News

War and a deadly system—why conflict is central to capitalism

US president Joe Biden plans to keep using force to promote US imperialism, despite Middle East defeats. Nick Clark says it’s the way capitalism works that creates constant conflicts

State statisticians lose a whole year’s strike days

How many workers went on strike in 2020? One good answer might be “not enough”.

Greensill—corruption at the heart of the system

The scandal of former prime ministers joining with top civil servants to lobby the government for private sector gains grows hotter by the day. Sadie Robinson gathers what we know so far, and concludes that the problem is deeply rooted in capitalism

Financial institutions are funding climate destruction

Extinction Rebellion targeted banks last week as part of a campaign against their funding for fossil fuels. Sam Ord looks at global banks’ climate failures

How workers battled to kill the bill in 1971

In 1971, workers fought against an authoritarian Tory law, chanting, ‘Kill The Bill’. Isabel Ringrose argues we need the same spirit of militancy to kill the Tory police bill today

Hartlepool–Labour in trouble

In years gone by the Labour Party could take the votes in the north east of England for granted. But, reports Nick Clark, next month’s Hartlepool by-election could show just how out of touch the party now is with its former heartlands

The Brixton Uprising—when rage burned on the streets

Riots in Brixton 40 years ago this month turned the tables on racist cops. Alex Wheatle and Cecil Gutzmore spoke to Socialist Worker about their experiences of the riots and why the anger that caused them still exists today

Support riots and fight for a revolution to uproot racism

Riots are a period of energised fury that see oppressed people express their anger at the system. They give a voice to those who have had theirs taken away and can expose injustices in society.

New pamphlet on capitalism, food and agriculture

The new pamphlet Capitalism and the Politics of Food by Amy Leather argues that Covid-19 is no anomaly. And with current food systems more deadly viruses are likely to cross over to humans.

How the Syrian revolution was lost

A decade on from the beginning of mass protests in Syria, Nick Clark investigates how murderous state repression and Western imperialism drowned resistance

Should having no jab mean there’s no job for workers?

Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi has said the Tories are considering compulsory Covid-19 jabs for NHS staff. In this column from March, we argued for persuasion, not compulsion.

Capitalism— is it more than greed?

Our leaders will celebrate greed for pushing innovation but Nick Clark argues that the greediness inbuilt within capitalism could potentially lead to our destruction

Tories’ new clampdowns go beyond threat to protests

The easing of lockdown measures will be met with the Tories ramping up repression. Home secretary Priti Patel is ready to unleash a raft of measures that scapegoat the most oppressed and clampdown on opposition

Struggles to tear out the roots of sexism

United class struggle can undermine sexism and offer hope of liberation. But that doesn't mean sidelining the battle against oppression, writes Isabel Ringrose

Could longer sentences help to protect women?

A new movement has brought to the fore questions about how we beat sexism. Sadie Robinson argues liberation won’t come through the current justice system

Year one—workers’ lives in the age of Covid

It’s been a year since Boris Johnson told Britain to “stay at home” on 23 March 2020. Sophie Squire and Sam Ord look at how that year has played out for workers—and how we have not been ‘all in it together’

Report finds NHS has a problem with institutional racism

Ask people which British institution most embodies the ideas of multiculturalism and a great many will reply—the NHS.

What’s behind the surge in ‘fire and rehire’ attacks?

Fire and rehire is a weapon bosses are using to attack workers. Sophie Squire looks at why it’s being used

Does the Egyptian revolutionary spark live on?

After the defeat of a revolution, there are always three reactions.

Strike! When NHS workers hit back

Talk of industrial action is echoing around the NHS after the Tories’ offer of a 1 percent pay rise. Crucial health strikes of the past hold lessons for workers today