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Militant

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From: The Socialist issue 926, 23 November 2016: Fight austerity

Search site for keywords: What we saw - Socialist - Labour - Socialist Party - Militant - US - Young workers - Socialist Alternative - Michael Crick - Dave Nellist - Peter Taaffe

What We Saw

Paul Callanan on Sky News debating internships (Click to enlarge)

Should young people have to work for free to get into competitive professions like journalism?

Socialist Party member Paul Callanan debated this question on Sky News on 16 November. Opposite him was Sam Bowman of the Adam Smith Institute, a Thatcherite think-tank.

Bowman tried to downplay the extent and impact of unpaid internships, saying young workers should be grateful for the "experience".

Paul argued that all work should be paid. Unpaid internships exclude the working class, and offer no job security or quality of life to young people. They also undermine the number and conditions of paid positions.

Watch Paul on Sky News here

Darletta Scruggs on Russia Today (Click to enlarge)

Can socialists organise to defeat the rise of Trumpism?

Darletta Scruggs of Socialist Alternative, US co-thinkers of the Socialist Party, appeared on RT's 'Going Underground' on 16 November.

Darletta acknowledged this is a frightening and difficult time for working class people. But it also shows that the US political establishment is in a deep crisis.

There are big opportunities for socialists to direct the huge anger in society in a constructive direction. What the US needs is a new, mass party of the 99% - with socialist policies.

Watch Darletta on RT here

Dave Nellist on the Sunday Politics (Click to enlarge)

Should Labour readmit the socialists it expelled for supporting Militant or being members of the Socialist Party?

Socialist Party member Dave Nellist, formerly a Militant-supporting Labour MP, spoke to the Sunday Politics on 20 November. He argued that Labour is changing - but that Jeremy Corbyn is outnumbered at the top of the party.

75 expelled socialists, including Dave, have applied to Labour for readmission. They want to support the battle to claim Labour for the working class. The Socialist Party calls for Labour to return to its inclusive, federal roots, and allow socialist groups to affiliate.

Peter Taaffe and Michael Crick at Socialism 2016 (Click to enlarge)

Socialist Party general secretary Peter Taaffe debated this same issue with Labour right-winger John Mann on LBC radio on 11 November. Mann is a notorious right winger, who campaigned to expel organised socialists in the first place. We're still here, John.

Peter also debated Channel 4 journalist Michael Crick on Militant's real history at Socialism 2016 on 13 November. Crick made his career broadcasting attacks on Militant.

Watch Peter debating Crick here

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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.