Portsmouth – jobs, homes, and services for all

Chris Picket and Nick Doyle, Portsmouth Socialist Party

Saturday 12 September saw another extreme-right racist march in Portsmouth, following riots in Eastney that made national headlines the previous weekend. This demo of about 100 of the far right, many of who came from other areas, was opposed by approximately 200 anti-racist protesters from Portsmouth.

Portsmouth has suffered over £100 million of local funding cuts by Tory, Lib Dem, and Labour national governments, implemented by Lib Dem and Tory councils locally. Huge job losses and increased deprivation has helped support for racist ideas grow, with no alternative put forward by any of the main capitalist parties.

Although the turnout of the anti-racist protesters was made up of genuine activists and individual trade unionists, the organised trade unions were mainly not present. There was also no alternative programme put forward – such as jobs, home and services for all – as a rallying call.

The main slogan was ‘unity and diversity’. But this does not offer a solution to the cost of living, climate crisis, and wars facing the majority of working-class people.

A socialist solution can unite workers to fight real the driver of these crises – the capitalist system, which deepens racism and division.

Swansea city centre welcomes anti-racists, rejects far right

Alec Thraves, Swansea Socialist Party

150 anti-fascist protesters gathered and overwhelmed a pathetic turnout of 12-15 far-right protesters, plus a horse! To be fair, the horse, when asked if he was a fascist, replied ‘neigh’.

Unfortunately, a police cordon protected and allowed this pitifully small, moronic group to march through the city centre, whilst at the same time threatening and intimidating the big, noisy counter-protesters following them.

City centre shoppers overwhelmingly supported and clapped the anti-fascist marchers, sending a clear message to the far right, that they are just a tiny minority in Swansea, and will be challenged whenever their poisonous racism shows its ugly face.