Issue 36 Spring 2020 - The Socialist Correspondent

Articles featured in Issue 36

After the election - the fight for Labour
Sunday, February 2, 2020

It was the Brexit election and Labour could not escape this. though there were other factors, the main reason for its defeat was the loss of Leave voting constituencies in Wales and the North and Midlands of England. This was due to the failure to up-hold its promise to respect the outcome of the of the EU referendum in 2016.
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North and Midlands have a second referendum
Saturday, February 1, 2020

In the North and Midlands of England working class voters deserted Labour as it had deserted them, failing to respect their vote to leave the EU. There was huge anger at this and despite misgivings many deserted the party - not voting or voting for the Brexit Party or even the Tories. There were other problems too, like the blizzard of policy announcements which voters found unconvincing. All of this helped dent Corbyn's personal credibility. Yet Labour continued to do well in cities - it is not finished.
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SNP dominates Scotland again
Friday, January 31, 2020

In Scotland, where a majority voted Remain, the SNP managed to pull in much of that vote whilst also getting the support of Leave voting nationalists who value independence more than Brexit. The other parties suffered. Labour lost all the seats it had gained at the previous election, the Tories also lost seats and the Lib Dem leader, Jo Swinson lost her seat.
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London and the South - little change
Thursday, January 30, 2020

In contrast to the rest of England there was little change in London and the South of, however that was still disappointing for Labour which would have hoped to make gains.
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Northern Ireland - DUP and Sinn Fein lose votes
Wednesday, January 29, 2020

The issue of Brexit reinforced the sectarian divide in Northern Ireland at this election. It voted Remain, but a majority of those voting to stay in the EU came from the nationalist community, while a majority voting Leave came from the unionist side. Although the two main parties lost votes, the election still polarised the electorate along sectarian lines.
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Wales - Brexit lets Tories in
Tuesday, January 28, 2020

Wales also voted Leave in the EU referendum. Labour were punished in Leave voting Constituencies here in the same way they were in England and for the same reason - failing to respect the vote to leave the EU in 2016.
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Middle East faces down the West
Monday, January 27, 2020

Iran has become the number one enemy of the West due to its central role in the growing resistance to its interference in the region. The assassination of General Soleimani by the United States was a dangerously provocative act. The risk of another war has been heightened. As well as Iran other countries are becoming more assertive such as Russia and Turkey.
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France - working class fights on the streets
Sunday, January 26, 2020

In France the Gilets Jaunes protests have been going on for over a year and now there are massive strikes and demonstrations against Macron's pension "reforms". Virtually unreported by the mainstream media in Britain these movements are beginning to collaborate and represent wider demands.
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Latin America - a continent fights neo-liberalism
Saturday, January 25, 2020

Since the height of the so-called pink tide in Latin America, reactionary forces, backed by the united States have been rolling back progress. there have been coups, constitutional/legal manoeuvres and coups. the challenges remain massive, but despite setbacks there is an upsurge in strikes and protests by working people, most notably in Chile.
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No to war - No to NATO!
Friday, January 24, 2020

NATO's 70th anniversary summit was held in December 2019 in London. it was marked by internal divisions over the future of the alliance. NATO was founded to advance the West's interests in the Cold War. Despite seismic political changes and questions about its purpose, it still promotes Western power and heightens the threat of war.
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Winning the green new deal
Thursday, January 23, 2020

Labour went into the 2019 general election with an ambitious programme to tackle climate change. If Labour had won there would have been challenges delivering the Green New Deal, however Labour lost so the task facing the movement is even greater. Market forces left to their own devices have failed to respond to climate change in any meaningful way The issue is pressing and we cannot afford to wait till the next election to get change. We need to promote the technologies which will mitigate climate change and use the leverage that we have in local government, through community groups, trade unions and other bodies to begin to make change happen now.
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Where now for the Green Industrial Revolution?
Wednesday, January 22, 2020

The Conservative victory at the 2019 general election was a negative blow in the battle to save our planet from the effects of global warming and climate change. Given the urgency of the issue activists cannot afford to give up. We can learn from other successful grassroots campaigns in the past in winning commitment and forcing action
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Treason - Rebel warriors and international traitors
Tuesday, January 21, 2020

Book review. The book considers the significance of groups and individuals who have acted "disloyally" out of deeply held principles, against the regime in their countries.
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