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Castro dies
Fight for workers’ democracy in Cuba
With the news of the death of Cuban 1959 revolutionary Castro, we post here two articles from the archives of the Socialist Party and CWI
Socialist Party news and analysis
Worst decade for living standards since 1920s: This is the worst decade for living standards since at least World War Two. This government is weak. Now is the time to fight.
Stop the Tory cuts: Exeter will be the scene of a major county-wide demonstration by campaign groups against the huge government cuts to the National Health Service on 3 December.
Hunger strikes, suicides – end detention now
Hunger strikes and suicides have increased dramatically in British detention centres. A Freedom of Information request showed that out of an estimated 7,500 detainees over three months, 218 were on hunger strike. 109 had attempted suicide, with 649 on suicide watch.
Women bear 85% of benefit cuts
Lift the benefit cap, end austerity: By 2020 women will have shouldered 85% of the burden of changes to the tax and benefits system, claims a new report. This highlights the disproportionate effect of austerity.
Fight to make letting agent fee ban reality
The Tories’ 2016 Autumn Statement announced plans to ban letting agent fees – a move which young people and workers everywhere will surely welcome. But no date has been set.
Hospital admissions for malnutrition rise threefold
Resist Victorian living standards!: Hospitals have come under a new wave of pressure as the number of patients admitted with malnutrition has drastically increased.
Them & Us: Autumn Statement special!
Hammond’s first Autumn Statement in numbers. It’s one world for the super-rich, and another one for the rest of us.
Labour MEP tweets support for US socialist; bedroom-rich royal appeals for donations to homelessness helpline.
What we think
Brexit spin: demand a real workers’ exit
Editorial of the Socialist: Tory Chancellor Phillip Hammond’s Autumn Statement estimated the cost of the Brexit vote to public borrowing as £59 billion. Despite his change of tack in delaying when the deficit must be paid off, he still intends for it to come out of the pockets of working-class people.
Housing crisis
The housing crisis – a toxic issue for the Tories
Almost everyone acknowledges there is a major housing crisis in the UK. As Paul Kershaw (Unite housing branch LE1111) explains, a chronic lack of affordable housing has been made worse by the government’s
Homelessness – capitalism is destroying people’s lives
My partner and I are living in what’s known as emergency accommodation. It’s a small room which costs the council £150 a week. The building is old and falling apart. It’s dusty and often we have to wipe the walls with bleach to get rid of black mould.
Fight the cuts – victims of domestic abuse depend on it
After my mum’s first abusive partner, we had to move. But before you are eligible for council housing you have to be living within the region of a local authority for some time. For domestic violence victims this is a dangerous rule.
Workplace news and analysis
London Crossrail workers walk out
Hundreds of electricians walked off construction sites on the massive Crossrail job in London on 25 November demanding that management adhere to the Joint Industry Board (JIB) agreement on the payment of a second-tier productivity bonus.
Durham teaching assistants determined to win
Durham teaching assistants took another two days of strike action on 23 and 24 November. A hundred schools were picketed. On 23 November over 1,000 teaching assistants descended on Durham with public street protests and a march.
Strike action across London and South East rail network
Combined strike action by up to 400 train drivers and other rail workers is set to bring Southern and London Underground to a standstill.
Protest to demand pay rise for Sheffield
Sheffield is the city region with the highest proportion of people on low incomes. That’s why Sheffield Trades Council has launched its Sheffield Needs A Pay-rise (Snap) campaign.
Young workers in Leeds socialise and mobilise at Unison young workers gig
Around 50 people turned up to enjoy a Unison-sponsored gig for young and potential members at the Fenton pub in Leeds on 25 November, an event which was about more than just music and comedy.
The fight in Labour
Support the campaign to readmit expelled trade union militants
In order to consolidate Corbyn’s leadership victory it is urgent that action is taken to democratise the Labour Party and end the Blairites’ control of the party machine. An essential part of this is campaigning for the readmittance to the Labour Party of all expelled or excluded socialists.
Conference to debate TUSC’s role now and the 2017 elections
The Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) national steering committee has agreed the agenda for the TUSC conference in London on 28 January. The main session will be a forum about TUSC’s role now and the 2017 elections, in the welcome new political situation opened by Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership of the Labour Party.
Labour Party branch votes for reselection
What We Heard: At a meeting on 25 November the Leyton and Wanstead Labour constituency general committee voted to endorse mandatory reselection, this time proposed by the Wanstead ward branch.
Southampton Labour councillors vote through more cuts
Southampton Labour Party recently held their AGM as the councillors in the cabinet voted through a further round of budget cuts.
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
Residents of Rustlings Road in Sheffield were awoken by the chainsaws of Amey contractors at 5am on 17 November, protected by police. They were cutting down eight trees as part of a £2.2 billion PFI contract. Residents were told to move their cars or have them towed away.
Hands off HRI charts way forward
Despite a deluge of torrential rain, over 120 people turned out to our latest Hands off Huddersfield Royal Infirmary meeting
Reclaim the Night solidarity march
Fifty determined women and men marched through Leicester on 24 November as part of international action in support of the ‘Reclaim the Night’ campaign.
Repeal the 8th protest for abortion rights
The Socialist Party in London organised a demonstration outside the Irish embassy on 26 November in solidarity with a protest in Dublin to ‘Repeal the 8th’ amendment to the Irish constitution restricting abortion rights.
Leicester’s adventure playgrounds are used by over 10,000 children citywide. The city’s Labour council plans to close them. Parents and campaigners lobbied the council in protest.
Socialist readers’ comments and reviews
Readmit expelled socialists: a proven record of fighting back
I’ve been asked why socialists like me should be readmitted to the Labour Party. This is not the time for compromise and ‘partnership’, but for bold, clearly defined socialist policies, carried out by determined representatives of our class.
Do you have something to say? Letters to the Socialist’s editors. Croydon tram tragedy; bully bailiff gets wrong house; waiters’ wages; stop Lord Sainsbury; ‘I, Daniel Blake’; super seventies?
International socialist news and analysis
Spain: militant struggle by Students Union succeeds
The government of conservative prime minister Mariano Rajoy – under pressure from mass student strikes organised by the Sindicato de Estudiantes – has withdrawn its reactionary attacks on public education that include big cuts.
