Siôn Reynolds, secretary of the Portsmouth NASUWT local association (personal capacity), discusses the Tories’ latest plans for the reintroduction of grammar schools, looking at the history of selective secondaries and the role they play in class society.
Corbyn’s re-election as Labour leader, with an even bigger majority than last year, is a bitter blow to the hopes of Labour’s right wing, who have now been pushed into a corner. They will now bide their time and try to slowly strangle Corbyn from their base within the PLP. The question of deselection, therefore, has not gone away.
Workers at the Ritzy Cinema in Brixton, South London, were back out on strike on Saturday 24th September, taking action to demand decent pay and conditions. Nico reports on the militant mood on display at the picket line, and the potential for this strike to spread.
Jeremy Corbyn has again won a decisive victory to become Labour leader, with an even bigger mandate than last September. All talk now is for “unity”. But the events of the last year cannot be swept under the carpet. The actions of the right wing have infuriated grassroots members, who will be energised now to defend Corbyn against further sabotage.
The ballot for Labour leader has ended. The result will be announced tomorrow at 12 noon. Barring a nuclear attack, all the indications are that Jeremy Corbyn will win convincingly against his challenger Owen Smith, probably with a bigger mandate. But the battle in the Labour Party is far from over.
The US bombing Syrian soldiers and the Assad regime bombing an aid convoy indicate that, just one week after the agreed cessation of hostilities in Syria, the uneasy ceasefire has broken down. The ceasefire breakdown, meanwhile, reflects the ever-increasing tensions between the various imperialist powers and local players in the region.
Steve Jones continues his series on the history of Labour’s right wing by exploring the role of Neil Kinnock and the introduction of the “one member, one vote” system – a move designed to limit the role of the Left and the trade unions; a move that has horribly backfired with the election (and likely re-election) of Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader.
The crisis in the NHS has hit the headlines in recent months. Not only have junior doctors been pushed into taking strike action against Tory attacks, but healthcare providers across the country are being stretched to breaking point as a result of long-term under-funding. The situation, as our correspondent reports, is particularly acute in the mental health services.
This year’s delegate meeting of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has passed largely unnoticed and unreported by the national media. This is a reflection of the hard fact that the TUC has in recent years shied away from taking any real decisions. It is time for the TUC to take the lead in the fight to defend Corbyn and kick out the Tories.
Theresa May has recently announced that she will be pushing for retrogressive reforms that will see state schools in England be able to select students based on ability. Scott Shaw of the Sheffield NUT looks at the potential return of grammar schools and the rising concerns over social mobility in an age of crisis and austerity.
Over 10,000 were present on the streets of central London on 17th September to show solidarity to the refugees caught up in the chaos of war and poverty caused by capitalism and imperialism. Socialist Appeal supporters were active on the protest, putting forward the slogan: let the refugees in! Kick the Tories out!
Socialist Appeal and the International Marxist Tendency invite you to REVOLUTION! – a three day festival of Marxist ideas. Across the world, it is clear that the status quo has failed and the system has broken. There has never been a better time for revolutionary change and a socialist alternative. Book your ticket for REVOLUTION! today.