Rail privatisation in Britain - a warning There have been a lot of disasters on the railways in Britain. But the real disaster has been rail privatisation itself. There was a lot of rhetoric from the Tories about the 'dynamism and efficiency' private capitalism would bring, but experience has shown that the only people to benefit from rail privatisation have been the profiteers, not the general public that has to use the railways. So what is the alternative?
After the British General Election: Where is Labour going? With the election results counted, analysed and digested, it is now possible to deliver a final verdict on the British general election of June 2001.
After the British General Election: Where is Labour going? Editorial note: The following is a full version of the shorter article we published on 8 June on the British election. Labour has won the elections with a majority of 167 seats at Westminster, only slightly down on last time when they won a landslide majority of 179 seats. On the face of it, it is an outstanding triumph for Tony Blair. But these results do not adequately express the contradictory nature of the mood in British society. The mood of the masses is sceptical. The working class is disappointed and frustrated with New Labour. Despite Labour's landslide victory, the underlying mood is extremely volatile.
The British General Election and the perspectives for the Labour Party On 7th June, the people of Britain will go to the polls to elect the next government. According to all the polls Labour is set to gain a hefty majority over the Conservatives. The polls show that Labour is now leading the Tories by a massive 28 points. The personal rating of Tory leader William Hague is just 13 per cent.
The British General Election and the perspectives for the Labour Party On 7th June, the people of Britain will go to the polls to elect the next government. According to all the polls Labour is set to gain a hefty majority over the Conservatives. The polls show that Labour is now leading the Tories by a massive 28 points. Yet the election campaign has been as dead as a Dodo, and the great majority show little interest and less enthusiasm for either New Labour or the Tories. The general election turnout is likely to be low - some have even predicted the lowest for over 100 years. The reason for this alleged "voter apathy" is not hard to find.
Britain 1926 General Strike: On the Verge of Revolution 75 years ago an earthquake shook the very foundations of British capitalism. In the greatest display of militant power in its history the British working class moved into action in the General Strike of 1926. For 9 days, from May 3, not a wheel turned nor a light shone without the permission of the working class. In such a moment, with such power, surely it ought to have been possible to have transformed society? How can such a position have ended in defeat?
Where is Britain going?: British perspectives and tasks 2001 This statement by the Editorial Board of the Socialist Appeal analyses the situation in Britain today. It looks at Britain within the context of world economic and political developments and analyses how these affect the British trade union movement, the Labour Party, the youth and outlines the perspectives for the coming period and poses the tasks of Marxists today.
Foot and mouth - a disease of the profit system Over the past weeks the news has been dominated by the story of yet another crisis in farming. The rapid spreading of the food and mouth epidemic in Britain is a direct consequence of capitalist farming methods.
The Petrol Strike Brings Britain to a Standstill - Militancy Pays In a matter of days a magnificent and largely spontaneous movement of truck drivers, farmers and cabbies has brought large parts of the country to a virtual standstill. This movement represents the biggest national unofficial strike action seen in Britain for decades. The ruling class are quaking in their boots.
The founding of the Communist Party of Great Britain This month marks the 80th anniversary of the founding of the British Communist Party. As a result we are publishing the following article on the early years of the Communist Party.
Horror of Britain's immigration controls The horrific deaths of 58 Chinese migrants found in Dover, revealed to the world the monstrous effects of Britain's immigration regime. By making it virtually impossible for refugees and migrants to enter this country legally, many thousands every year seek to come here illegally. Jack Straw was quick to place the blame on Chinese smuggling gangs called the Snake Head. Thinking people can see through this.
Black Day for Blairism: comments on the local and London elections "Britain is already a different and better country..."Tony Blair at the Periodical Publishers Association, 9th May."I'm totally opposed to New Labour. They are not any different to the Thatcherites. I would like to see a return to the old values."George Fleetwood, 48, an engineer."I have a wife and two children to raise and I really thought in 1997 that we were heading for a bright new era. Tony Blair has failed to deliver. If anything, he is more of a Tory than many Tories."Brian Cox, 31, unemployed dockyard labourer.
London and local elections - Bad day for New Labour A first look at the electoral disaster for the Labour Party in the council elections and Ken Livingstone's victory in the London Mayoral contest.
Rail industry in crisis - A fighting programme for Rail Workers in Britain This pamphlet is written by active RMT and ASLEF union members who support the ideas of Socialist Appeal. It describes the conditions facing rail workers in Britain after years of privatisation and provides a fighting alternative.
Third Way? No way! We hear a lot about the Third Way these days. But does this represent anything new or is it just the socialdemocrats recognising that there is no longer any room for manouvre? Barbara Humphries looks at where these ideas come from and what do they really mean.
