Issue 26 Autumn 2016

CONTENTS: Anti-Corbyn attacks sink to a new low, Frieda Park. Labour: Report rejects anti-Semitism smear, Brian Durrans. Britain's working-class supports Brexit, Frieda Park. Hostility to EU on the rise across Europe, Simon Korner. Brexit hailed as a huge victory, Joao Ferreira MEP. EU demands sale of Greek assets, Alex Davidson. Inquiry into US and UK illegal war in Iraq, Pat Turnbull. Syria: US increases support for Al Qaeda, Simon Korner. French workers fight new labour laws, Jean Lutte. Tax injustice and offshore finance, Paul Sutton. The Cuban five visit Britain, Frieda Park. Hidden History of the Cuban Revolution, Gina Nicholson Klaus Steiniger: child of the GDR, Pat Turnbull.

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Articles featured in Issue 26

• Anti-Corbyn attacks sink to a new low
  Thursday, September 1, 2016

  False allegations of Anti-Semitism and misogyny and claims that Jeremy Corbyn was responsible for Brexit are being used to try to undermine his leadership, the left and the campaign for solidarity with the Palestinians. The standard of debate has hit a new low.
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• Brexit vote hailed as a huge victory
  Thursday, September 1, 2016

  Statement by Joao Ferreira MEP in the European Parliament on behalf of the Portuguese Communist Party. The vote in Britain reflects the deep-seated problems of the EU. He calls for the immediate suspension of the Fiscal Compact and the repeal of the Lisbon Treaty and for cooperation between sovereign states with equal rights. He rejects reactionary, xenophobic agendas.
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• Britain's working class supports Brexit
  Thursday, September 1, 2016

  The result of the EU referendum exposes divisions within British capitalism. Tory Party ambivalence about membership contributed to the result. The working class whose interests were not represented by the neo-liberal policies of successive governments voted to Leave.
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• EU demands sale of Greece's assets
  Thursday, September 1, 2016

  Everything must go as the EU demands the sale of Greece's assets, including islands, beaches, hotels, historic properties and utilities. Airports, railways, ports and telecoms have already been snapped up by German, Chinese and Italian companies, which are often state-owned.
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• Hostility to EU on the rise across Europe
  Thursday, September 1, 2016

  The vote for Brexit in Britain has opened up debate on the left across Europe with increased opposition to the EU. Its future is uncertain given opposition from both left and right. Germany as the dominant force in the EU faces some difficult challenges dealing with the new situation.
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• Report rejects anti-Semitism smear
  Thursday, September 1, 2016

  The findings of the Chakrabarti inquiry reject the claim that the Labour Party has a problem with anti-Semitism. Criticism of Israel and campaigning against its oppression of the Palestinians does not equate to anti-Semitism. This is an important boost to the solidarity campaign and a vindication of Jeremy Corbyn, however, the pro-Israel lobby will not give up.
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• Inquiry into US and UK illegal war in Iraq
  Wednesday, August 31, 2016

  The Chilcot report was a damning indictment of the war in in Iraq. There was no case for war nor was it supported by the UN. Its conduct and the aftermath created devastation in the country with millions of Iraqis suffering death, injury, displacement and hardship. However the inquiry did not challenge assumptions about imperialist intervention in the affairs of other countries.
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• Syria: US increases support for Al Qaeda
  Wednesday, August 31, 2016

  While the Syrian army is pushing back Islamic State terrorists, the US is endangering progress by continuing to back groups linked to Al Qaeda and threatening the fragile ceasefire.
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• Tax injustice and offshore finance
  Wednesday, August 31, 2016

  Britain, through the City of London and its overseas dependencies and crown territories leads the world in promoting tax avoidance. This pours billions of pounds into the pockets of huge companies like Amazon and rich individuals. These practices exposed in the Panama Papers and earlier leaks. The former Prime Minister David Cameron was caught up in the scandal. Despite declarations to the contrary, politicians and HMRC continue to facilitate this industry. Meanwhile billions of pounds in tax which could fund public services are being siphoned off and inequality is growing.
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• French workers fight new labour laws
  Tuesday, August 30, 2016

  French workers take militant action to oppose labour "reforms" aimed at undermining their conditions and collective bargaining.
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• Hidden History of Cuban Revolution
  Tuesday, August 30, 2016

  Review of "A Hidden History of the Cuban Revolution" by Steve Cushion. This book re-assesses the important role played in the revolution by the Cuban working class, the trades unions and the communist party. It draws on documentary evidence from the time and interviews with activists and paints a compelling picture of the often neglected role of working class struggle in the overthrow of the Batista dictatorship.
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• The Cuban Five heroes visit Britain
  Tuesday, August 30, 2016

  When two of the Cuban Five, Rene Gonzalez and Gerardo Hernandez, were at last granted visas to visit Britain, their trip became a celebration of solidarity.
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• Klaus Steiniger: child of the GDR
  Monday, August 29, 2016

  Obituary of Klaus Steiniger editor of the German Journal RotFuchs, committed communist and defender of the German Democratic Republic.
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