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Obituary

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From: The Socialist issue 1044, 29 May 2019: Now get the Tories out

Search site for keywords: Obituary - Hillingdon - Socialist Party

Obituary: John Boots (1942-2019)

Militant supporters march agianst the poll tax, photo Steve Gardner (Click to enlarge)

We are sad to report the death of long-standing Hillingdon Socialist Party member John Boots, who has died aged 76.

John first became politically active during the great anti-poll tax movement of the 1990s. He remained a convinced socialist and active in many local campaigns over the years, including the successful campaign against the transfer of Hillingdon Council housing stock to private landlords.

He attended his party branch regularly, and also our regular Saturday sales of the Socialist newspaper, until the last few years when his health started to deteriorate. But he remained passionate and steadfast in his socialist beliefs.

An engineer by trade, John would read widely on a range of subjects, and was also the practical handyman of the branch, never failing to help sort comrades' household problems.

He was not one to be fobbed off by authority and would rage against the greedy capitalists whenever he came across injustices.

John is remembered with great fondness and humour. For someone born on 14 July - when 230 years ago the storming of the Bastille political prison began the French revolution - we will honour his memory by remembering why we are all involved in revolutionary politics.

Rob Diment, Hillingdon Socialist Party

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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.