Head of education, campaigns and organising for the General Federation of Trade Unions HENRY FOWLER explains why it is launching a fund to support trades councils and give them access to a new range of courses and resources
Latest editorial
Welfare not warfare must be our rallying cry
While working people face austerity, arms companies enjoy massive government contracts, writes ARTHUR WEST, exposing how politicians exaggerate the Russian threat to justify spending on a sector that has the lowest employment multiplier
NHS NOT NUKES: CND marchers protesting against Trident make their way through central London, February 2016
ANYA COOK reports from the Newcastle citizens’ assembly, where over 240 people gathered to create a people’s manifesto ahead of next year’s local elections – part of former mayor Jamie Driscoll’s Majority movement
While claiming to target fraud, Labour’s snooping Bill strips benefit recipients of privacy rights and presumption of innocence, writes CLAUDIA WEBBE, warning that algorithms with up to 25 per cent error rates could wrongfully investigate and harass millions of vulnerable people
Real security comes from having a secure base at home — Keir Starmer’s reckless and renegade decision to get Britain deeper into the proxy war against Russia is as dangerous as it is wasteful, writes SALLY SPIERS
The plan is to stigmatise and destabilise South Africa in preparation for breaking it up while creating a confused and highly racialised atmosphere around immigration in the US to aid in denying rights to non-white refugees, explains EMILE SCHEPERS
ALAN SIMPSON warns that Starmer’s triangulation strategy will fail just as New Labour’s did, with each rightward move by Labour pushing Tories further right
From the 1917 Balfour Declaration to today’s F-35 sales, Britain’s historical responsibility has now evolved into support for the present-day outright genocide. But our solidarity movement is growing too, writes BEN JAMAL
IN THE summer of 2013, Jeremy Corbyn spoke at a People’s Assembly conference on the theme of welfare not warfare. During his contribution to the conference, Corbyn made the point that due to imperial attitudes, Britain insisted on being a nuclear state and intervening across the world.
Corbyn went on to say that a huge arms conversion programme to convert the arms industry into something that did socially useful work was vital. Corbyn, with his usual insight, was arguing for a policy approach based on welfare, not warfare. Twelve years on, Corbyn’s words at the 2013 conference seem remarkably up to date and frankly spot on.
At the present time, working-class people face cuts to local services, NHS staff shortages, and a substantial cost-of-living crisis. In the last few weeks, the government has announced it intends to make life more difficult for households relying on disability related benefits. This attack on disabled people follows on from the abolition of the winter fuel allowance for pensioners, the maintenance of the two-child benefit cap and the refusal to pay the Waspi women.
More from this author
As war spreads around the world, the revolving door between government ministers and arms companies demands stronger trade union opposition, argues ARTHUR WEST
Before voting we'll be well advised to look at the various political parties' stance with regard to nuclear weapons, suggests ARTHUR WEST
As political rhetoric tilts towards militarisation from both major parties, we must push on to redefine the role of the international courts and the very concept of ‘security’ itself, writes ARTHUR WEST
We are meeting the need for a strong voice against military spending and warmongering in the trade union movement, writes Ayrshire CND secretary ARTHUR WEST
