Features

Cuba: ‘The US blockade asphyxiates and kills, just like the virus, and must end!’

Last month the United Nations General Assembly once again overwhelmingly voted in favour of Cuba’s resolution demanding the end of the US blockade. In a strong show of support for the socialist island, 184 countries voted in favour, and only 2 against (USA and Israel), while 3 countries abstained (Brazil, Colombia and Ukraine). Challenge proudly carries in full the address by Cuba’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bruno Rodriguez, to present the draft resolution “Necessity of Ending the Economic, Commercial and Financial Blockade imposed by the United States of America against Cuba” at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on 23 June 2021.

Remembering John Ball and the 1381 English Uprising

This summer marks the 640th anniversary of the 1381 English uprising, often known as the Peasants’ Revolt.

Colombia: Jesus Santrich assassination straight out of the CIA playbook

The Farc leader, killed by Colombian commandos in Venezuela, was a victim of the hybrid warfare techniques taught by the US and Israel, explains Oliver Dodd.

Now is the time for working people and the youth to seize the initiative

Young Communist League General Secretary, Johnnie Hunter, outlines the importance of the People’s Assembly national demonstration on 26 June 2021 and the need to build a mass movement against austerity and for socialism across Britain.

The future is being stolen, again

Frank Rowley examines the future implications of public spending cuts for the youth of today; and the general lack of optimism and hope for the future capitalism produces among the youth and working people.

A number of theoretical and practical issues on Socialism and the path to Socialism in Viet Nam

Professor Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, addresses the history and contemporary experience of building socialism in Viet Nam and the lessons which can be applied globally.

GB News: a failure

Tom Flanagan reviews the new right-wing television channel GB News.

Poetry Corner: December 1936, Spain by Clive Branson

December 1936, Spain by Clive Branson, 16 June 1939

Clive Branson was born in 1907. He became a skilled painter and studied at the Slade School of Art. At the age of 23 he exhibited paintings at the Royal Academy. He joined the ILP around 1927 but moved to the Communist Party in 1932.

Clive was active in the fight against the British Union of Fascists in London and played a leading role in the local Aid to Spain campaign, so naturally he enthusiastically volunteered for the International Brigades.

Here we feature his poem December 1936, Spain, an exhortation for aid and solidarity to Spain, highlighting the common cause of all people’s in the struggle against fascism.

England host Scotland at Wembley in tonight’s Euro 2020 draw

England host Scotland in the second Group D game of Euro 2020. The game kicks off at 8pm, while Croatia and the Czech Republic meet at 5pm at Hampden Park in Glasgow. Despite Covid restrictions meaning less than half the Stadium be filled will be able to watch the game live at Wembley Stadium, tens of thousands of Scots are expected to travel to London for the game.

Why is Labour losing?

Starmer and his advisers are eager to address the working class as a ‘patriotic’ identity, rather than an economic group that will support progressive policies proposed by people like themselves writes Nick Wright.

Outrage in Namibia at Berlin’s apology offering

The Nava and Ovaherero people of Namibia have spoken out in outrage against the feeble strings-attached apology the German government has given for the genocide carried out between 1904 and 1908.

The failures of the 50+1 model

Howard Green critiques English football fans’ calls for the Premier League to adopt the Germany’s corporate football model.

Stop attacking Cuba!

Statement from the PCE about recent advances from imperialist powers upon Cuba.

Review: Third World War

Pierre Marshall reviews the latest reprint of ‘Third World War’, a storyline written by Pat Mills and Carlos Ezquerra which appeared in the British comic magazine, Crisis.

Manchester City and Chelsea Fans flock to Portugal for Champions League Final

In the infinite wisdom of UEFA, the Champions League final between the two English clubs was held in Porto this year. With 12,000 fans making the trip from England to Portugal, it was the largest number of people leaving the UK in one go since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. The mayor of Porto Rui Moreira said: “This is the sort of moment that will put the city in the limelight.”

Unemployment Fightback

Dara O’Neill writes about the Communist Party of Britain’s new campaign aimed at tackling unemployment in Britain.

All the questions socialists have about China but were too afraid to ask

Alexander Norton interviews Keith Lamb on how China’s self-proclaimed socialist system measures up to the expectations of a Western socialist expat from Scotland who has lived through almost two decades of drastic change in the world’s emerging superpower

The Labour Party has a role to play in the socialist movement, Starmer does not

Daniel Roantree argues that the Labour Party’s recent loss in England hurts everyone on Britain’s road to socialism.

Rangers title celebrations mired by racism controversy

Police Scotland have begun an investigation into a video which appears to show the Rangers first team chanting anti-Catholic slurs in their post title celebration. This comes after many Glasgow residents took to social media to complain of similar racism from Rangers supporters in George Square on Saturday. The club, who won their first title since forming in 2012, stopping Celtic from completing a historic 10 league championships in a row, claim that the video may be doctored.

The social conformation of the productive forces: why does technology always end up working against us?

The technology that is built and designed for colonising humans and for exploiting our planet is not going to lead us to liberation. Instead, a Communist alternative to a humane and socialised use of technology must be offered.