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Britain: Open Letter to SSP Comrades

The Annual Conference of the SSP (Scottish Socialist Party) meets this weekend
to discuss a draft manifesto for the European elections and debate other issues
against the background of the recent events in Spain. Despite the successes over
the past period there is a growing unrest in the party over the reformist and
nationalist drift of the leadershp. The road of nationalism and reformism offers no way forward for the working
class in Scotland or elsewhere. The struggle for socialism is international or
it is nothing. We must learn the lessons of the past so that we may prepare for
the future

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Women enter battle

The key role played by women in the 1984-1985 miners’ strike has been an
inspiration to working class women everywhere. Many other issues affecting women
have yet to be fought. Cuts in education, housing, transport and health just to
name a few. Originally published in 1986.

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Twenty years on – the lessons of the 1984-85 miners’ strike – Part Two

An essential lesson to draw from the miners’ strike is the vital role of
leadership. The miners’ leaders stood head and shoulders above the majority of
British trade union leaders. The leaders of the NUM were a source of
inspiration. At the same time these leaders were inspired by the courage and
determination of the rank and file miners, of their wives and their communities.
Unfortunately courage alone is not enough to win such titanic battles. It must
be accompanied by correct tactics and strategy.

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Twenty years on – the lessons of the 1984-85 miners’ strike: Part One

Twenty years ago on March 5, 1984 the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM)
embarked upon the most important class struggle in Britain since the general
strike of 1926. A ferocious battle ensued. Billions of pounds were spent by the
ruling class to crush the miners’ militancy. More than ten thousand miners
were arrested; two were killed on the picket lines and countless others injured.
Decades of so-called consensus were obliterated and the real and ugly face of
British capitalism was exposed for all to see.

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Miners strike: “A turning point in the history of the movement” – Interview with Nigel Pearce, NUM

An interview with Nigel Pearce, a member of the National Executive of the
National Union of Mineworkers and working miner. He explains how the strike
developed and the turning point that it represented for labour relations in
Britain. In spite of the defeat he says, "We were right to fight, we had a
duty to fight, and I’m proud to have fought, and I’m proud of all those I fought
alongside."

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Secrets, Spies and Cover-ups

Former Cabinet Minister Clare Short, who resigned over the war, has candidly
admitted that British Intelligence
had spied on UN officials including Secretary General Kofi Annan, in the run-up
to the Iraq war. This follows on the admission of a former translator at GCHQ
who revealed that the US intelligence services has asked the British to spy on
senior UN officials and representatives of other "allied" governments.

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Blair U-turn on “Red Ken”

The decision to readmit London Mayor Ken Livingstone back into the Labour Party has came as
no surprise to anybody. A third Labour victory at the next general election is no longer the certainty
many once though it was. Only through a socialist programme alongside a fighting
leadership, rather than the pro-big business bunch we have at present, can a
Labour victory be assured and the hopes of the Tories and the rest be ground to
dust.

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RESPECT – another one seizes the scene

With the media frenzy over tuition fees and the Hutton report, you can be
forgiven for not noticing the launch in the same week of a new British political
party called simply RESPECT. The launching of RESPECT, also known as the Unity Coalition, was the brainchild
of a layer of people disillusioned with Blair who wanted to form a left
alternative to New Labour.

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WHITEWASH! The Hutton report or How the Establishment looks after its Own

Imagine a game of football where the manager of one team made up the
rules to benefit his own side, where the goalposts were moved and where the
referee was on his side. The outcome of such a match would, of course be known
in advance by the winning side, who would then run around the stadium in a state
of ecstasy, yelling “Victory!” That is precisely what happened with the now
infamous Hutton report.

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Britain: Blair Avoids Defeat

Teflon Tony, otherwise known as the ‘Houdini of British politics’ has
narrowly escaped a major political defeat yet again. It is however fair to say
that his protective layer of teflon may be wearing off, as the Labour majority
in parliament was reduced to just 5, down from the on-paper majority of 161. 
Thebill on tuition top-up fees passed its second reading by a vote of 316 to 311,
and the Labour Party’s parliamentary group is looking seriously beleaguered
after an intense few days of political haggling and backroom swindles.

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