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There
is no greater threat to democratic rights than a capitalist system in fear of
its future. British capitalism has long been in decline, and this decline is
accurately reflected in the crises of the Tory Party. The sickness of British
capitalism also means a growing class polarisation of British society, which at
some stage must be reflected in the Labour Party.
Despite
the almost incessant rainfall we are officially in a drought. There
can be no doubt that climate change is contributing to changing
weather patterns to adversely affect our water supply. This is a
foretaste of what conditions will be like here in the not too distant
future if something is not done to halt and reverse the destruction
of our environment on a global scale.
Following the hugely successful visit to London by
Venezuelan President, Hugo Chavez, where he addressed audiences of hundreds,
the Hands Off Venezuela campaign is to be launched in Scotland with a press conference
at the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday, 31st May.
After being labelled a “butcher” by
the British press following last week's bad election results for the
Labour Party and the subsequent Cabinet reshuffle, Tony Blair
suffered another blow, this time not at home but abroad. In Basra the
British army lost five soldiers, including the first female casualty,
as their helicopter crashed and British soldiers came under attack.
In Part One of
British Perspectives Phil Mitchinson looks at the general trends in
British politics, with an eye to the international situation, the war
in Iraq, and the decline of Blairism.
Labour suffered a heavy defeat in England's local council elections,
but Blair is desperately clinging on to office for now. In an attempt to
cover up Labour's losses and to shore up his support Blair quickly moved
to sack several high ranking ministers and promote loyal supporters.
What Blair has installed is a Final Days administration. It is a bunker
cabinet. Blair is finished and so is Blairism. These elections
illustrate a growing class polarisation taking place in British society.
The workers at the Peugeot plant in
Ryton (near Coventry) risk losing their jobs and livelihood. Darrall
Cozens reports on the latest situation after interviewing John
Cummins, Deputy Convenor from Amicus, about the trade union plans to
keep the plant open.
This year’s rally was bigger than usual with thousands of workers taking part from many different unions, but there was a contradiction between some of the moderate speeches of the leaders and the real problems faced by the workers facing the onslaught of the bosses.
Hands Off Venezuela made a very good intervention in May Day. At the beginning of the march in Clerkenwell, a large stall was set up behind a massive HOV banner selling literature and t-shirts. The new HOV magazine was on sale throughout the demonstration.
Like vultures waiting for an animal to die before ripping it to pieces, private “investors” are watching as Blair destroys the National Health Service preparing the ground for more and more privatisation. The grandparents of today’s British workers struggled for a fully funded free healthcare system. Now we have to struggle to win it all back.
Tony Blair has been pushing the line that the National Health Service has never had it so good. He lives on another planet obviously. Anyone who uses the NHS or works for it knows that a systematic attack on the very concept of free healthcare is taking place.
The decision to close the Peugeot car plant at Ryton in Coventry and cease production of the best-selling 206 model was compared by one worker at the plant to knowing that a loved one was dying of cancer yet being shocked to know that death is at the doorstep. There is no time to lose if this struggle to save jobs is to win!