The history of the twentieth century in Britain has shown that whenever a Labour government in parliamentary office has found itself in conflict with the class wielding economic and industrial power, the government has been resisted, humiliated or defeated, usually all three.
The rage sweeping the working class in Britain over job cuts and the MPs’ expenses scandal was clear to see at the PCS civil service workers’ union conference in Brighton last week.
Students at Edinburgh University are campaigning against huge cuts to the modern languages department. The cuts could see up to £400,000 taken of the departments’ budget over the next two years. This would mean increased class sizes, the removal of certain languages from the syllabus and staff being laid off.
Around Westminster and along Whitehall stand the statues of political and military figures that the British ruling class have thought it worth commemorating.
Every day seems to bring yet another announcement of job cuts. This is seen as having a terrible effect on the strength of the working class in Britain.
Further and higher education is on the frontline of the government’s assault on the public sector. This is an issue that affects every working class person, not just education workers and students.
The offer that Visteon workers have wrenched from Ford marks a turning point for class struggle in Britain. It shows that workers can take on multinational corporations – even in the midst of a recession – and win.
Talk of the existence of a unique and specifically deprived white working class being discriminated against conceals the real issue of class inequalities
As economic crisis, war and poverty sweep the globe many people rightly feel that capitalism is failing us. For anyone wanting to challenge the system the question of who has the power to bring about change in society becomes crucial.
