The Socialist inbox: letters to the editors

The Socialist inbox: letters to the editors   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

Do you have something to say?

Send your news, views and criticism in not more than 150 words to Socialist Postbox, PO Box 24697, London E11 1YD, phone 020 8988 8771 or email [email protected].

We reserve the right to shorten and edit letters. Don’t forget to give your name, address and phone number. Confidentiality will be respected if requested.

Views of letter writers do not necessarily match those of the Socialist Party.


Capitalism and education

Students demonstrating in London, photo Isai Priya

Students demonstrating in London, photo Isai Priya   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

Regarding the back page of issue 1007 and the comments of John S (see ‘Exam factories, cuts and violence – fight for our future’).

Capitalism only educates the working class to the point that a person has sufficient intelligence to do the mundane work required to further the interests of the 1%.

I had a failed education. When I was doing my Ordinary National Certificate my lecturer informed me: “The British education system has failed you. Here you are boys and girls, 17 to 18 years old, working for banks, building societies and insurance companies. And you don’t know the first thing about economics.” He was so very correct and I remember it well.

I wish John well with his GCSEs in 2019 and must remind you all of the words of George Orwell from his book 1984, “hope lies with the proles.”

Adrian B Rimington, Chesterfield

Tribunal said ‘no’

After nine months and three tribunals they said ‘no’. They stole two weeks’ money at the start of my claim for ‘universal credit’ and two weeks at the end.

This is a government of thieves, liars and politicians who either destroy your life or end it.

After nine months waiting, I went to appeal court for the third time to retrieve the money they stole from me. As the magistrate had a sign round his neck saying I’ve already made up my mind, I was not confident.

I was sent another letter to further appeal, and rang Cardiff to be told I am 58 in the queue. Is there another planet?

Mike, Southampton

Socialist fighters or Blairite poodles?

The question of the realignment of British politics could be very interesting in the coming months. If the Brexit deal, or no deal, is not to the liking of politicians such as Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson, they could break away from the Tories and form a right-populist party, with the likes of Farage and his ilk.

Obviously the Blairites wish to keep Corbyn from forming a left Labour government. If a general election is called in the autumn, the Blairites could split from Labour leaving May and the Tories with a ‘centre-right’ organisation.

However, to quote the president of the RMT transport union, Sean Hoyle, if Labour isn’t elected, it would be more beneficial to have say 60 socialist fighters in parliament than 250 Blairite poodles to this rotten system.

A left-wing Labour Party could soon be democratised, providing all socialist parties, groups and individuals were allowed re-entry. One thing’s for certain: we are entering interesting times with great opportunities for the ideas of socialism to advance and take hold.

Finally, to quote Len McCluskey, general secretary of Unite the Union: if the Blairites want to go, just go. I’d like to know the views of other comrades.

Bill Buchanan, Nottingham