It’s the dramatic rise of China with its burgeoning economy that has put the Trump administration into a frenzy – with major implications both at home and abroad, argues MICHAEL BURKE
Let’s remember the dead and fight for a society fit for the living
As the bodies stack up, the slogan for International Workers’ Memorial Day — “remember the dead and fight for the living” — feels even more poignant than usual this year, writes RICHARD BURGON MP
NHS staff observe the minute's silence on Workers' Memorial Day this week
DR DAVID GORDON SCOTT tells the story of the North Sands Massacre, Sunderland, as part of the ongoing work of remembrance of those killed by soldiers during the 1825 Seafarers Strike and the bicentennial commemorations on Sunday August 3
MATT KERR charts his bike-riding odyssey in aid of the Royal Marsden charity and CWU Humanitarian Aid
JOHN CALLOW tells of the rise, fall and rise again of a young martyr to the early French republic, Joseph Bara, whose short life was elevated by Robespierre and, later, others for its emotional and ideological appeal
April 9 1928 – July 26 2025
OLIVER SNELLING, a south London stonecarver and yeoman stonemason, relates how he is helping bring about a new festival next month
AS THE daily death toll mounts, government failures in its response to coronavirus are exposed more and more. Workers on the front line have paid the price with their lives, as have far too many others.
Yet, appallingly, the Prime Minister on his return to work spoke of the “apparent success” of his government in tackling coronavirus. That’s despite Britain being on track to have one of the world’s highest death tolls.
Adjusted for population, we have four times more deaths than Germany, over 60 times more deaths than South Korea and over 75 times those in Australia and New Zealand. If this is success what would failure look like?
The reality is that the government has been behind the curve from the start. Failure after failure has cost lives — and the Labour Party and wider movement must be clear in pointing this out if we are to secure the changes needed to prevent further loss of life.
More from this author
RICHARD BURGON MP points to the recent relative success of widespread opposition to the Labour leadership’s regressive policies as the blueprint for exacting the changes required to build a fairer society
In his May Day message for the Morning Star, RICHARD BURGON says the call for peace, equality and socialism has never been more relevant
RICHARD BURGON MP argues that a broad, united mass movement can stop the cuts and ensure it’s the wealthiest that pay their fair share
RICHARD BURGON MP says the government should use the Employment Rights Bill to reverse a shameful Tory decision on discrimination
