North of Ireland – Polarisation at the polls leaves Stormont suspended in mid-air
Voters in the north of Ireland have delivered their verdict on the
Stormont Assembly. As we have consistently explained the Good Friday
Agreement, and the institutions of devolution associated with it, could
never begin to solve the problems facing ordinary working people no
matter what their background. Indeed the divide between Catholics and
Protestants has never been wider. The election result itself
demonstrates a further polarisation in the shape of Paisley’s DUP
becoming the main Unionist Party, while Sinn Fein overtook the SDLP as
the main Nationalist party.
Royal Mail bosses on the back foot
Following last months unofficial strike action by postal workers
management seem to have been put temporarily onto the back foot. This
is in marked contrast to the period following the recent narrow
rejection of a national strike over pay and conditions. At that time,
Royal Mail management could not conceal their pleasure. Cockey
jumped-up managers all over the country engaged in a new offensive
against the workforce. Top managers were bragging that they had the
full support of the government, the DTI and Patricia Hewitt in
particular.
Making History – British Socialist Appeal editorial statement, December 2003
This is how history is made. Hundreds of thousands of protestors flood
the capital demonstrating their opposition to a President who holds office
thanks to a rigged election. They demand democracy, they demand their voices
be heard, they demand that the President go. The biggest weekday demo in
British history greeted the visit of George W. Bush. Meanwhile in Georgia, a
President and not just an effigy was overthrown.
Over 200,000 people demonstrate in London – The toppling of George W. Bush
On Tuesday November 18th, President George Bush arrived at Buckingham Palace
for a three-day state visit, complete with red carpets, banquets and cannon
salutes. Outside the palace gates, a huge security operation was under way. Some
5,000 British police officers were on hand to protect the president, along with
the 700 or so secret-service agents Mr Bush brought with him. More than 200,000
people participated in the biggest weekday demo in the history of Britain to
protest at his visit and to cheer the symbolic toppling of his statue.
Why we are launching the Labour Representation Committee
Socialist Appeal’s deputy editor, Rob Sewell, interviewed Mick
Rix, the former general secretary of ASLEF and instigator of the new Labour
Representation Committee, about his views and prospects of reclaiming the Labour
Party.
The one weakness of the outstanding Scottish Marxist John Maclean
John Maclean was undoubtedly a class fighter and Marxist, but he made one
important mistake, and that was to succumb to the idea that a socialist
revolution would be possible in Scotland, separate from the rest of Britain.
Ted Grant briefly comments on why this was.
The Challenge to Blairism
Strikes, demonstrations, political crises, Britain looks a lot different now
than it did when Blair and co came to power. For us the task of the hour is to give
active support to workers struggling to defend jobs and services and carry that
fight over into the Labour Party, into a fight for socialist policies.
John Maclean – agitator, organiser, educator
This month marks the 80th anniversary of the death of John Maclean.
Maclean was an outstanding figure. He was Britain’s most famous Marxist
propagandist and revolutionary organiser. At great personal cost, he
hailed the Bolshevik Revolution and fought hard to promote the world
socialist revolution. The following article gives a glimpse of his
life, commitment and contribution to the workers’ movement.
Swiss railways manager defends centralised planning – Blair could learn something from him
A recent interview in the British newspaper, The Times, with a Swiss
rail manager underlines the disastrous effects of privatisation on the
British rail system. He points out that “You have to have a central
command and control”. Blair should listen.