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Militant

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From: The Socialist issue 1004, 25 July 2018: Government crisis deepens - Tories out

Search site for keywords: Civil Service - Blacklisting - Militant - Government - Socialist - Unions - Socialist Party - Trade unions - PCS - MI5 - Chris Baugh - State

Blacklisting of Militant supporters by Thatcher government revealed

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

Chris Baugh, PCS AGS, responds (personal capacity)

On 24 July, the Guardian published an article revealing that Thatcher's government worked with MI5 and Special Branch to draw up a blacklist of civil servants deemed to be 'subversives'.

Cabinet papers from the time reveal the government was 'most concerned' about supporters of Militant, the forerunner of the Socialist Party.

Here Chris Baugh, the assistant general secretary of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), which represents civil servants, and a member of the Socialist Party, reacts to the revelation:

"The latest release of cabinet papers provides yet more evidence of the Thatcher government and secret state carrying out covert work against trade unions in the civil service.

"The Orwellian sounding 'Interdepartmental Group on Subversives in Public Life', shows the collusion between the Thatcher government, MI5 and special branch, in targeting so-called subversives, particularly those identified as supporters of Militant.

"To quote Thatcher herself, the civil service should be 'very ready to sack subversive trouble makers...'

This needs to be properly investigated in the Mitting spy-cops inquiry, and by working alongside trade unionists, socialists, anti-racist and environmental campaigners, to expose the level of covert surveillance and the threat this poses to independent trade unions, the right to protest, and fighting for another socialist world."

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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.