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From The Socialist newspaper, 31 August 2016
Scot schools scandal
Primary school children playing outside on space hoppers, photo National Assembly for Wales (Creative Commons) (Click to enlarge)
Offshore investment firms part-own 277 Scottish state schools.
The schools are products of 'Private Finance Initiative' (PFI) infrastructure privatisation. "Wealth machines" was how a spokesperson for the European Services Strategy Unit think-tank described them.
Speaking to the BBC, he added: "There are an awful lot of people making very substantial sums of money out of it." Scotland's various PFI contracts, including the schools, are worth a collective £6 billion.
In Edinburgh, authorities had to close all 17 of these schools earlier this year. The corner-cutting of private contractors had caused construction faults. A wall fell clean off Oxgang Primary School during a storm. Luckily, no students or staff were stood there at the time.
The Socialist says: end PFI extortion. For public ownership and investment in high-quality infrastructure.
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Finance appeal
The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.
The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.
The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.
- The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
- When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.
Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.
We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to donate to our Fighting Fund.
In The Socialist 31 August 2016:
#KeepCorbyn
#KeepCorbyn: For a party that fights for workers
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Packed meeting discusses Trotskyism, Corbyn and socialist change
Trade unionists for Corbyn rally in Cardiff
Education fightback
Pressure, lies and head games: being a school student in Tory Britain
Join the student fightback to end education cuts and austerity
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Grantham protest against night-time closure of A&E
Socialist Party news and analysis
Invest in grassroots sports needs
Women still take home 36% less than men
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Chile: general strike threat as pensions protests grow
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UberEats: Angry delivery drivers protest over pay
Solid bus strike for better terms and pay
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
Why you should join the Socialist Party today
Socialist Party 'collectathon' to raise crucial cash
Ken Loach and a Socialist seller join Sisters Uncut protest
Socialist Party Summer Camp
Sunshine and socialism at Socialist Party summer camp
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