The latest news and analysis from The Communist, alongside reports of our activity. For Marxist theory and history, click here.
This month, Oxford was again named the least affordable city compared to average earnings. In response to this housing crisis, a number of protests have been seen across Oxford in solidarity with those affected. James Morrow of the Oxford Marxist society discusses the question of housing and homeless and points the way forward.
Steve Jones examines the reasons behind the appointment of George Osborne, the former chancellor, as the new editor of London Evening Standard. With the Brexiteers increasingly in control of their party, the Prime Minister, and the government, it is clear that the liberal wing of the capitalist class is looking to “take back control” for themselves.
We publish here a letter by Socialist Appeal supporter Luke Wilson, who responds to the calls by the prominent Guardian journalist, Owen Jones, for Corbyn to stand down. Instead of demanding compromise and retreat, Jones – an influential figure on the Left – should be calling for Corbyn to go on the offensive against the Blairites and the Tories.
Last weekend saw the Marxists in Britain take a momentous step forward at the national conference of Socialist Appeal activists and supporters. Not only was this the most successful conference yet, but it also marked the launch of the new fortnightly Socialist Appeal paper – an important milestone for the Marxist tendency in Britain.
In normal times, the Dutch general elections would not make headline news around the world. But we are not in normal times. The Netherlands, for decades were considered one of the solid, stable, north European countries. That is no longer the case, as the crisis of world capitalism impacts on this small country.
Despite all the talk of “unity” by those at the top of the Labour Party, proof of a politically-motivated plot to rid the Party of socialists has recently come to light, as detailed here by Socialist Appeal supporter and expelled Labour member, Jack Halinski-Fitzpatrick. This plot involves right-wingers from all levels of the Party, including MPs and Labour staff.
In certain conditions, all things can turn into their opposite. Prior to the arrival of its latest resident, the White House had long been a symbol of the immense stability and confidence of the USA’s political regime. As Josh Holroyd explains, today it stands at the centre of an almighty political crisis.
The Chancellor’s Budget began to unravel at lightning speed as soon as he had sat down from delivering his speech. Hammond’s humiliating climb down clearly demonstrates that the Tory government is in a complete shambles as it hurtles towards the cliff edge of Brexit. The time is ripe for Corbyn’s Labour to go on the offensive with a socialist alternative.
After already being in dispute for several months with bosses at Southern Rail, strikes by railway workers in defence of safety, terms, and conditions have now spread to other areas of the country. On 13th March, strikes were seen at Southern stations, and also at Merseyrail and Northern Rail stations too. We publish here a couple of reports from the picket lines.
Nicola Sturgeon this week finally delivered the speech that had seemed almost inevitable ever since the Brexit vote in June last year. By announcing her intention to seek a second independence referendum, Sturgeon has started a political storm that will likely rage on – at the very least – until any referendum takes place, and possibly far beyond.
Cleaning staff at the London School of Economics are taking unprecedented strike action for two days on 15-16th March in their fight for decent pay and conditions. The example of the LSE cleaners – and their campaign alongside students and other staff – shows the way forward in the fight against exploitation in the workplace.
A Marxist Student Federation member came a respectable second in the King’s College London student union elections, which concluded last week. Running on an openly socialist programme, Joe Attard of the KCL Marxist Society received 500 votes, demonstrating a real appetite for radical ideas at a traditionally conservative university.