Highs and lows - from the 1930s to the 1980s
The high point of achievement for the British working class was 1945, and the post war years that followed. But how did 1945 happen?
News/Views
Guards battle still raging
29 December 2017
Strikes to halt the removal of guards continue on many passenger franchises. The RMT announced further strike action extending into the new year in the separate disputes on Merseyrail, Northern, Greater Anglia, South Western Railways and Island Line.
EU: new call for integration
Martin Schulz, head of Germany’s Social Democrats, is calling strongly for ever-closer European integration to build a “United States of Europe” by 2025.
Work-in saves jobs
Decisive action by the workers at Burntisland Fabrication in Scotland has saved jobs at the oil and gas industry equipment maker.
The ever-shrinking Navy
If nothing else, the Ministry of Defence has a sense of humour: with only one month left of the 2017 calendar year, it designated 2017 as “The Year of the Royal Navy”.
Pensions: academics ballot over action
29 December 2017
University workers across Britain are being balloted over whether to fight to prevent the closure of their University Superannuation Scheme, a final salary arrangement.
Education: inter-union agreement
A good development: the new National Education Union, Unison and the GMB have agreed not to poach each other’s members. But there is also a negative side.
Scotland: a budget designed to divide
Tax plans in the budget issued by the devolved government in Edinburgh mark a split in the united approach to taxation in Britain.
Korea reacts to US war threats
21 December 2017
It’s been revealed that a massive hack of South Korean military computers unveiled plans to assassinate North Korea's leadership and invade the country. No wonder the country is developing its missile capability.
US admits to ground troops in Yemen
21 December 2017
President Trump has admitted for the first time that the USA has “a small number” of ground troops in Yemen. The US government has also given arms and logistical support to the Saudi-led coalition invading the country.
A new vision needed
19 December 2017
This report from IPPR gives a good, detailed analysis of our situation. It rightly suggests we need a new economic approach, but says too little about what must be done to put things right.
We need a Cromwell now
There are few more nauseating sights than pro-Remain MPs standing up for their constitutional right to “scrutinise” Brexit-related legislation. They are the same MPs who spent years nodding through a flood of EU laws.