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The result of the elections to Venezuela’s National Assembly
elections on Sunday was greeted by jubilation in the bourgeois media
internationally. It is too early to make a definitive judgment about
the results, and it has not been confirmed the right wing has overtaken
the PSUV in votes. However, the deafening chorus of triumph in the
international media is premature.
The
mood at the Miraflores presidential palace on Sunday night was one of
cautious waiting and one could even feel a slight nervousness in the
air as thousands of Bolivarians had gathered to hear the first results
of the country’s parliamentary elections
Against all the odds and against the wishes of the whole establishment from The Economist to The Sunday Times, Ed Miliband has emerged as Labour Party leader, simply by standing a little to the left of his brother. This clinched the trade union members vote, which shows in which direction workers want the party to go, clearly to the left. But which way will Ed Miliband go?
According to the
propaganda of government and big business we have come through the worst of the
recession and are now set to prosper as the “green shoots” of recovery start to
grow. A recent survey by the Bank for International Settlements has shown that
for some this is clearly the case.
This Saturday Glasgow once again showed that we won’t tolerate fascists and the far-right on our streets.
The leaders of British trade unions representing more than 5 million
workers sign Hands Off Venezuela appeal in support of the Bolivarian
revolution and the PSUV candidates for the National Assembly elections.
The Pope’s visit to Britain comes in the midst of the most serious
crisis of capitalism since the Second World War, with a growing mood of
discontent among the workers. No doubt a little help for the British
Establishment in times like these from the Almighty will always come in
handy. The Pope is also hoping to boost the fortunes of the Church
after it has been shaken by scandals in one country after another.
The TUC has produced the latest and most detailed report yet
on the likely effect of the coalition’s plans to cut public services and
benefits. To no-ones surprise they have again confirmed that, contrary to the
government’s stated position at the time of the summer budget, these cuts will
hit the poorest hardest.
Blair’s New Labour principles have conveniently provided a starting
point for the new education law the Tories’ have rushed through
parliament. This is intended to lead to a dramatic acceleration of the
academies programme, starting with schools judged ‘outstanding’ by the
schools inspectorate, Ofsted.
The Tories’ decision to cancel Labour’s Building Schools for the Future
(BSF) project is a blow to thousands of school children currently being
taught in the most dilapidated, uninspiring and antiquated schools.
They must now continue to be taught in substandard buildings
Labour, in it’s original programme, intended to spend £55bn over two
decades, and would have rebuilt or refurbished just about every
secondary school in the country. In Michael Gove’s drive to cut public
expenditure, it has proved to be too tempting a target to mis
Pressure, Pressure and yet more pressure. Life in our schools has never been tougher… here is an account of what’s going on from a secondary school teacher.
HOV STATEMENT: The National Assembly elections in Venezuela, which will take place on
September 26, will mark a turning point for the Bolivarian revolution.
What is at stake is not only who will have a majority in the National
Assembly, but the future of the revolutionary process itself. We invite you to read this statement and add your name to it.