Hong Kong: Stop imitating the EU!
4 July 2020
The British government is acting like the EU in its attempt to exert control over Hong Kong – an irony that seems to escape it.
We need a discussion, not a postmortem
Covid-19 has revealed the evil effects of the criminal fragmentation of Britain’s health and social care. The so-called internal market has failed. Workers must ensure that we never again face such a calamity…
How about a real industrial strategy?
A union plan called Manufacturing Matters has been launched. With Covid-19 and Brexit, we not only desperately need a plan for a manufacturing-based recovery – we also have the opportunity to implement it…
Transport firms slash jobs under Covid-19 cover
The Covid-19 crisis has presented both opportunity and cover for the owners of transport operators to attack jobs, pay, and conditions of well organised British workers at a time when they are vulnerable…
A sustainable future for higher education
No wonder universities are in a financial mess. Wedded to a business model that relied on speculative investment to bring in increasing numbers of foreign students, they are going to have to re-focus on Britain to survive…
Separatists’ fear of the ballot box grows
Unable to achieve its aims through democratic means, the SNP is edging towards a set of manoeuvres that would see Scotland leaving Britain by stealth…
Food - we need a long-term plan
In a landmark book written before the coronavirus crisis, food policy expert Tim Lang argues the importance of food security…
C19th London: skill and class
As the 19th century dawned, trade unions were made illegal, prices rose, wages fell. Skilled workers led the fightback…
Epidemics - Africa now polio-free
The World Health Organization has certified Nigeria and Cameroon free of polio, a crippling disease that usually affects children under five
Foreign supertrawlers on the rise in UK waters
A Greenpeace investigation into supertrawler fishing in protected UK waters has reported that they doubled their activity last year.
Back to school, urge paediatricians
19 June 2020
More than 1,500 paediatricians have signed a letter to the prime minister urgently calling for the government to publish a clear plan for getting all children back to school.
United we stand
A film of the police killing a black man, George Floyd, in the US city of Minneapolis has provoked a huge response of anger and revulsion across the world.
Britain’s coal-free energy not as green as it looks
Britain has now gone for two months without burning coal. But the figures hide the full truth about today’s carbon-neutral energy.
RMT attacks decision to axe Doncaster rail refurbishment jobs
18 June 2020
The RMT union has condemned plans by American giant Wabtec to cut rail refurbishment jobs at Doncaster under the cover of Covid-19.
Message to Johnson: Hong Kong is no longer a colony
Boris Johnson has pledged to give three million Hong Kong residents British citizenship – even though Britain quit the former colony more than two decades ago.
Scottish administration stymies rail improvement work
11 June 2020
While important railway enhancement works have started up again in England and Wales, the devolved Scottish administration has not allowed workers in the sector to return, keeping it under lockdown.
We are Cuba!
7 June 2020
The people of Cuba have shown splendid commitment to national sovereignty and social justice. This books tells the tale of their struggle and sucesses.
Start the music!
7 June 2020
The world famous Abbey Road studios started recording again on 4 June. Musicans are actively working to get back to work safely and practically.
Scrap student nursing fees, say unions
5 June 2020
Student nurses and midwives stepped up when they were needed. Their unions are calling for an end to their tuition fees. This will remove barriers to new students created in 2017 by cuts in financial support.
An artist of note: Turner and the new £20
5 June 2020
The new £20 note and its subject, JMW Turner, are celebrated in a lecture about Turner as an artist and his understanding of Britain and industry. A minature piece of art and tehnology displayed by our sovereign currency!
Time to clean up the monetary mess
The Covid-19 crisis has made it even more essential to get to grips with capitalism’s monetary mess. Quite simply, Britain’s whole business model is wrong.
Back to school, at last
5 June 2020
The phased wider opening of schools which began on 1 June was marred by confusion and concern. Take-up will grow when parents see that Armageddon has not been unleashed
No to the transition trap!
5 June 2020
“The British people have spoken, and the answer is, we’re out,” said the BBC four years ago after a long night of magnificent referendum results. Yet we’re not out, not really.
EU still trying to trap Britain in its net
1 June 2020
Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator is at it again, threatening Britain. But the threat is an odd one: reach agreement, or face no deal. As if that were a threat!
Don't let them bargain away defence!
1 June 2020
We are told the UK’s Brexit negotiators are insisting on sovereignty at every turn. That doesn’t seem to apply to defence…
Borders: still out of control
24 May 2020
To go by the latest official figures on non-EU immigration, the government’s pledge take control of our borders is already worthless.
Moving forward
15 May 2020
For the foreseeable future – for years – there will be no such thing as 100 per cent safe. Only workers can assess what is reasonably safe in their workplace, and every workplace is different, including every school.
Take control of P&O to safeguard jobs and marine supply chain, says union
14 May 2020
P&O Ferries has cut jobs on key ferry routes, while taking government support for Covid-19. The seafarers’ union RMT is calling for the government to take control of the company.
Amid aerospace crisis, Unite calls for new industrial strategy
13 May 2020
While the aerospace industry is looking for handouts, manufacturing union Unite is calling for a new industrial strategy based on making more in Britain.
Brussels bids to take charge of health services
The European Commission is making a concerted power grab to give itself the right to intervene in member states’ health systems.