The Socialist 27 November 2019

Vote for jobs homes, services. Tories out, Corbyn in. Fight for socialist policies.

Labour's manifesto: fight to transform hope into a socialist society

Tories launch 'non manifesto'

Regime's fuel price rise sparks massive protests across Iran

Sri Lanka: Presidential election sees return of dictatorial Rajapaksa clan

Tory election campaign's dirty tricks and lies

Resist attacks against free speech on campus

Northern Ireland: strike action by NHS workers

Prince Andrew outrage exposes establishment

End council cuts now, to end Tory austerity!

Uni strike takes fight to bosses

CWU's right to defend members is on the line

South Western Railway strike: "We're up for the fight"

PCS union ballot closes 12 December: Marion Lloyd for general secretary

Sixth-form college strikes: 'Sticking two fingers up at the Tories'

Workplace news in brief

Trump and Tories are a threat to environment

Brighton anti-academy campaign steps up

Posties withdraw goodwill from cruel bosses

Help fund the fightback: sponsor my marathon

Selling the Socialist

Buy a historical biography for Christmas

The private sector will never provide broadband to every home, nationalisation will

Plymouth Blairites side with anti-tenant landlords

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Brighton anti-academy campaign steps up

(Click to enlarge)

Bill North, Brighton Socialist Party

Over 100 parents, children, trade unionists and other supporters from the local community were on the picket line outside Moulsecoomb Primary School, Brighton on 21 November.

Members of the NEU and GMB unions had voted to take strike action as part of the campaign against plans to force the school to become an academy. The entire staff, governors, local residents and Brighton and Hove Council are also opposed to this 'forced academisation'.

At the end of the picket, and with the school securely closed for the day, protesters marched to a local hall for a 'family fun day' organised by parents. It was also an opportunity for the 'fun' of planning the next stage of the campaign!

Faced with this level of opposition, two academy trusts have already given up attempting to take over the school. A third, the New Horizons Academy Trust, seem to think that if they wait long enough the campaign will run out of steam. If that's what they believe then they are in for a rude awakening!

The strike follows directly on from two days of lively school gate demonstrations by parents protesting visits by the academy trust - but the campaign is not limited to the school grounds.

Recently, campaigners waved banners and gave out leaflets outside a car-parts depot where a New Horizons trustee works as sales director. One of the placards read: "Kids are not car parts! We won't let a car salesman run our school!"

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What we think

Labour's manifesto: fight to transform hope into a socialist society