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AN IMPASSIONED debate on fighting racism and fascism at the TUC revealed a mounting determination among trade unionists to halt the rise of the Nazi British National Party (BNP). There was universal anger that New Labour's anti-union laws allowed BNP members to sue unions that expel them from membership. Vicky Knight from the Fire Brigades Union said, "The Labour Party pandering to the right wing undermines at every stage our campaign against racism. "Their approach to asylum seekers will fuel the fascists."

"WE WANT as many CWU members on the demonstration as possible. We don't need more British troops sent to Iraq. We need more Iraqis running their own country." Billy Hayes, general secretary of the postal workers' CWU union

TONY BLAIR will go if the anger over his lies and the war on Iraq comes together with the deep bitterness about people's lives in Britain. And that no longer seems a remote possibility. Blair's popularity and satisfaction with the government are both plummeting. The ebbing of support recalls nothing so much as the death throes of Tory leaders Thatcher and Major.

The occupation of Iraq has turned into a disaster for George Bush as well as for the people of that country. And disaster for Bush can be catastrophic for Blair. Just four months ago Bush made a special, triumphant "mission accomplished" television address and Blair went to Basra to congratulate British troops. On Sunday Bush made another broadcast, this time to claim that Iraq was the "centre" of a global "fight against terrorism" in which the very future of "civilisation" was at stake.

HORNSEY coroner's court in London has come up with a worrying innovation. It is the first court in Britain to record a verdict of "suicide by cop". Michael Malsbury was killed by a police gunman after a siege at his home in November 2001. The inquest decided he had tried to get himself shot.

CND THE CAMPAIGN for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) held its conference in Birmingham last weekend. The 350 participants debated alliances with other movements and how best to oppose war. Kate Hudson was narrowly elected as CND national chairperson. Kate stands for a close working relationship with groups such as the Stop the War Coalition and the Muslim Association of Britain. People with similar views won 12 of the 15 national executive positions.

A WEEK of protest against a huge government-sponsored arms fair kicked off with a march through central London last Saturday. On Tuesday morning there was a lively protest outside the arms fair itself in east London's Docklands, and yet more protests were set for Wednesday. The British government is pouring hundreds of thousands of public money into the Defence Systems and Equipment International (DSEi) arms fair.

TONY BLAIR is the dead man walking of British politics. That much was clear even before he appeared before the Hutton inquiry this week. The problems for Blair are deeper than those caused by the death of scientist Dr David Kelly.

FOR FIVE days last week the Sun ran a series of articles about "the biggest crisis facing Britain today". Was it about pensions? The impact of tuition fees? The threat of unemployment? No. The Sun targeted asylum seekers.

THE SUN fell to new lows with another sickening campaign against refugees this week. Monday's poster front page ranted "Halt The Asylum Tide Now", labelling asylum as "Britain's biggest crisis". The Sun used a loaded online poll to claim over 80 percent of the population agree with its witch-hunt. But the poll only measured how well the Sun spreads its filthy racist message to its readers.

AROUND 160,000 postal workers across Britain begin a strike ballot over pay next week. London postal workers will also vote in a second ballot over London weighting. Nationally postal workers have been offered a 4.5 percent rise over 18 months. Any larger increase is dependent on mass job cuts, a worse service and even harder terms for the workers.

A RECENT advert placed in the British newspaper the Western Mail offered "excellent pay" for former soldiers "wanted for security work in Iraq". The add was placed by US firm Secureforce. The death of a private "security operative" in Iraq last weekend has highlighted the extent to which mercenaries are already being used in war zones.