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The last three weeks have seen a rapid rise in the polls for Jean-Luc Melenchon, the candidate of the Rebellious France movement for the presidential election, on the back of a radical left programme. The Establishment is now terrified of the prospect of a Le Pen / Melenchon second round – a contest that the left-wing firebrand could win.
The power-sharing deal in the North of Ireland, established with the Good Friday Agreement, has broken down. The old system of rule no longer works, an indication of the pressures that flow from the economic crisis. Gerry Ruddy looks at why and how this has come about.
Bus drivers in Ireland have reacted to attacks by the bosses with fierce militancy. Their struggle is a clear indication of the anger building up across Ireland. As cracks open up in the Fine Gael-led coalition government over everything from water charges to police corruption, it is evident that this weak and divided government can be brought down.
Buoyed by statistics showing growth in many key countries, capitalist commentators are once again optimistically predicting that “green shoots of recovery” are blossoming for the world economy. But with this empirical attitude comes an incredible hubris – for none of the fundamental contradictions have been resolved. The system remains riddled with crisis.
British capitalism has been mired in industrial decline for decades, stuck in a low skill, low wage economy. To address this problem and grab the headlines, the Tories have announced plans to train three million new apprentices. But, as Ben Gliniecki discusses, the Tories’ token efforts are riddled with contradictions.
Last week, under orders from President Trump, the US navy launched a series of missile attacks on the Al Shayrat airbase in the central governorate of Homs in Syria. This attack was said to be in response to the alleged use of chemical weapons by the Syrian regime. Once again, however, we see the reeking hypocrisy of the imperialists on display.
Terms and conditions for workers at major supermarket chain ASDA are under threat, as the bosses look to boost their profits on the backs of their staff. The trade union supposed to be representing ASDA workers, however, is remaining “neutral” in this struggle. GMB leaders need to show the way forward with a call for fighting action.
We publish here the third part of a Socialist Appeal document on the perspectives for the class struggle in Britain. In this third and final part, we look at the perspectives for the Labour Party. Despite the election (and re-election) of Corbyn as leader, the Blairite right wing maintain control of the PLP and apparatus. The outcome of the Labour civil war depends on the question of leadership.
With Article 50 triggered and Britain now formally starting the process of leaving the EU, the gloves have come off. According to Theresa May, this is “the moment for the country to come together”. But the country has never been so divided. Britain is in danger of breaking apart. The whole Brexit gamble is about to blow up in the Tory government’s face.
On Saturday 18th March, workers at the Duke of York Picturehouse cinema in Brighton held their first strike against unfair working conditions. Six Picturehouse sites are now part of a national campaign for decent pay and conditions. We publish here a report from a worker at the Brighton Picturehouse on their fightback.
Ken Livingstone’s suspension from the Labour Party for “bringing the party into disrepute” has provoked a cacophony of protests from the party’s right wing, demanding his immediate expulsion. It is not Livingstone who is bringing the party into disrepute, however, but the constant sabotage of these Tory infiltrators. They must be shown the door.
Once again, the champagne corks are popping for Britain’s millionaires, if not for the rest of us. The Tories are determined to ensure that the so-called Hard Brexit will be a bonanza for the rich. At the same time, the poorest will be well and truly hit. The only way out for the working class is to fight for a socialist Europe.