Link to this page: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/1073/30277
From The Socialist newspaper, 12 February 2020
Socialist Sellers
Leeds: Nationalisation is welcome, but don't trust Tories
There was great support in Leeds for bringing the railways and buses back into public ownership. While people welcomed the announcement of Northern Rail being brought into public ownership, many were suspicious of the motives of the Tories.
There was lots of interest in the feature in the Socialist on nationalising the railways (see 'Nationalise the railways'). We sold 17 copies, and 14 the week before.
Iain Dalton
Newham, London: There's nothing left to cut
Newham council wants to gentrify the borough and next they're coming for Queen's Market. The Socialist Party was raising the alarm - campaigning at Queen's Market for it to be saved.
The council plans to sell off half the car park. We say no to this big business land grab. People immediately understood that this would be the beginning of the end for the market.
Passers-by were just as angry that the mayor wants another £48 million in cuts. There's nothing left to cut!
Instead of fighting the cuts, Newham council is pushing gentrification - getting rich people in and pushing working-class residents out. We sold ten copies of the Socialist.
Ian Pattison
Southampton: Don't bet on the market, build council homes
We were out in Southampton, fighting for mass council house building. 6,000 households in the city are on the housing waiting list.
Meanwhile, the council is borrowing £200 million to speculate on the housing market. This is enough to build 2,000 council homes.
Exeter: Never give up
We sold eight copies of the Socialist and there were donations of £23 to the fighting fund. One person said: "You people never give up".
Sean Brogan
Donate to the Socialist Party
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 12 February 2020:
News
Tackling climate change: Johnson emits huge quantities of hot air!
Windrush deportations: end the hostile environment
Streatham attack: Johnson's bill can't stop terror
NHS
Unnecessary surgery scandal shows need for democratic control of NHS
NHS debt so high it can't be repaid - so don't pay it!
Callous Tory cuts to children's speech therapy in Nottinghamshire
Trade unions
Trade unions - new decade, new challenges
Workplace news
Big Unison south east regional meeting votes for anti-cuts position
PCS union: Uniting the left around a leadership that can win for members
Westex workers win increased pay offer in 11th week of strike
University strikers walk out for better pay and pensions
East London school strikes against academisation continue
Foreign Office workers' strike
Solidarity with Turkish workers
Solidarity with victimised bus rep Moe
Cuts
How to resist tory attacks on local communities
Cuts councillors are the real problem
Council houses - not private property developers
International
Sinn Fein harnesses working-class anger to top poll
Lebanon - mass protests cut across sectarian division
Campaigns
Build independent workers' media with May Day greetings
Building a working-class movement for Tamil rights
Hackney: We don't want homes and retail units working-class people can't afford
Universal Credit
New BBC series - Insight or whitewash?
Nottingham: death of vulnerable claimant
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