Former French Health Minister charged over failed Coronavirus response
The French government’s former Minister of Health, Agnes Buzyn, has been charged with “endangering the lives of others” over her mishandling of the pandemic.
A year of campaigns: Manchester students secure historic rent strike win – but the fight doesn’t end here
In this Challenge article from last November, Hannah Phillips writes on the Manchester University student rent strike, arguing that the success must be a call to action for students across Britain to fight against sky-high fees, extortionate accommodation and inadequate courses
Independence for disabled people is a human right
Dina Groden writes on the importance of assistive technology for disabled people.
Scottish Government approves controversial Vaccine Passport Scheme
The Scottish Parliament yesterday (9 September 2021) voted in favour of launching a vaccine passport scheme which will require people in Scotland to prove they have been fully vaccinated before they can enter nightclubs and large events. The Scottish Government hopes the scheme will encourage everyone, particularly young people, to get fully vaccinated, and will also make venues and events safer, making further restrictions less likely.
Communist Party: ‘pandemic proof the future for workers’
The Communist Party has issued the September edition of its news sheet Unity! focusing on the upcoming TUC Congress, US imperialism, health and social care and the Communist Party’s upcoming Congress.
Communists slam Conservative tax rise and call for social care reform and staff pay rise
Communist Party General Secretary Robert Griffiths yesterday (7 September 2021) called on workers to “reflect and regroup”, as the decision to tax workers to pay for social care (effectively twice as we do it already), “is the opening shot in a protracted struggle with attempts to shift the burden of paying for the breakdown of capitalism, onto workers and their communities.”
Public inquiry into Cumbrian coal mining project begins
A public inquiry has begun into the development of the UK’s first deep coal mine in 30 years. The project, run by West Cumbria Mining (WCM), would extract 2.78 million tonnes of coal a year up until 2049, but has been widely criticised for its potential environmental impact.
Scottish Government ignores anti-Irish racism in new guidance
Tom Flanagan argues that the SNP administration in Holyrood, and Scotland’s political establishment generally, continue to ignore the problem of anti-Irish racism with misplaced efforts to target ‘sectarianism’.
Unpacking neoliberalism – A Marxist lesson to the moderate left
Tom Bird writes on the importance of Marxism in examining contemporary capitalism
Tories plan to raise national insurance payments
Despite his 2019 manifesto, Boris Johnson is expected to announce an increase in national insurance payments to apparently fund the social care crisis.
