As part of the Young Socialists national day of action, we brought an open letter onto the streets of Southampton on 12 September. The letter protests council plans to spend £200 million becoming landlords of shops and offices, while leaving the working class without a safety net during this crisis.

Young people in Southampton demanded that the Labour council act to fund the future of the 'Covid generation'. We face the effects of ten years of austerity, low rates of pay, and poor job and housing security.

Our demands include investing in thousands of apprenticeships, paying workers £15 an hour or more, as agreed by trade unions, improving infrastructure, and a mass programme of council house building.

Our open letter was signed by people along the high street. Young people especially felt strongly about the issues we raised.

We handed out leaflets and used our loudspeaker. Many gave us their email address and expressed a desire to become involved in our campaigns.

The government has shown itself capable of spending billions to save big business. More and more young people are becoming concerned about the toxic system we live in.

It is an important time to fight for jobs and for the future. Southampton Young Socialists are planning more campaigns - on council housing and ending homelessness.

Imogen Phillips

Wolves

The Tories and the capitalist media want to blame young people for the continued spread of coronavirus. In reality, young people are the worst affected by the crisis in job and pay cuts, overcrowded housing and denied education opportunities.

The Socialist Party was out on 12 September in Wolverhampton supporting the Young Socialists campaign to demand a future - calling on the Trades Union Congress (TUC) to urgently organise struggle across the generations for decent jobs and education for young people.

Nick Hart

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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.