Having seen off the miserable challenge of the Blairites, both Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell gave emboldened speeches to this year’s Labour Party conference, even daring to use the “s” word – socialism. To carry out their programme, however, a break with capitalism and a genuine socialist transformation of society are needed.
We publish here a letter from a Socialist Appeal supporter and NHS nurse, who highlights the mounting pressures on healthcare staff as a result of Tory cuts and the crisis in the NHS. As the letter emphasises, the Tory government are setting the NHS up to fail, as a precursor to privatisation.
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 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.
We publish here a letter from Pamela Fitzpatrick, a Labour councillor in Harrow who was recently suspended as part of the Labour purge, who highlights the hypocrisy and bureaucracy relating to the actions of the Labour hierarchy. “Those found guilty of an abuse of power should be dealt with”.
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!
Whilst the press attention has been on the “dangers” of so-called Trotskyist “entryism”, a number of right-wing groups inside Labour are hard at work preparing to sabotage the Party and undermine Corbyn’s leadership. Momentum, the trade unions, and the whole Corbyn movement need to respond by getting organised and fighting for a bold socialist programme.