Articles from the Socialist, issue 549

23 September 2008

FAT-CAT bankers from Wall Street to the City of London are reeling from the white-knuckle ride of last week’s financial crisis. Capitalism has taken an almighty battering, writes Elaine Brunskill.

Scrap tuition fees!

Exeter Socialist Students organised a protest outside the office of the university vice-chancellor, photo Exeter Socialist Students

“THE MAXIMUM annual fee paid by students will not rise above £3,000 (uprated annually for inflation) during the next Parliament, writes Neil Cafferky.

Education a ‘them and us’ system

New Labour flounders in face of economic crisis

Editorial The Trades Union Congress took place less than a month ago. Its leaders reflected their members’ anger at New Labour, demanding that the government introduce a windfall tax on the utility companies…

Make the super-rich pay!

Cardiff Socialist Party puts forward the socialist alternative to capitalist credit crunch, photo Cardiff Socialist Party

British capitalism in crisis: This was the week that the world changed. For over two decades all we have heard from the UK government is that the market must decide. Schools, hospitals and public services have been cut and privatised…

Protesting against Bush and Brown’s wars

Manchester STWC anti-war demonstration outside Labour Party conference, photo Paul Mattsson

AROUND 3,000 demonstrators joined the Stop the War Coalition (STWC) march in Manchester on 20 September, writes Paul Gerrard, Socialist Party Manchester.

Them & us

Jamie’s school dinner staff threatened with privatisation

Fighting the racist BNP in Stoke

We won’t take the RAP on pollution

Health Trust concessions on Swansea casualty unit

Salford councillors play blame game

Civil service strike ballot begins

PCS Passport workers on strike in Belfast, photo Peter Hadden

All Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) members working in the civil service and related pay areas – some 270,000 workers – are being balloted for national action over the government’s pay restraint policies, writes Katrine Williams, PCS DWP group executive, personal capacity.

North Staffs NSSN launched

Revolution and counter-revolution in Bolivia

EVO MORALES, the Bolivian president, won a crushing victory in the 10 August re-call referendum, winning 67.4% of the national vote on a turnout of over 83%, writes Tony Saunois (CWI) and, Roberto Antezana (CWI, Bolivia).

The Dark Knight: Batman’s latest crime-buster

Hot on the heels of Iron Man, this summer’s big cinematic release sees another super-rich capitalist buying some high-tech war gear and waging war on crime…