The serious bourgeoisie are worried by evidence of a long term inability for capitalism to provide growth, jobs, and a decent standard of living – i.e. to develop the productive forces. An increasing number of mainstream commentators are now seriously questioning whether our ability to innovate – to develop science and new technologies – has fundamentally slowed down. Adam Booth looks at the question of technology and innovation under capitalism.

Despite the reality facing millions of low paid workers, we are again faced with a barrage of propaganda about the British economy “turning the corner”. All this talk of “recovery” is hot air. There has been no bounce back to “normality”. In fact, there is a “new” normality, one of on-going austerity and mass unemployment, condemning a new generation to the scrap heap and a life of despair.

The statistics and facts reveal a clear trend: over the past 30 years workers are taking a smaller slice of the economic output in society. Conversely, there has been an accelerating increase of the concentration of wealth at the top. Darrall Cozens discussed this growing inequality and presents a motion from the Coventry Trades Council that calls for the leaders of labour movement to organise workers and begin the fight back against low pay, precarious jobs, and the capitalist system that give rise to these.