Tories' obesity plans - blaming individuals not the profit system

First, the elderly were told to shield from Covid-19. Then, statistics revealed a disproportionate number of people from ethnic minorities were dying from the virus. Now, obesity is being linked to a serious risk of fatality from the virus.

Capitalism's 'vaccine war' shows need for socialist cooperation

Covid-19 can travel round the world at jet speed. No one can feel secure without global action. Yet despite gushing words from government leaders about international cooperation on research and development, a 'vaccine war' is developing.

Labour payouts: unions must discuss political representation

Unite leader Len McCluskey rightly said Labour's leaders misused union members' money

NHS pay: 15% for all now

NHS staff remain in the middle of a gruelling battle against Covid-19, and are facing a second wave, yet many still have to struggle to afford the basics.
A national day of action on pay is taking place on 8 August.

From first wave to second? Capitalism's Covid failures

Boris Johnson's easing of lockdown appears to have hit its limits. Where now?

What would socialist universities look like?

Record numbers of 18-year-olds in the UK have applied to go to university this September. Applications are up 1.6% for UK students and 10% for international students.

Huawei: what's behind Johnson's u-turn?

World capitalism has a growing polarisation into competing blocs

Fight for our livelihoods... Fight for our lives!

The Covid capitalist crisis is hitting the working class hard from all sides. We face a tsunami of job cuts and attacks on living standards.

Saving the music industry from pandemic and austerity

"90% of UK venues and festivals face closure" warned a report from the Music Venue Trust in June. Like many other service industries, the live music business has been left on a cliff edge

Luton Council sunk by airport investment: fight for funding, not speculation!

Labour-controlled Luton agreed drastic cuts to services at a full council meeting on 14 July. These are a direct result of a dramatic decline in dividend payments

Getting the Socialist over the summer

The Socialist is now entering our summer schedule. This will give our editors a chance to take a well-deserved summer break.

Fight for the NHS

To put it in context, the annual budget of NHS England is £134 billion. Management requested an extra £10 billion. The Tory government has pledged just £3 billion.

Tories using pandemic to privatise NHS more

Another £3 billion for the NHS to prepare for the coming winter, said the Tory government. NHS England had actually said it needed £10 billion.

Them & Us

Nationalise Tata Steel to save jobs

Media reports that Tata Steel in Port Talbot is considering shutting down its two blast furnaces, and replacing them with 'greener' electric arc furnaces, which would require far less workers, have provoked anger and panic among the workforce, steel unions, and local politicians.

Housing crisis: what now and after the pandemic?

The government often claims to have housed 90% of homeless people during the pandemic through the 'Everybody In' scheme. Working for a homeless service in Westminster, I know this to be a lie.

A socialist programme for schools

How schools have been affected by coronavirus, and what kind of future school system we need

Jobs, homes, services and a future for all!

The BLM protests have lifted the lid on the enormous level of built-up class anger

Palace letters show the monarchy is a weapon for capitalism

1975 Australia coup: correspondence with queen released: The crown is a weapon of the ruling class which is usually kept relatively sheathed

Workers and young people need planning for jobs, not handouts for bosses

Like every aspect of the government's response to the Covid-19 pandemic, Rishi Sunak's "plan for jobs" is more headline than substance, and doomed to fail in its stated aims.