Revolutionary Socialism in the 21st Century
 
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austerity

Rachel Reeves and the ‘maxed out credit card’

Kate Deer takes a critical look at the new government’s claims that Britain has ‘maxed out its credit card’.

Behind the Cardiff riot: a community failed by police and politicians

Following the tragic death of two young people in Ely on Monday and the riot that followed, the police’s version of events has unravelled. But, as Ann Marie Zogina reports, the area in west Cardiff has not only been failed by the police, but the politicians who claim to represent it as well. Tragedy has […]

Empty seats on a British train carriage

The Great British fob off 

The recent announcement of a new public sector body called ‘Great British Railways’ to co-ordinate all rail services has been hailed by many as a victory, but these plans in fact set the stage for increases in fares and job cuts for rail workers. 

Boris Johnson visiting Alexandra Palace Hospital during the 2019 General Election. Keywords: Government Tories NHS privatisation privatization privatising privatizing privatised privatized

Are the Tories really reversing NHS privatisation?

The Tories’ new proposed health reforms grab more power for ministers – but that doesn’t mean an end to health privatisation.

Anti-austerity protesters in Lisbon in March 2011. Keywords: unemployed workers organising unemployment

Unemployment and class power: the example of Portugal

Worker organising in Britain will have to change to take account of rising mass unemployment. We can learn from how workers in Southern Europe faced the wave of austerity after the last economic crisis.

UNISON flags. Keywords: UNISON general secretary election

Back Paul Holmes for UNISON general secretary

UNISON members need to turn the page on a decade of inaction in the face of Tory austerity. Paul Holmes’ rank-and-file candidacy is a chance to put this argument front and centre

Nurses protest over pay in London

Thousands march in first move of NHS pay battle

A wave of actions by NHS workers opens the door for a major struggle against austerity and poverty pay

Nurses marching in London to demand a pay rise

Nurses strike back against attack on pay

Nurses and health workers are fighting back on pay – and kicking off a battle to defend our health and care services

NHS workers facing redundancy in a pandemic

While Matt Hancock was clapping for NHS workers, plans were going ahead to make a large group of them redundant.

Fighting for the NHS: victory in Wales

The Tories may clap, but they had brought the NHS to its knees before Covid-19. The campaign to save an A&E in South Wales shows how communities can defeat cuts and role back austerity.

Review: Sorry We Missed You

Colin Revolting reviews director Ken Loach’s latest film, which centres on the family of two workers in the gig economy

Ecuador: Indigenous peoples fight back

Statement by the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE) on the revolt triggered by austerity measures demanded by the IMF.

Scunthorpe steel: murder by market manipulation

The closure of the Scunthorpe steel-works is likely to spell disaster for the community. Following our earlier analysis of the state of the British steel industry, here we consider the social costs of cynical mismanagement.

Knife crime and the myth of the friendly copper

Mitch Mitchell argues that putting more police on the streets will not solve the problem of knife crime and will lead to more targeting of BAME youth.

What we mean when we talk about benefits cuts

The Secret Housing Barrister describes the consequences of the UK government’s continued enforcement of an illegal benefits cap.

Protest in London calls for a general election

On Saturday, the People’s Assembly called a demonstration calling for a general election and anti-fascist activists rallied outside the Brazilian Embassy.

Building the Left in the face of Brexit

Charlie Hore responds to Neil Davidson’s discussion of the Brexit crisis and offers an alternative analysis of the Leave vote.

No exit from the Brexit crisis

What does the Brexit crisis mean for British politics and the European Union?

Happy NEU year?

The newly formed National Education Union is currently balloting for action. What are the prospects for the new union and the left within it?

Maternity Care in Crisis

What led to the unfolding scandal around maternity care in Shropshire?

Greece and the politics of natural disasters

The government has persistently allowed private interests in construction, industry and tourism to be prioritised over serious ecological and safety concerns.

Local elections fail to mobilise enough voters hungry for change

The local election results have not been a disaster for Labour. Despite the collapse of the UKIP vote, the Tories lost seats.

University picket lines – a place of learning

Footage from Goldsmiths college picket line where staff and students talk about their experience of striking so far.

Video: Charlton Park Academy picket line 17th October 2017

Tony Aldis and Colin Revolting speak to GMB members at Charlton Park Academy on strike defending equal sick pay for all staff.

Video: Charlton Park School strike public meeting

Watch a short extract of a public meeting to explain the strike action and to organise support for these workers under attack.

Living with depression under capitalism

Kate Bradley looks at her experience of depression, the interplay of austerity and mental health problems, and the ambivalent role of state services

After the May 4 elections: time to shift the terrain

The May 4 local election results contain a lesson for activists in the run-up to the June General Election.

Is a People’s Brexit possible?

How do we respond to the right wing chorus over Brexit and the threat of Farage to organise a 100,000 strong march? Should we line up with the pro-EU centre of British  politics that would like to overturn the referendum result? Seb Cooke argues here that we can only undermine Theresa May’s ‘Brexit for the […]

revolutionary reflections | ‘The movement as a whole’ – Waves and Crisis of The Social Movement

Colin Barker provides a framework for revolutionaries to think about their engagement in the politics of social movements.

“I Daniel Blake” – Dissecting the DWP

Adam DC reviews Ken Loach’s latest film. Ken Loach’s Palme d’Or award winning film “I Daniel Blake” exposes the reality of ‘Benefits Britain’. Written by his long time collaborator Paul Laverty, the film is a dignified and sharp polemic about the injustices that occur in our benefits system, and the solidarity and courage of the […]