Universal Credit cut will plunge families into poverty in the UK
One hundred groups have implored the Prime Minister to abandon the looming cut to Universal Credit and Working Tax Credit, calling it “the biggest overnight cut to the basic rate of social security since World War II”.
Education Minister attempts to shift Coronavirus burden onto parents
Minister for Education Gavin Williamson has said that it is parents’ responsibility to prevent a new Covid wave when schools open this September, attempting to shift the burden and blame for the virus’ spread away from government to individual citizens.
The role of education in a post-pandemic world
Efrem Craig reflects on the effects that the pandemic has had on teaching, whilst making the case for a socialist education system
Labour’s attack on Xinjiang-made PPE is only the latest in a wave of disinformation
The Labour Party has called on the Conservative government to not make PPE contracts with Xinjiang-based firms in the latest set of unfounded attacks by western politicians against China. Writing to the current health secretary Sajid Javid, shadow cabinet member Emily Thornberry reiterated the forced labour narrative that has long served to justify economic and military manoeuvring by imperialist nations against Chinese interests.
Being Fidel and doing so now
We must assume the phrase “I am Fidel” in practice, as the best tribute to the person who showed us that the only option we should never contemplate is surrender writes Miguel Cruz.
Interrupting the solemnity of the moment, like a wave gaining strength, the clamour rose and little by little the Plaza de la Revolución became a single voice chanting: I am Fidel. It was Tuesday, November 29, 2016 and the people of Havana, representing all of Cuba, had gathered there to pay tribute to our undefeated Comandante who had departed to immortality.
Communists urge anti-monopolies alliance
Monopoly capital has strengthened its grip on economies across the developed world during the Covid pandemic, according to Britain’s Communists. “The monopoly corporations are sucking in resources, skills and wealth directly and through their huge supply chains; they are exploiting their multi-million strong labour forces to extract super-profits for their shareholders and taking absolute control of finance, advanced technology, security, ‘defence’, commodity production and service delivery”, Liz Payne told the Communist Party’s Executive Committee at the start of the month (1 August 2021).
Former Tunisian minister placed under house arrest as president continues government shakeup
A former minister and senior member of Tunisia’s Ennahdha party has been placed under house arrest, as President Saied continues his shakeup of the country’s government. Anouar Maarouf, who led Tunisia’s Ministry of Communications and Technology between 2016 and 2020, was arrested on Friday August 6th over allegations of abuse of authority.
Tories set to end support for workers struggling under pandemic
The Conservative government are set to end both the furlough scheme and Universal Credit uplift on 30 September, in an attempt to further shift the burden of the Coronavirus pandemic off of the government and onto workers. The planned end to support this autumn would see the 1.9 million people still on furlough having to return to work, while those on Universal Credit would lose the £20 a week uplift brought in earlier in the pandemic.
Tories prioritise military over the NHS
The Tories are set to allocate £195 million on killer drones only days after NHS staff balked at a mere 3% pay offer from the government.
Freedom day: a gamble or a safe bet?
Whilst Tory ministers celebrate so called “freedom day” in England, coronavirus is ripping through the UK, leading to mounting health problems caused by long Covid and pressures on the overstretched NHS. Once again, the Tories are putting profits before lives in a cruelly expected fashion. Boris Johnson ended mandatory Covid-19-related restrictions on Monday (19 July 2021). This is despite the fact that the country is now seeing over 50,000 new Covid-19 cases per day and there are still no plans to make vaccines generally available to under 18s.
