Yesterday, 27th May, the Queen announced, on behalf of the new Tory government, the latest vicious attacks on workers, youth, and the poor that can be expected in the coming period. The scene is now set for an intense class struggle in the period ahead.
In the past five years a fundamental transformation has taken place in British politics. The capitalist economic base of society has become exhausted. In its turn, the old British political establishment finds itself out of step with the new economic reality. This is stirring up powerful forces deep in the bowels of society.
Staff at London Metropolitan University were out on strike today in protest against plans by management to cut courses, with an associated loss of 165 jobs. The demands of the union members taking action today were clear: not one course to be closed; not one job to be cut – an injury to one is an injury to all!
Since the election, semi-spontaneous protests have erupted and large meetings have been organised in cities across the country, as ordinary people begin to fight back against this government of the rich, for the rich, by the rich. We publish here reports of such demonstrations and meetings from Socialist Appeal supporters in Bristol, Sheffield, Wales, and London.
While Cameron has been preparing all-out war on the working class, thousands of youth up and down the country have been taking to the streets in protest. The situation in Britain is explosive. It is time for the trade union leaders to come up off their knees and organise a militant fightback.
We publish here a letter from a mental health services worker in the NHS, who outlines the reality of what the Tory election victory, austerity and cuts, and the crisis of capitalism mean for the lives of ordinary people who rely on NHS services.
Alongside the shock of a Tory majority, the other big story of the General Election results was that of Labour’s collapse in Scotland to the SNP. With the Nationalists very nearly sweeping the board with 56 out of 59 seats, the result constitutes an earthquake that will transform politics in Scotland and Britain for years to come.
London Metropolitan University, even more than most institutions of higher education, has suffered brutally over the past five years of cuts. The election of a Tory majority to parliament is ominous for the future of this university. Trade union members are organising a fight back, with strike action taking place this Thursday, 21st May.
The coming to power of a new Tory government opens a new stormy chapter in Britain. The stage is set for a turbulent period ahead of instability and upheaval. Rob Sewell looks at the explosive situation that is developing in the wake of the election and in the context of the world capitalist crisis.
Over the last week since the general election, David Cameron has lost no time in announcing yet more reactionary laws. Emboldened by their parliamentary majority, and freed from the ballast of coalition with the Lib Dems, the Tories have rushed to introduce further measures to stick the knife in against the working class.
Yesterday, around 100 teachers and students attended a demonstration at Hackney Community College, organised by UCU members to mark the opening day of their ballot for strike action at FE colleges across the whole of London. Staff and students are fighting back against Tory attacks on education and jobs.
For a layer of radicalised, working class youth, the result of the general election has shattered illusions in bourgeois, parliamentary democracy and intensified their fury against the whole rotten system. This was demonstrated by the thousands who gathered in London at short notice on Saturday 9th May, determined to fight this latest Tory government from day one.