At the half-way point of the financial year (April to September 2015), the government has borrowed £36.4bn. At the same point last year, borrowing was £44.9bn, so the improvement on the year is 18.9%. For the year as a whole the OBR forecast borrowing of £69.5bn in 2015/16, a reduction of 22%…Read more…
Low-paid workers: Worse off next year and even worse off in 2020
One image from the TV coverage of George Osborne’s July Budget sticks in my mind. It hasn’t got anything to do with the Chancellor’s smirk as he announced the “National Living Wage” – it’s the cut-away shot to Iain Duncan Smith fist-pumping in apparent triumph. I was surprised – in the same speech…Read more…
Chorus of disapproval
There has been a chorus of disapproval over the government’s approach to the steel crisis, their linked claims of a ‘northern powerhouse’ and being the party of ‘workers’. What’s the verdict? – warm…Read more…
Training teachers to tackle homophobia, biphobia and transphobia with Stonewall.
By Alex Newton, Programmes Manager at Stonewall (originally posted on Safer Schools). A few days ago I received three emails from teachers in different schools, all with various issues. One was…Read more…
Homeless Sleeping Rough In St James’s Park 1887
Drawing of homeless people sleeping out in St James’s Park (close to Buckingham Palace) in 1887. Britain was in the grip of a depression, many poor unemployed workers were forced to sleep rough in St…Read more…
Dundee International Brigade Banner 1937
Roll of honour of Dundee men killed fighting for the International Brigade against fascism in Spain (up to 1937)
William McGuire
McGuire was a Branch Secretary of the Dundee Young Communist…Read more…
Sean O’Casey’s – "The Star Turns Red" Unity Theatre BANNED 1940
Sean O’Casey’s play “The Star Turns Red” was banned in Britain in May 1940
An anti-fascist play about a future workers government and the opposition it faces from fascistsRead more…
Episode 8: ‘Faster! faster! the guests are waiting’
Sounds familiar? If you work in the hospitality industry you can join www.unitetheunion.org – if you earn less than the Living Wage (£9.15ph in London, £7.85 outside) for just £2.10 per week….Read more…
Southwark Support The Print Workers
Wapping Dispute – Southwark Support the print Workers badge
One of the leaders of the print unions Mike Hicks lived in HayesRead more…
Labour campaign against the Common Market 1975
Lord Rothermere (Daily Mail) Support For The Nazi’s
Daily Worker cartoon illustrating
Lord Rothermere’s Daily Mail supporting Hitler and the Nazi’s rehabilitation – 18th March 1935
Daily Worker cartoon illustrating
Lord Rothermere’s Daily Mail…Read more…
Morning Star – Festival For All 1917-1987
Scunthorpe Steel Works 1948
Women Shipbuilders WW2
Women shipbuilders in the North East WW2Read more…
London YCL Netball Team 1953
London Young Communist League (YCL) Netball team formed March 1953
Hackney Workers Sports Club had a netball team formed in the late 1920’s Read more…
Unions lay into government over steel jobs
Unions accuse Chancellor of failing to act to save the industryRead more…
“Mum, dad – know your rights” – TUC reminds parents about taking time off work to look after sick kids
Frances O’Grady says sensible employers will give parents time off to care for poorly childrenRead more…
Harry Gillingham – Mapperton – Dorset – Farmworker – Honoured 1958
Harry Gillingham born July 1878 at Okeford Fitzpaine he left school at the age of 11 to earn 2 shillings and 6 pence a week on the land, there was no overtime, no Saturday half day and no paid holiday
He moved to Mappleton in 1906 and worked on the sam…Read more…
Seven thoughts for Labour Councils
11. Don’t forget we oppose the cuts!
Cuts in local government expenditure are caused by decisions of (Tory) Central Government. Everything we do or say should remind people of this. A vital part of what we do must be to mobilise public opposition to cu…Read more…
Sunday Night Live: Corbyn and the (new) Labour Landscape
This looks interesting. 5-6.30pm next Sunday 25 October 2015 at Stratford Picture House Bar, London, E15 (5 mins from Stratford Station). I wonder if the West Ham Corbynistas Fashion Gurus will be present? Read more…