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Britain and the US are raising renewed threats of war against Iran in the run up to a crucial United Nations (UN) meeting.

Over recent weeks Socialist Worker has discussed the contrast between the victorious campaign against the CPE labour law in France and the capitulation by the trade union leaders over pensions rights in Britain.

Some 50,000 people turned out in London’s Trafalgar Square last Saturday for a carnival against the fascist British National Party (BNP) organised by Love Music Hate Racism (LMHR) and Unite Against Fascism.

There is a terrorist organisation operating in Britain today with the full knowledge and support of Tony Blair and the New Labour government.

Military Families Against the War held a moving lobby of parliament on Wednesday of last week. Relatives and friends – of serving soldiers and some of the 104 British soldiers who have died – laid a wreath at the Cenotaph in Whitehall.

Over 70 years ago the British government was rocked by what the historian AJP Taylor described as "the greatest explosion over foreign affairs for many years". This was caused when the Tory "national" government, led by Stanley Baldwin, was caught out lying about its stance towards fascist Italy’s war against the independent East African state of Abyssinia (now Ethiopia).

Almost all politicians and most of the media have totally misrepresented the prospects of the fascist British National Party (BNP) at the council elections in Barking & Dagenham. And by exaggerating the BNP’s hold, they have helped the fascists to spread their poison.

Love Music Hate Racism (LMHR) is hosting a rally with music and speakers in Trafalgar Square, London, this Saturday. It aims to encourage young people to reject the fascist British National Party (BNP) at the May elections and celebrate Britain’s multi-racial, multi-faith society.

Military Families in Clydebank Protesters, Rose Gentle among them, leafleted Clydebank shopping centre this week against the British army launching a recruitment drive targeted at deprived areas. The protest, called by Military Families Against the War, was successful in closing the army recruitment stall and was well received by the vast majority of shoppers

A few days from now is an anniversary no Socialist Worker reader should let pass unremembered. On 12 May 1916, the British Army executed the Irish revolutionary James Connolly.

Why are Britain and France so different? This question is back in the air. Trade union officials have been complaining that Britain’s flexible labour laws made it easier for Peugeot bosses to shut down their car plant at Ryton rather than any of its French counterparts.

Rail workers in four unions are preparing to ballot for a strike in defence of their pensions. Any strike would involve 80,000 workers and bring Britain’s rail network to a halt.