In the aftermath of the revelations presented by the Hillsborough Independent Panel (read report here ) we publish here the thoughts of a Liverpool supporter Mike Jones who speaks for many in the city of Liverpool about the reaction to what the report findings have now officially confirmed.
After a long fight lasting 23 years, the families and
friends of the 96 football supporters killed at the Hillsborough stadium in
Sheffield on the afternoon of Saturday April 15 1989 have finally had official
confirmation of what really happened that day. For 23 years they have had to
fight alone against a torrent of lies, mistruths and a cover-up involving the
police and others. Now a report
published by the independent commission established by the last Labour
government has made available the real damming evidence of the blunders on the
day and all the lies that followed
Councillors Don Thomas and Keith Morrell have been suspended for four
months from the Southampton Council ruling Labour Group. Their crime was
voting against the Group’s proposal to close a well supported swimming
pool in their area of Southampton to save about £250,000
As international students consider
their options in the wake of the London Met fiasco, other institutions
are licking their lips. With fees for international students even higher
than the £9,000 that British students (not including Scottish students)
pay many universities are keen to herd as many students as possible
into their courses.
Less than a week after the shocking
news that the government will try to deport up to 3,000 international
students from London Metropolitan University, students and staff issued a
powerful note of defiance. Around 500 from London Met and elsewhere
held a militant protest outside the Home Office on Wednesday 5th
September, launching the beginning of a campaign to overturn that
disgraceful decision. Slogans called for the disbandment of the UK
Border Authority (UKBA) and for Theresa May to resign.
The decision this week by the UK Border
Agency (UKBA) to revoke London Met’s Highly Trusted Sponsor (HTS) status
for international student visas is a symptom of the wider economic
crisis and of a government far removed from the lives of ordinary
people.
Ben Peck takes a closer look at Labour MP John McDonnell’s new document on the alternative to the Tory programme of non-stop cuts
200 people packed into Lords Hill Church in Southampton recently, to
protest at plans by the new Labour Council to close Oaklands swimming
pool with the loss of dozens of jobs.
With increased borrowing, exports falling and the British economy in
recession, the Tory-led Coalition is heading for a major showdown with
the working class.
The Tories have already launched their attack on “lazy British workers”,
who need to be taught a hard lesson in hard work. They have branded
British workers “the worse idlers” in the world and said that we should
emulate the work ethic of Asia. In other words, we need to stop shirking
and work harder and longer for less pay and pensions. However, for us
to “compete” with Asia – on the same pay and conditions – means a race
to the bottom.
Back in June, Labourspokesperson Jim Murphy sent out an e-mail to Labour Party members on the subject of Armed Forces Day. Darrall Cozens from Coventry NW CLP sent a reply back (which was also printed in the July/Aug edition of Socialist Appeal) taking up some of his points. Since then a few more e-mails have been sent. Here we reproduce the texts of this interesting debate.
So the London Games are over. Time for grim reality to
return. Bad news then for the Tories who have been trying to live off the
feel-good factor for the last two weeks. If there was any sign of a Team GB
medal in the offing then up would pop Mr. Cameron to cheer along from the
stands. No problems getting tickets for him then. Now he is off chillaxing on
holiday!
Some Tories are seriously embarrassed at the contrast between the
success of Team GB in the Olympics and their government’s miserly and
backward attitude to health and sports. And they have every right to be
embarrassed! The Tories’ policy for tackling the wave of obesity
affecting children and adults alike is to leave their food policy in the
hands of the big food corporations! Not for nothing, two of the main
sponsors of the Olympics were Coca Cola and McDonalds – two of the worst
culprits for undermining a healthy diet.