Last week, before the terrible bombings in London on Thursday, we learned that the US and British governments had drawn up secret plans to withdraw troops from Iraq. Defence secretary John Reid was forced to admit the existence of such plans after they were leaked to the Mail on Sunday.
The protests in Scotland over the last week are part of the great cycle of mobilisations against corporate globalisation and war that have characterised the last few years.
Never before has the issue of global justice been so central to British politics.
After last week’s argument about the British rebate and the Common Agricultural Policy at the European Union (EU) summit, Tony Blair has set himself up as the champion of "New Europe".
Bolivia was in the grip of a classic revolutionary situation last week. Popular assemblies spread across working class areas. Mass strikes combined with peasant rebellions. Insurrection was in the air and sections of the police fraternised with the insurgents.
Bob Geldof’s call last week for one million people to protest at the G8 summit in July has focused attention back on the demands for 100 percent Third World debt cancellation, and more and better aid.
Labour backbenchers face an early opportunity — and a test. The second reading of Charles Clarke’s identity card bill is expected soon. New Labour’s majority is reduced to 67 and with the opposition parties saying they will vote against the bill, the votes of just 34 Labour MPs could be enough to scupper it.
The government plans to help first time buyers buy a new home. The dream of being able to own your own home is a powerful one. But the truth is that many who struggle to borrow the money to do so are in danger of overreaching themselves. Any increase in interest rates could push them under.
New Labour has infanticide in mind. Respect was born a healthy infant. Now New Labour wants it removed by any means.
Every reader of Socialist Worker should set themselves a simple task over the coming days and weeks — to ask every one of our friends, neighbours, class and workmates to join Respect.
Tony Blair has crept back into Downing Street — but already the talk is not of whether he will go but when.
When New Labour tells the voters of Blaenau Gwent — Labour majority 19,313 — that they must vote for the Blairite candidate or the Tories might win, it is scarcely convincing.
