against the blood-soaked war for oil
The 2.6 million-word Chilcot report in essence acknowledges that the devastating war on Iraq and occupation was a completely unjustifiable act of military aggression, by making it clear that it was not necessary.
Socialist Party workplace news
Angry prison officers walk out over reforms
Prison officers in England and Wales staged unofficial walkouts on 8 July in protest against proposed reforms. The Prison Officers Association (POA) is angry that its members have not been consulted over the government’s plans to change the way prisoners are supervised – which it believes could lead to redundancies.
New threat to impose junior doctors contract must be met with strike action
Following news that junior doctors in England voted by 58% to 42% to reject the terms of their proposed new working contract, health minister Jeremy Hunt is again threatening to impose the contract on them.
Vote Chas Berry for Napo national chair
Socialist Party member Chas Berry, currently vice-chair of the National Association of Probation Officers (Napo), is a candidate in the union’s election for national chair. Ballot papers go out on 15 July and voting closes on 25 August. Chas outlines his election programme
Unite policy conference 2016: Blairite coup, Trident and cuts dominate opening days
The first two days of Unite the Union’s biennial policy conference was dominated by the attempted Blairite coup in the Labour Party. General Secretary Len McCluskey in opening the conference attacked the Blairites and made it clear it was a political attack on Jeremy Corbyn.
Short reports on some of the latest trade union struggles including a roofing workers’ strike in Wigan and supermarkets in crisis.
International socialist news and analysis
Spain: Disappointment for left in re-run general election
The results of the 26 June re-run general elections in Spain were without doubt very disappointing for many activists, and for broad layers of workers and youth. All opinion polls pointed to the much-coveted ‘sorpasso’ – ie the alternative left overtaking the ex-social democratic PSOE as the main opposition to the right-wing PP (People’s Party).
Short stories on workers’ struggles around the world including the fight for abortion rights in Ireland, solidarity with striking Walmart workers in China and a CWI member contesting a council seat in Brazil.
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
Thousands mobilising to #KeepCorbyn
Reports of rallies and meetings around the country in support of Jeremy Corbyn.
Why I joined: “I no longer felt isolated from politics”
Being a member of the Socialist Party has not only enabled me to find my political voice but also to understand politics on a class basis, giving me confidence to fight for issues I believe in and I feel more empowered than I did before.
Fight back is on to save NHS heart services
A massive attack has been launched on NHS congenital heart services in England. Patients, families and health workers will not accept it and we will fight back. As a parent whose 15-year old son had open heart surgery only seven months ago at one of the threatened units, Leicester Glenfield Hospital, I am furious.
Sales of the Socialist through the roof since the referendum
Since the EU referendum sellers of the Socialist have been hitting the streets providing analysis of the rash of resignations and political crisis hitting the establishment parties, with hundreds snapping up copies. The Socialist spoke to Martin Reynolds in Waltham Forest