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Socialist Party news and analysis
It’s a robbery not a ‘recovery’
Time for a socialist alternative: Tory Chancellor Osborne won’t be coming to Socialism 2013. He doesn’t need to attend the ‘Are we naturally too greedy for socialism?’ workshop because he knows he definitely is, with an estimated fortune of £4.3 million.
Socialism 2013
Build a no-cuts political alternative
Deep-seated anger at the seeming endless misery facing workers in Britain is growing with every passing day
Hypocritical Hunt blames families for care scandal
Tories’ real goal is yet more welfare spending cuts: A report that one million elderly people in the UK feel neglected and lonely is a “scandal”.
Government policies – ‘deeply divisive’
The government’s social mobility Tsar – former Labour health secretary Alan Milburn – appeared to be off message when his Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission published its first ‘state of the nation’ report
Big business lines its pockets from nuclear power
You want generous, guaranteed energy prices, fixed for 35 years? No problem if you own a French or Chinese multinational company. Bad luck if you’re an ordinary consumer, writes Pete Mason.
Socialist Party feature
Energy for the millions …not the millionaires
People ask what on earth is going on in the energy industry? Kate Jones of Llanelli and West Wales Socialist Party investigates.
Energy bills – Dividend payout rate – percentage of profits paid in dividends as a proportion of net income, photo The Socialist
International socialist news and analysis
France: Deep malaise marks ‘la rentrée’
The return to work after the summer holidays in France, as in other southern European countries, is often seen as a time when the struggle of workers and students will be renewed
2010 Demonstrations in France against attacks on pension rights, photo Judy Beishon
Tunisia: Left-wing rapper, Klay BBJ, acquitted on appeal
The left-wing Tunisian rapper, Ahmed Ben Ahmed, alias Klay BBJ – who was initially condemned, in absentia, to 21 months imprisonment for songs allegedly “insulting officials and public morals” – was acquitted by an appeal court
Socialist Party workplace news
Overwhelming support for teachers’ strike in the south and north
Across London, the South of England and the North-East, tens of thousands of striking teachers took to the streets on 17 October
Teachers strike and march in Bristol 17 October 2013 as part of selective action by the NUT and NASUWT, photo Matt Carey
By a massive four to one majority CWU members in Royal Mail voted to take strike action in defence of their terms and conditions after the privatisation of the company
Grangemouth: a fight we can’t afford to lose
PCS strike in DWP and DEFRA Shared Services
Probation officers vote for strike action
What role can trade unions play in fighting welfare attacks?
The PCS civil service trade union, a key supporter of Youth Fight for Jobs, has come under severe criticism on Twitter for not organising its members to refuse to implement the government’s attacks
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
Campaign victory for rebel councillors as local pool to be re-opened
Under intense pressure, Southampton Labour council has been forced to agree to refurbish and re-open the Oaklands swimming pool
Coxteth councillors Keith and Don campaigning with others to save Oaklands pool, Southampton, photo Southampton SP
We need action against zero-hour contracts
How do you make a fortune worth £1.7 billion? It’s perhaps not a question most of us have spent too much time pondering.
TUSC candidates stand up against austerity
Nottingham: Grant Shapps said at the 2013 Conservative Party conference: “When we said [in 2010] we would reduce their budgets by 26% over four years, we were told councils would be going bust by this stage but they haven’t, I think they can do another 10%.”
200 say ‘Tequila’s got to go!’
Swansea socialists oppose National Front
Fight racism with unity against cuts: Swansea’s Labour council will make £45 million of cuts to services and jobs over the next three years, under the name ‘Sustainable Swansea’!, writes Claire Job, Swansea Socialist Party Branch Secretary.
Turn anger into action: join the socialists
From 19 to 25 October Socialist Party branches are organising a recruitment week to put special emphasis on building our party. Here members report on the campaign stall which started the week.