The latest news, analysis, and Marxist theory from The Communist, alongside reports of RCP activity.
The Fabian Society and Community trade union – both well known for their “gradualism” and willingness to compromise with the bosses – recently released a report entitled Future Unions, which seeks to dilute down the role of the unions in an age of zero-hour contracts, precarious work, and the gig economy. But, as Terry McPartlan explains, the way to fight these problems is through militancy and organisation.
We publish here two articles about the latest events in Catalonia, which this week sees a regional election imposed by the Spanish state as part of their Article 155 repressive measures. The first article is a statement by the Catalan section of the IMT about the upcoming elections. The second is a summary of the struggle for a Catalan Republic by Jorge Martin.
In the immediate aftermath of the tragic Grenfell fire, Theresa May promised that all families would be housed within three weeks. But six months have now passed and 4 out of 5 families made homeless by the disaster still do not have permanent homes at all. Moses Levi looks at the chaotic and inadequate response of the Tories to a disaster that they helped to create.
In a major U-turn, Ryanair this morning declared it would agree to engage with unions after some of its Dublin-based pilots voted in favour of strike action ahead of Christmas. The low-cost airline claimed it had written to pilot unions inviting them to recognition talks. As pilot Martin Swayne writes, this marks a major victory for the flight crew.
The first few months following the 1917 October Revolution in Russia were a frantic period for the new Soviet government of workers and peasants. Lenin and the Bolsheviks spent much of this time issuing decrees and appeals, designed to put their programme into effect and further win over the hearts and minds of the masses. James Kilby looks at the opening months of Soviet power.
The Russians and Iranians have declared the successful end of the war on the Islamic State. But the war against ISIS in the Middle East has fundamentally changed the balance of forces in the Middle East. The influence of Moscow and Tehran has grown, whilst that of US imperialism and its Saudi ally has been greatly diminished. For the masses, life in the region remains a nightmare.
In the 1930s, Labour MP Ellen Wilkinson wrote a book entitled “The Town that was Murdered”, detailing the devastating impacts of the Great Depression and British capitalism’s decline on her constituency, the town of Jarrow. Today, this book’s title could easily be used to describe the situation of many other towns across the country. Lilly Cockwill looks at the particularly tragic case of Blackpool.
Early last week, Tory leaders announced that a deal on phase one of the Brexit negotiations had been struck with the EU. The problem is, nobody had informed the DUP, May’s volatile government partners. In order to keep the peace, Ben Curry writes, the Prime Minister has entangled herself even further in a web of contradictions.
Tory austerity and the deepening crisis of British capitalism has plunged hundreds of thousands into poverty, with 1.25 million people now classified as ‘destitute’ according to latest figures from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, a social research charity. These mass poverty levels are a clear sign that the system is broken and cannot be reformed.
Roy Hattersley’s recent article in the Guardian offered a telling insight into the mind of the Blairites. With his semi-coherent ramblings, the former deputy Labour leader provides a perfect example of just how out of touch Labour’s so-called ‘moderates’ are from grasping the real mood in society, and how powerless their position has become.
Since September, Marxist students have been running campaigns to get elected as delegates to the national conference of the National Union of Students. Several Marxist candidates have been successful, with many campaigns yet to come next term. Help us fight for socialist policies in the student movement! Join your local Marxist society today!
Last Wednesday, US President Donald Trump declared that he would officially recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. This reveals the real nature of the so-called peace talks – the fact that the Western imperialists have never supported the oppressed Palestinian people. On a capitalist basis, Hamid Alizadeh notes, there will never be an agreement in Israel and Palestine.