CONGRATULATIONS TO CATHY ASHTON
on Nov 21, 2009 in Europe children Labour Party Although an obscure political figure, Lady Ashton was the key architect of the SureStart centres, that have been one of the Labour government’s greatest achievements, in providing genuine help to improve the chances of the most disadvantaged ch...

RE-ELECT MARK SERWOTKA
on Nov 20, 2009 in PCS Trade Unions The ballot opened yesterday for the General Secretary post in the PCS - civil servants union. Voting continues until 12 noon on 17th December.  Mark has done an excellent job so far, in very challenging times. He has been nominated by 199 branches,...

THE RISE AND FALL OF “RANK AND FILEISM” - THE SWP AND THE UNIONS
on Nov 20, 2009 in Trade Unions SWP The recent decision of Jane Loftus, president of the CWU, to leave membership of the SWP exposes sharply the under-theorised nature of the SWP’s current industrial politics. So as I have recently had an opportunity to read the SWP’s indus...

CWU London Division calls for national strike action
on Nov 20, 2009 in CWU Posties From Solidarity Magazine Postal Workers’ Dispute - London Update  20.11.09 At this afternoon’s meeting of the London Divisional Committee it was reported that after some six meetings with London Royal Mail they are still refus...

JANE LOFTUS RESIGNS FROM SWP
on Nov 19, 2009 in CWU Trade Unions SWP As I understand it, Jane Loftus, President of the CWU, and the SWP’s most highly placed trade union militant has resigned from the organisation, according to my source: Announced at Brent postal workers’ support group last night that, ask...

MAYORAL REFERENDUM TRIGGERED IN TOWER HAMLETS
on Nov 19, 2009 in London Respect Council confirm referendum for mayor has been triggered by petition Tower Hamlets council’s chief law officer and Assistant Chief Executive Isabella Freeman yesterday afternoon confirmed that the referendum to decide whether or not Tower Hamle...

THE HERITAGE OF TROTSKYISM - MAY THE FOURTH BE WITH YOU
on Nov 19, 2009 in Marxism Philosophy Football Philosophy Football have produced a crowd pleasing Trotsky T-shirt in time for Xmas. So this is a good opportunity to appraise the historical legacy of Trotsky. One of the most extraordinary achievements in advancing scholarly understanding of the US...

THE GOOD SOCIETY
on Nov 18, 2009 in Jon Cruddas Introducing the Good Society debate Jon Cruddas MP Andrea Nahles MdB European social democracy needs a fresh start. In the wake of the most severe economic crisis in decades it has become clear that social democrats have not paid enough attention to...

PILGER SPEECH
on Nov 18, 2009 in John Pilger In a speech at the Sydney Opera House on Nov 5 to mark his award of Australia’s human rights prize, the Sydney Peace Prize, John Pilger describes the “unique features” of a political silence in Australia: how it affects the national...

BUILD COUNCIL HOUSES
on Nov 18, 2009 in GMB Swindon housing Labour Party It is GMB strategy to seek to seek to shift Labour Party policy towards the interest of working class communities and families, and to make it clear that while GMB is as committed as ever to the Labour Party, this support is not unconditional. We ex...