Articles
Sunday, March 20, 2022
British farming is in dramatic decline and many hoped that leaving the EU and its Common Agricultural Police would signal a change of fortunes for the industry. however, the transition plans put in place by the Tories have failed to address the many problems faced by British agriculture.
Saturday, March 19, 2022
The loyalty of fans to the clubs they support runs deep, but football is increasingly big business. The ownership of Newcastle United by Mike Ashley and now the Saudi Public Investment Fund tests fan's loyalties and raises ethical questions. But there are other models of ownership which could address these issues.
Sunday, November 28, 2021
There is an urgent need for socialist policies and working class campaigning, yet some on the left seem to want to dilute our power by introducing proportional representation in UK parliamentary elections. Though seemingly more democratic, this self-defeating move would drive politics to the right through enforced coalitions with the Liberal Democrats. And this is only one of the problems with PR, which has failed to produce any positive change where it has already been implemented in elections in Britain. In fact through permanent coalitions will deliver less of what people voted for rather than more.
Saturday, November 27, 2021
COP 26 happened in Glasgow at the beginning of November and demonstrated the difficulties that free-market capitalism has in addressing major global challenges which require collaboration and planning. However, faced with its own extinction it is not impossible for capitalism to set aside some of its rivalries to try to save itself. Whether it will succeed is another matter and it will be worrying if the future of humanity is left in its hands.
However, as capitalism tries to save itself it will have scant regard for the impact of its climate change policies on working people and the developing world. Workers are rightly skeptical of vague promises about new green jobs. The North Sea oil industry is a specific example of this. Workers are interested in transferring from an industry in decline to green jobs, but they themselves identify a lack of planning by the UK, the Scottish and local governments to make this possible. Market forces mean that contracts for wind turbines, for example, go abroad and there is a lack of validation of their skills and qualifications if they want to move jobs. Like other workers across all industries in recent decades they have faced casualisation through bogus self-employment, cuts in wages and conditions and health and safety concerns.
Friday, November 26, 2021
Well into our second year since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, the world capitalist economy is now also suffering from a new malaise, a global economic pandemic involving some symptoms which seem entirely new and others which have not been seen for many years. These symptoms can only be understood in terms of capitalism, and of the actions taken by the capitalist states and central banks to shore the system up. It involves price inflation. This is not caused by workers demanding higher pay, but by the use of monetary policy to protect big business and the ultra-rich.
Thursday, November 25, 2021
There is a long and grim list of statistics about the poverty, inequality and discrimination being inflicted on British people by the Tories. Whilst prime minister Johnson talks about "leveling up", a "high-wage high-skill workforce" and "building back better", these are largely myths - if they have a practical purpose then that is to put public money into the hands of private businesses. But the establishment are not convinced by Johnson's leadership and there are public divisions over a range of issues.
Meanwhile Keir Starmer is still foundering as leader of the Labour Party, worrying his allies who depend on a more convincing performance for their jobs at the next election. Despite his sustained attack on the left it showed no signs of being cowed at the recent Labour conference where there were significant policies victories, particularly on Palestine.
Wednesday, November 24, 2021
If you don't run they can't chase you, is a new collection of stories from those in the frontline in the fight for social justice as told to Neil Findlay. Some hard-fought battles ended in defeats, like the Miner’s Strike, some are partial wins with the fight for proper justice still in progress, like the Hillsborough campaign, but others, were victories like the anti-Apartheid struggle. We can take inspiration from these accounts and the courage, tenacity and humour of all those in Britain and beyond who chose to fight.
Sunday, August 29, 2021
Despite the continued mishandling of the coronavirus pandemic and the botched exit deal from the EU, Boris Johnson still seems Teflon coated. Johnson has been able to survive so far because of his popularity in the Tory Party and his huge majority in parliament. Also because the establishment want an orderly transition to a new leader which doesn’t expose the Tories failures too much nor their anti-democratic practices, contempt for the electorate and corruption. Divisions are beginning to emerge among the Tories on multiple issues meaning Johnson, far from being invincible, is looking increasingly insecure.