The latest news and analysis from The Communist, alongside reports of our activity. For Marxist theory and history, click here.
Several weeks ago, “The Smiler” rollercoaster at the Alton Towers theme park crashed leaving 14 people injured. The cause of the accident hasn’t been made public yet; but even if the investigations point the finger at individual members of staff, there will be one root cause that will not be mentioned: profit.
As the Greek bailout ends and the repayment deadline is passed, bank and capital controls are now in action in Greece. Tsipras has called for people to vote NO – “OXI” – to the Troika’s proposals, as the creditors refuse to move. Tens of thousands have turned out in Athens to reject the proposals. The scene is set for an almighty confrontation between Capital and the Greek masses.
Events in Greece are moving at a lightning pace. On Saturday, Greek PM Tsipras announced that he will put the the latest ultimatum from the troika to a referendum. The troika responded by stating there will be no extension of Tuesday’s repayment deadline. Now the banks in Greece will be closed for a week. Greece’s future now rests on a knife-edge.
This weekend, Socialist Appeal and the Marxist Student Federation invite our activists, supporters, and readers to REVOLUTION 2015: a weekend of talks, discussions, and debates about revolutionary ideas and socialist alternatives. Come along and join in with the discussion about the Marxist ideas and revolutionary action needed to change society.
The latest provocative demands and ultimatums placed by the troika on the Greek government have one clear aim: to destroy it. They cannot be interpreted in any other way and all the pieces of the puzzle are now falling together. The only alternative to austerity is for Syriza to break with capitalism.
At the last minute, when it seemed that a break was inevitable, the Greek government made a new proposal which included substantial additional concessions to the demands of Europe’s bankers and capitalists. The Syriza government has been forced to abandon substantial points of its own election program, and even the famous “red lines” have been crossed.
Luke Wilson, a Labour Party and Unite the Union member, examines the programme and position of Jeremy Corbyn, the left-wing Labour MP, whose campaign for the Labour leadership is gathering momentum on the basis of his anti-austerity, anti-war stance. How do we really fight the cuts and campaign against oppression and war internationally?
Following successful ballots, members of the UCU union are taking strike action in colleges across the country against cuts that will result in “the death of further education”. We publish here reports from Socialist Appeal supporters in Sheffield and Hackney, London, who have been on the picket lines with UCU members.
Saturday’s End Austerity Now demonstrations defied all expectations. Police estimates for the London demonstration alone gave a figure of around 250,000, with likely numbers exceeding this. From the title of the protest to the placards on display and the slogans being shouted, the message was loud and clear: we reject your austerity!
Friday 12th June saw the Queen’s Birthday Honours list published – a festival of self-congratulatory propaganda on the part of the British Establishment, which this year saw 1,163 people nominated. Notably amongst those on the list are a whole host of Tory donors and capitalist fat-cats – all rewarded by the Establishment for services rendered.
The protracted negotiations between Greece and the troika which started after the election of Syriza on January 25 this year have seemingly reached a dead end. Withdrawal of deposits from the banks have accelerated, bringing the Day of Judgment closer. The troika is tightening the noose, and unless the victim manages to break free it will choke.
To the shock and surprise of mainstream political commentators, Jeremy Corbyn, the left-wing Labour MP, has emerged as the clear winner in the first televised Labour leadership hustings. The Blairites are becoming concerned by the popularity of Corbyn’s anti-austerity message and the possibility that he could actually win the leadership contest.