Alan Woods’ speech at the Labour Representation Committee rally in Brighton
Alan Woods was invited officially to speak at the LRC rally. Here we provide the text of the whole speech.
Editorial statement of the Socialist Appeal on Tony Blair’s speech at 2004 Labour Party congress
The Blair government is facing serious difficulties. It cannot convince
the trade unions that its pro-big business policies, its continued
privatisation of public assets are in the interests of the working
class. Brown tried to make up for this by hinting that in some way he
might be “old Labour”. In reality there is no fundamental difference
between the two.
The Butler Report: The Blair government let off the hook again
The Butler Report, the official inquiry into how intelligence sources were
used by the Blair government to justify the war in Iraq, has produced
nothing surprising. It is another whitewash, just like the Hutton report.
What is amazing however is that it provides enough evidence to show that the
government did indeed lie to the British people, that it went to war under
false pretences.
Historic defeats for Blair in Super Thursday’s polarised elections
The 2004 elections to the European Parliament, London Assembly, and local
councils were a historic defeat for Blair and the Labour leaders. Phil
Mitchinson looks at the rise of the UK Independence Party, and the lessons of
Britain's Super Thursday elections.
How healthy is the British economy?
Has British capitalism finally overcome what used to be called the
British disease: slower growth, higher inflation, continual currency crises
and a falling behind in living standards compared with the US, Europe and
Japan? Growth figures actually disguise a far more diseased system that the
media would like us to see.
Britain: Open Letter to SSP Comrades
The Annual Conference of the SSP (Scottish Socialist Party) meets this weekend
to discuss a draft manifesto for the European elections and debate other issues
against the background of the recent events in Spain. Despite the successes over
the past period there is a growing unrest in the party over the reformist and
nationalist drift of the leadershp. The road of nationalism and reformism offers no way forward for the working
class in Scotland or elsewhere. The struggle for socialism is international or
it is nothing. We must learn the lessons of the past so that we may prepare for
the future
Women enter battle
The key role played by women in the 1984-1985 miners’ strike has been an
inspiration to working class women everywhere. Many other issues affecting women
have yet to be fought. Cuts in education, housing, transport and health just to
name a few. Originally published in 1986.
Twenty years on – the lessons of the 1984-85 miners’ strike – Part Two
An essential lesson to draw from the miners’ strike is the vital role of
leadership. The miners’ leaders stood head and shoulders above the majority of
British trade union leaders. The leaders of the NUM were a source of
inspiration. At the same time these leaders were inspired by the courage and
determination of the rank and file miners, of their wives and their communities.
Unfortunately courage alone is not enough to win such titanic battles. It must
be accompanied by correct tactics and strategy.
Twenty years on – the lessons of the 1984-85 miners’ strike: Part One
Twenty years ago on March 5, 1984 the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM)
embarked upon the most important class struggle in Britain since the general
strike of 1926. A ferocious battle ensued. Billions of pounds were spent by the
ruling class to crush the miners’ militancy. More than ten thousand miners
were arrested; two were killed on the picket lines and countless others injured.
Decades of so-called consensus were obliterated and the real and ugly face of
British capitalism was exposed for all to see.
Miners strike: “A turning point in the history of the movement” – Interview with Nigel Pearce, NUM
An interview with Nigel Pearce, a member of the National Executive of the
National Union of Mineworkers and working miner. He explains how the strike
developed and the turning point that it represented for labour relations in
Britain. In spite of the defeat he says, "We were right to fight, we had a
duty to fight, and I’m proud to have fought, and I’m proud of all those I fought
alongside."
Secrets, Spies and Cover-ups
Former Cabinet Minister Clare Short, who resigned over the war, has candidly
admitted that British Intelligence
had spied on UN officials including Secretary General Kofi Annan, in the run-up
to the Iraq war. This follows on the admission of a former translator at GCHQ
who revealed that the US intelligence services has asked the British to spy on
senior UN officials and representatives of other "allied" governments.
Blair U-turn on “Red Ken”
The decision to readmit London Mayor Ken Livingstone back into the Labour Party has came as
no surprise to anybody. A third Labour victory at the next general election is no longer the certainty
many once though it was. Only through a socialist programme alongside a fighting
leadership, rather than the pro-big business bunch we have at present, can a
Labour victory be assured and the hopes of the Tories and the rest be ground to
dust.