International Socialists (CWI Scotland)

Following the 6 May election earthquake in Greece, which saw a hammering of the pro-austerity parties and a huge rejection of the ‘Troika’ (IMF, ECB and EU), the main parties failed to form a coalition government. Attempts by the Greek president to oversee a ‘national unity’ government or to form a “government of technocrats” also failed. Crucial new elections will be held no later than 17 June.

The parliamentary election results in Greece were a political earthquake, a crushing repudiation of the pro-austerity parties and the ‘Troika’ (International Monetary Fund, European Union and European Central Bank). This follows years of austerity measures that have led to a collapse in living standards, 51% youth unemployment and mass poverty. Niall Mulholland spoke to Andros Payiatsos, from Xekinima (CWI in Greece).

Membership of the Socialist Party Scotland has been increasing significantly recently as interest in socialist ideas grows as a result of the capitalist crisis, savage cuts and austerity. One of the newest recruits to the Socialist Party Scotland, Richard Neville from Erskine (centre of picture), explained to us why he became a socialist.

The Scottish Anti-Cuts Coalition (SACC) candidates in Dundee unveiled their manifesto today (picture of left to right. Rory Malone (Lochee ward) Jim McFarlane (Strathmartine) Raymond Mennie (West End) Wayne Scott (Coldside) Derek Milligan (Maryfield). The other two candidates are Sinead Daly (North East) and Linda Rose (East End)

Standing in the council elections wasn’t  something I ever thought I would do. As an ordinary worker – I expected to vote at this election-not be a candidate. But having read the election newsletters coming through the door, it’s clear that not one of the parties speak for me.

It was a week when New Labour was passively benefitting from multiple crises of the Tory-Lib Dem coalition - in particular Osborne's budget for the rich, the 'cash for Cameron' scandal, and the queues at petrol stations. But then came the earthquake of George Galloway's astonishing byelection victory in Bradford West. After a three week campaign Galloway received more votes than all the other parties on the ballot paper put together! With 18,341 votes, he beat the Labour Party candidate by more than 10,000.

The demonstration at the Scottish Tory Conference in Troon last weekend represented a major step forward for Youth Fight for Jobs in Scotland. Youth Fight for Jobs responded to the first national demonstration against youth unemployment in a generation, by launching a strong campaign across Scotland including daily street stalls, leafleting of colleges and workplaces and protests against workfare and the austerity budget.

Unemployment is rising. Benefits are being slashed. Among the latest to face the Con-Dems' axe are 1,700 disabled workers in skilled, productive jobs as 36 Remploy factories face closure. The announcement of the closure of 36 Remploy factories and the privatisation/closure of a further 18 in the near future has left Remploy workers bitter and angry.

Posted 13th March 2012

It is clear that hundreds of thousands of households will refuse to register or to pay the household tax in Ireland. The only issue is whether this number will be more than half a million, more than three-quarters of a million or more than a million itself.  With big numbers deciding it is better to break the law than to break the poor, this is a key first step in a major campaign of civil disobedience. Watch this Video produced by the campaign to help build a mass opposition to mobilise for the "Campaign Against Household and Water Taxes"

For more than a century, 8 March has been the day to commemorate and celebrate the fight of working class and revolutionary women for a better deal and a socialist society. Its origins are in the struggles for equal pay and decent conditions amongst women in the USA in the 19th century.