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Socialist Party news and analysis
Councils have a choice: no cuts to jobs or services
Councillors in local government do have the power to resist the government cuts. The notion that ‘there is nothing else we can do’ is wrong.
Junior doctors must stand firm
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt unilaterally imposed his unsafe and unfair new contract on junior doctors in England on 11 February, writes Dr Clare Blackwell, unior doctor, Poole Hospital.
£300 million to cushion cuts in Tory councils
Threatened with backbench revolt, the Tory government has produced a £300 million ‘transition grant’ to partially cover gaping shortfalls in local government over the next two years.
Scotland: battle heats up against council cuts
£1 billion in council cuts over the next two years is the consequence of the funding deal from the Scottish National Party (SNP) government, which will mean the loss of 15,000 jobs and the decimation of services if implemented.
US fears EU exit will hinder vulture privatisers
It was recently revealed that the US government is discussing how to make a direct intervention in the EU referendum debate.
Liverpool fans score victory v £77 ticket hike
Liverpool Football Club has backed down over ticket price hikes after thousands of fans walked out during a match.
Record-high 170 evictions a day
Evictions in England and Wales reached a record high last year as over 170 people lost their homes every day.
It’s one world for the super-rich, and another one for the rest of us.
Socialist Party feature
An open letter to John McDonnell from Tony Mulhearn
An open letter to John McDonnell: “We need Labour councillors to adopt the brave stance of Liverpool, Lambeth, Clay Cross and Poplar.”
International socialist news and analysis
Irish election: fighting on an anti-austerity agenda
Socialist TD Joe Higgins explains what’s at stake in this election: Campaigning in the Irish general election to be held on 26 February is in full swing. The Socialist Party in Ireland is participating as part of the broader Anti Austerity Alliance (AAA).
Socialist Party youth and students
Socialist Students conference 2016: Delegates enthusiastic and confident
On Saturday 13 February, 100 people packed into the Socialist Students national conference in Coventry
Socialist Party workplace news
Doctors’ strike 10th February – photos and reports
Reports and photos of the junior doctors’ strike on 10 February
Rally to defend jobs in Northern Ireland: “We won’t sit on the sidelines”
On 8 February, 800 people gathered in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, in opposition to the threatened destruction of manufacturing jobs in the area.
Library workers prepare to escalate strike action
Unite members in Greenwich and Bromley are escalating the libraries’ campaigns in both boroughs following recent strike action which launched a joint campaign.
Historic joint further education strike
On the 24 February, lecturer’s union UCU and Unison will take joint strike action across England in the further education sector for the first time.
Public meetings show readiness of workers to fight back
Dozens of activists attended three meetings held across South West Wales to defend jobs
Short reports on some of the latest trade union struggles.
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
Hands off the Butterfields estate!
At least 15 households have eviction notices since their landlord sold the properties
Sheffield no-cuts People’s Budget conference
Participants heard how councillors could set a legal, balanced, no-cuts budget for 2016-17
Southampton: absence of Corbynism as Labour swings Tory axe again!
Southampton Labour Council squandered a major opportunity to change course and build on the anti-austerity mood that swept Jeremy Corbyn to the leadership of Labour and produced the first junior doctors strike in 40 years.
“Staines has never seen anything like it!”
Given the absence of a local Momentum group, Staines Socialist Party decided to host a meeting on 11 February to discuss the Corbyn phenomena and to invite all those interested in a real anti-cuts, socialist movement to come along.
Students, unions and parents unite to save Pent Valley School
A coach packed with campaigners determined to save Pent Valley school in Kent left Cheriton to lobby Kent County Council in Maidstone.
“You can cut the cake but not our libraries!”
Coventry Central Library marked its 30th birthday on 10 February and the guest of honour at the celebration was leader of Coventry City Council Ann Lucas.
London lobbies against cuts to jobs and services
In Tower Hamlets on 17 February a second People’s Budget meeting is being held jointly between the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition and the Tower Hamlets Independent group of councillors.
Readers’ comments and reviews
If I had been in 1980s Labour, I’d have supported Militant
Featured letter: I joined the Labour Party in 1995 as a 20-year-old student. Most if not all of Militant (then in Labour, now called the Socialist Party) had already been expelled or had resigned from Labour, writes Richard Price, Gloucestershire Socialist Party.
Socialist’s anti-war art on show in Bradford
Currently on display at the Bradford Playhouse is a series of paintings by artist and Socialist Party member Peter Robson.
‘Journey’, a poem on the refugee crisis by Steve Nally.