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The Socialist inbox
Letters to the Socialist's editors.
The Socialist inbox: letters to the editors, photo Suzanne Beishon (Click to enlarge)
Do you have something to say?
Send your news, views and criticism in not more than 150 words to [email protected], or if you're not online, to Socialist Postbox, PO Box 24697, London E11 1YD.
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.
Forward march
The political awakening of thousands of school students in Britain and across the globe is very inspiring indeed. These young people need to be encouraged, not patronised.
They've had enough of the ruling elites offering them nothing but the gig economy, zero-hour contracts, low wages, sexism and racism. Not to mention inequality and division. They will gravitate to a democratic socialist society based on human solidarity and unity.
Let the ruling class tremble at the spectre of these young brigades on the march. The winds of change are blowing and the genie is out of the bottle. The future is theirs. Let them embrace it with our full support.
Bill Buchanan, Nottingham
Demonstration against climate change, London, 15.2.19, photo Amnon (Click to enlarge)
No planet B
(By text) I've just arrived in Westminster (15 February), which is gridlocked by thousands, maybe tens of thousands, stretching far as I can see - of striking school students, walking out against climate change. They're chanting "save our planet", marching on Downing Street.
Enormous support from passing workers... Huge anger and enthusiasm coming off in waves of deafening cheers... Homemade placards: "There is no planet B", "End fossil fuel subsidies" and many imploring the establishment to "wake up".
The Socialist Party is here in support of the school students' demands, to argue for an end to the system responsible for stealing their and our futures - the profit system, capitalism - and the necessity of workers' action as the only force capable of creating the alternative, socialism.
James Ivens, East London
Defectors Ltd
The Independent Group of Labour (and now Tory) MPs is backed up by a company called Gemini A Ltd, which was registered at Companies House on 16 January this year.
I used to work with a company that helped companies set up with Companies House. It takes approximately a fortnight and that will be its incorporated date, then usually two to three working days to add a director to that company. Gavin Shuker MP is the listed director.
So, considering those timescales, it would've been around Christmas when the forms were originally filed, so considering that the Labour defectors are stating Corbyn's openness to a deal over Brexit, and the latest slurs of antisemitism in the Labour Party, both of these happened after the forms would've been filed.
Kind of shows they had this intention to break away all along!
Matt Hirst, Huddersfield
- Instead of registering as a political party, the Independent Group, as a private company, doesn't have to declare its financial backers - editors.
No regrets
It says a lot about the politics of Labour's backstabbers in the Independent Group having whole-heartedly embraced the three Tory MP defectors.
One of the three is Anna Soubry, who when quizzed by reporters about having any regrets over implementing austerity said: "I believe we did the right thing in the coalition government in particular," and that the coalition did "a marvellous job". "I think the things we did to the economy were absolutely necessary at the time, I don't have a problem with that," she added.
By their friends shall ye know them!
Simon Carter, East London
Pale riders
Multi-millionaire Tony Blair once had a vice-like grip on the Labour Party. Internal democracy was destroyed. Labour's socialist objective was erased from the constitution, an orgy of privatisation followed, and a vicious imperialist war against Iraq led to thousands of civilians losing their lives.
To have the support of seven traitors is not all that magnificent in comparison. To read the Sun and the Daily Mail you would think this was the death of the Labour Party. On the contrary, to coin a phrase, 'better out than in'.
And any socialist would curl up and die of shame to be supported by the right-wing press and fawned over by the BBC.
The honourable course would be to stand for re-election and see if the voters really want these defectors. But they are not the people for honourable courses.
Chuka Umunna's volte-face on the issue of antisemitism is a case in point. He said three years ago there was no evidence of antisemitism in Labour but now chimes in happily with the gutter press chorus of anti-socialism.
Derek McMillan, East Sussex
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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.
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