News that in the previous quarter the British economy experienced its
biggest contraction since 2009 is just one statistic amongst dozens
forming a backdrop to this new age of austerity. The Governor of the
Bank of England, Mervyn King, summed up his perspectives for the economy
saying that “a black cloud hangs over investment” whilst he announced
that predictions for growth in 2012 are close to zero.
UNISON members employed by Northumbria Healthcare Trust took strike
action today in response to the decision of the Foundation Trust to
slash mileage rates from 47p per mile to 24p. The workers concerned are
Community Nurses, Occupational Therapists, Technical Instructors and
Social Workers, who are required to use a car for work, because they
work in the community covering large distances to meet the needs of
vulnerable, often elderly patients.
One year after it was announced that employers in the construction
industry were looking to break workplace agreements and implement savage
cuts in pay and conditions, and one year after the magnificent rank and
file campaign was launched in response, site activists from around the
country met in London to plan the way ahead.
With increased borrowing, exports falling and the British economy in
recession, the Tory-led Coalition is heading for a major showdown with
the working class.
The Tories have already launched their attack on “lazy British workers”,
who need to be taught a hard lesson in hard work. They have branded
British workers “the worse idlers” in the world and said that we should
emulate the work ethic of Asia. In other words, we need to stop shirking
and work harder and longer for less pay and pensions. However, for us
to “compete” with Asia – on the same pay and conditions – means a race
to the bottom.
There has been a certain feeling over
the past three or four years that we are living through history, the
sort of history, that is, which people pick over many years into the
future when they try to explain the factors that led to a war or a
revolution for example.
Back in June, Labourspokesperson Jim Murphy sent out an e-mail to Labour Party members on the subject of Armed Forces Day. Darrall Cozens from Coventry NW CLP sent a reply back (which was also printed in the July/Aug edition of Socialist Appeal) taking up some of his points. Since then a few more e-mails have been sent. Here we reproduce the texts of this interesting debate.
As fighting has spread into the two
main Syrian cities of Damascus and Aleppo, generally speaking, the mass
movement has greatly ebbed in the last few months giving way to a
guerrilla-like armed struggle lead by the militias of the Free Syrian
Army. So, where is Syria going and what is the revolution, or, quite
arguably, what remains of the revolution, going to produce?
RTÉ and the Irish press report fairly
regularly about the workings of the Troika and the discussions Enda
Kenny (leader of Fine Gael) and Michael Noonan (Minister of Finance)
hold with European Union and the IMF, although the edited highlights and
the “communiqués” don’t mention the small print. As many people behind
on the mortgage will have found out to their cost over the last few
years, the devil is in the detail.
So the London Games are over. Time for grim reality to
return. Bad news then for the Tories who have been trying to live off the
feel-good factor for the last two weeks. If there was any sign of a Team GB
medal in the offing then up would pop Mr. Cameron to cheer along from the
stands. No problems getting tickets for him then. Now he is off chillaxing on
holiday!
Some Tories are seriously embarrassed at the contrast between the
success of Team GB in the Olympics and their government’s miserly and
backward attitude to health and sports. And they have every right to be
embarrassed! The Tories’ policy for tackling the wave of obesity
affecting children and adults alike is to leave their food policy in the
hands of the big food corporations! Not for nothing, two of the main
sponsors of the Olympics were Coca Cola and McDonalds – two of the worst
culprits for undermining a healthy diet.
LRC supporter Keith Henderson, the secretary of Clacton Labour
party and parliamentary spokesperson has been suspended from
holding office following undisclosed allegations made against
him by persons unknown.
On Saturday 4th,
August over 2000 marchers demonstrated through the streets of Redditch in the
West Midlands to protest at the threatened closure of key services at the
Alexandra Hospital in the town. The removal of A&E, Maternity and
Paediatrics services would in essence kill the hospital as a functioning
general hospital.