Europe
Bitter US-European tensions mark centenary of World War I armistice in Paris
By Alex Lantier, 12 November 2018
Heads of state from 70 countries gathered in Paris to mark the centenary of the end of World War I under the shadow of rising conflicts between the great powers.
UK: SNP-led Glasgow City Council uses gender politics and threats of blacklisting to isolate equal pay struggle
By Stephen Alexander, 12 November 2018
To obscure the class issues, the major parties, together with the unions and the media, have presented the Glasgow equal pay dispute in terms of “institutionalized” gender discrimination.
Sheffield Labour Students cancels anti-war meeting, citing police investigation of anti-Semitism allegations
By Laura Tiernan, 12 November 2018
The broader political purpose of the banning of Chris Williamson is aimed at silencing anti-war sentiment among students, young people and the entire working class.
Ukrainian politician dies after fascist acid attack
By Jason Melanovski, 12 November 2018
The brutal killing of Handziuk and the ongoing cover-up are a stark exposure of the reactionary nature of the regime brought to power in the US-backed coup in 2014.
The armistice of November 11, 1918 and the lessons for today
By Nick Beams, 12 November 2018
The silencing of the guns 100 years ago was not the end of the bloodshed and carnage but was simply the conclusion of the first phase of what was to become a thirty-year international war between the major capitalist powers.
UK: SEP assistant national secretary Julie Hyland addresses social sciences conference on fake news, censorship and war
By our reporters, 10 November 2018
The conference examined ways in which the media has historically been used to condition public opinion in favour of war.
UK government’s crocodile tears over burning of Grenfell Tower effigy backfire
By Robert Stevens, 10 November 2018
Social consciousness has changed as a result of the Grenfell fire. After the callous treatment of the survivors, many saw through the sympathetic posturing of the ruling elite.
French President Macron hails fascist dictator Philippe Pétain
By Alex Lantier, 10 November 2018
Macron’s attempt to rehabilitate Pétain is an unabashed appeal to the far right, which he is cultivating as a base of support amid rising opposition among workers.
“100 years of social partnership”—a sinister celebration of trade unions, employers’ associations and the state in Germany
By Wolfgang Weber, 10 November 2018
On October 16, the German Trade Unions and Employer Associations celebrated the centenary of the Stinnes-Legien-Agreement, which laid the foundation for the suppression of the German Revolution of 1918/19.
Tube workers’ strike brings much of London to a halt
By Peter Austin, 9 November 2018
The tube strikes express the anger of workers after a decade of budget cuts, reductions in real wages, longer work weeks and an increase in working weekends as agreed by the unions.
Nigerian unions call off general strike over minimum wage
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
9 November 2018
Nigeria’s three main labour federations called off a general strike set for November 6 and announced that they had reached an undisclosed settlement with the government over a rise in the country’s minimum wage.
EU responds to US midterm elections with calls for military build-up
By Alex Lantier, 8 November 2018
European ruling circles have concluded that US-European conflicts reflect a deeper crisis than they first believed.
Residents oppose official cover-up of Grenfell fire toxic contamination
By Barry Mason, 8 November 2018
Despite evidence of toxicity in soil samples found around the site of the June 2017 Grenfell Tower fire, the authorities have failed to act to protect public health.
The case of Hans-Georg Maassen and the struggle against police-state repression in Germany
By Johannes Stern, 8 November 2018
The latest revelations surrounding the dismissal of the long-time president of the German secret service, Hans-Georg Maassen, confirms that the German domestic intelligence agency has been run by a right-wing extremist since 2012.
Hans-Georg Maassen: A right-wing extremist at the head of the German secret service
By Peter Schwarz, 7 November 2018
Recent developments have made clear that Germany’s secret service has been run by a right-wing extremist for the past six and a half years.
Germany: Der Spiegel idealises far-right leader Björn Höcke
By Peter Schwarz, 7 November 2018
The German weekly Der Spiegel has published a flattering portrait of Björn Höcke in its issue of October 27.
Royal College of Nursing leadership in UK seeks re-election in defiance of no confidence vote
By Ajanta Silva, 7 November 2018
These are the same people who deliberately sold a rotten pay offer and were the subject of members’ outrage when the real details of the deal came to light.
UK students face rising debts, poor wages and further marketisation of higher education
By Thomas Scripps, 7 November 2018
Graduates’ pay figures are an expression of the declining wages and conditions of the working class.
Europe and America clash over Washington’s economic war on Iran
By Keith Jones, 5 November 2018
Washington’s imposition of sweeping new sanctions on Iran—aimed at strangling its economy and precipitating regime change—is roiling world geopolitics.
German Social Democrats demand right-wing replacement for Merkel
By Peter Schwarz, 5 November 2018
Leading figures in the Social Democratic Party have called for a right-wing candidate to become the new leader of their coalition partner, the Christian Democratic Union.
UK: Police launch investigation into alleged anti-Semitism in Labour Party
By Robert Stevens, 5 November 2018
The pro-Zionist fanatics have only been able to pursue their campaign to remove Labour leader Corbyn because of his refusal to oppose them.
Catalan separatists indicted for rebellion, facing jail for up to 25 years
By Alejandro López, 5 November 2018
The trials, organised under the Socialist Party-led government, are expected to begin in early 2019.
Massive increase in police violence across UK
By Alice Summers, 3 November 2018
Since last year, police firearms operations have risen by nearly 20 percent nationally, with some areas seeing an increase of 53 percent.
Ireland votes to remove blasphemy from the constitution and re-elects Michael D. Higgins as president
By Dermot Byrne and Steve James, 3 November 2018
The collapse of Sinn Fein and the Labour Party, and their eclipse by the right-winger Casey, underscores the urgent need for a genuine socialist party of the working class in Ireland.
France to send aircraft carrier to South China Sea to threaten China
By Anthony Torres, 2 November 2018
Amid growing tensions between the major powers, France’s nuclear-armed aircraft carrier is set to travel next year to the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea.
100,000 people living in unsafe UK tower blocks
By Barry Mason, 2 November 2018
Building surveyor expert Arnold Tarling, who has examined Large Panel System blocks across London, believes they have fundamental structural flaws.
BlackRock boss Merz applies to head Germany’s ruling CDU
By Peter Schwarz, 1 November 2018
The German ruling elite is using the grand coalition government’s election defeats in Bavaria and Hesse to push for a sharp shift to the right.
Protests and strikes signal mounting hostility toward Italian government
By Allison Smith, 1 November 2018
A protest against deteriorating conditions in Rome followed on the heels of a 24-hour “Black Friday” general strike by public sector workers.
UK budget: Labour makes clear big business will dictate Corbyn government policies
By Robert Stevens, 1 November 2018
Shadow chancellor John McDonnell met with representatives of the financial elite Wednesday to assure them a Labour government would serve their interests.
With Merkel’s withdrawal, German grand coalition accelerates lurch to the right
By Ulrich Rippert, 31 October 2018
The German Chancellor has made clear that despite mounting popular opposition, the grand coalition will intensify military rearmament, the police-state buildup and its ties to the extreme right.
UK: NHS subsidiary companies—tools for tax exemption and privatisation
By Ben Trent, 31 October 2018
Large swathes of NHS provision have been sold off to the private sector, driving down the pay, terms and conditions of workers and hugely reducing the quality of services.
State elections in Hesse mark further defeat for Germany’s grand coalition
By Ulrich Rippert, 30 October 2018
The election result is an expression of the growing hostility towards the grand coalition and its right-wing policies of militarism, state repression and social austerity.
The Unexplained Wealth Order legislation and London’s financial aristocracy
By Thomas Scripps, 30 October 2018
The move will not in any way alter London’s status as a playground for the super-rich and haven for illegal wealth.
Tens of thousands of teachers demonstrate in Glasgow for better pay
By Robert Stevens, 29 October 2018
The demonstration was far larger than the EIS anticipated and shows the desire of teachers to fight back against pay cuts.
Tamil family fight UK plans to deport their seriously ill father
By Simon Whelan, 27 October 2018
Authorities sought to deport Sangarapillai Balachandran, who had been headhunted by a British company due to a severe shortage of civil engineers with his specific skills.
European Union steps up Internet censorship in the name of opposing “disinformation”
By Johannes Stern, 26 October 2018
The EU summit threatened with sanctions and penalties any party that diverges from the prescribed political line in the 2019 European election campaign.
UK: May fends off challenge by hard-Brexiteers
By Robert Stevens, 26 October 2018
That May, who supported Remain in the 2016 referendum, was able to seize the day reflects a pronounced shift in ruling circles, who cannot countenance a hard Brexit.
“Trident Juncture” manoeuvres begin: NATO rehearses for war against Russia
By Philipp Frisch, 25 October 2018
The month-long manoeuvres in Norway heighten the danger of war between NATO and Russia.
French flooding deaths expose legacy of austerity
By Olivier Laurent, 25 October 2018
Fourteen people were killed and 75 injured in floods that ravaged the Aude region of southern France last week.
Thousands strike in Glasgow for equal pay
“The council seem to think they can do what they want and get away with it”
By our reporters, 25 October 2018
Workers maintained picket lines at many of the city’s schools, museums, cleansing depots and libraries.
Trump says US will withdraw from Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces treaty
By Alex Lantier, 22 October 2018
As it targets Russia, China and other major powers, Washington is scrapping the entire framework of nuclear arms control that emerged from the Cold War.
Julian Assange takes legal action against Ecuadorian government
By James Cogan, 22 October 2018
WikiLeaks lawyers will challenge Ecuador’s threat to evict Assange from its London embassy if he does not accept anti-democratic conditions for continuing asylum.
People’s Vote campaign ups ante against hard Brexit with large London protest
By Robert Stevens, 22 October 2018
The campaign in support of a second referendum on British membership of the EU is a cross-party initiative with significant support and funding from the political and corporate elite.
A color revolution in the making: Vladimir Kara-Murza and Keith Gessen at Columbia University
By Clara Weiss, 22 October 2018
The event at Columbia University’s Harriman Institute was a stark testimony to the advanced preparations for a US-backed color revolution in Russia.
European Union and Rome fight over Italian budget
By Marianne Arens, 20 October 2018
In the conflict over the Italian budget, the EU Commission takes the side of the banks, stock exchanges and credit agencies, while the government pursues a course of militarism and attacks on immigrants and workers.
“McStrike”: UK unions police anger of young workers
By Alice Summers and Robert Stevens, 20 October 2018
Behind talk of a coordinated struggle, the demand of service workers for better pay and conditions is being misled by the trade unions.
Brexit impasse at European Union summit
By Robert Stevens, 19 October 2018
The failure to reach any agreement over Brexit is the product of escalating national antagonisms within Europe and internationally.
Italian Interior Minister Salvini orders removal of migrants from Riace
By Marianne Arens, 19 October 2018
The right-wing coalition government has ordered the removal of all migrants from the “village of hospitality” in southern Calabria.
The raid on Unsubmissive France and the global rise of state repression
By Alex Lantier, 19 October 2018
Coming after the brutal state murder of Jamal Khashoggi, the raid on LFI points to a generalized resort to police state repression against political opposition
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
South African plastics workers in national strike; Capetown transport workers wildcat
19 October 2018
Some 10,000 plastics workers in South Africa are on strike seeking the revocation of a pay reduction while bus drivers in Capetown walked out Monday demanding improvements in wages and working conditions.
After 250,000 people march in Berlin
The way forward in the struggle against the far-right danger in Germany
By Ulrich Rippert and Johannes Stern, 18 October 2018
Last weekend’s massive demonstration in Berlin expressed widespread popular opposition to the return of fascism and militarism in Germany.
After police raids on LFI, French courts and media denounce Mélenchon
By Alex Lantier, 18 October 2018
The official reaction to the police raids on Mélenchon’s LFI movement shows that a police state exists and is rapidly consolidating itself in France.
Macron organises French cabinet reshuffle to pursue austerity and militarism
By Francis Dubois, 18 October 2018
The government reorganisation will not resolve the crisis of rule emerging from growing working class opposition to Macron's program.
UCU recall conference seeks to silence opposition to sell-out of UK lecturers’ strike
By Robert Stevens, 18 October 2018
Anyone believing that today’s recall will provide an opportunity to discuss the betrayal underestimates the contempt of the union apparatus for democratic debate.
“National crisis” facing UK National Health Service as deficits grow
By Ben Trent, 16 October 2018
The budget deficits are the outcome of a systemic attack on a public health service provider with the intent of bringing the 70-year-old institution into private hands.
A quarter-million protest in Berlin against the grand coalition and the return of fascism
By Ulrich Rippert, 15 October 2018
Nearly 250,000 people demonstrated Saturday in Berlin against racism, the far-right Alternative for Germany’s witch-hunting of immigrants, and the reactionary policies of the grand coalition government.
Ecuador to partially restore Julian Assange’s access to communications and visitors
By James Cogan, 15 October 2018
Ecuador’s decision does not end the danger Assange faces or his effective imprisonment inside the small embassy building in London.
Brexit crisis leaves fate of May government in balance
By Robert Stevens, 15 October 2018
If the May government fails to secure an EU deal without precipitating a pro-Brexit Conservatives and Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) rebellion, a general election might result, bringing a Jeremy Corbyn Labour-led government to power.
Scottish National Party proposes pact with Labour for second Brexit referendum
By Steve James, 15 October 2018
The SNP is proposing support for a Labour government in the UK based on demands for a rerun of the 2016 Brexit vote.
In Rome, Salvini and Le Pen launch campaign for a neo-fascist Europe
By Francis Dubois and Alex Lantier, 15 October 2018
Exploiting reactionary austerity policies carried out by social-democratic and pseudo-left parties across Europe, the two neo-fascistic leaders posed as defenders of the peoples of Europe.
Bonus removal cancels out Amazon’s UK pay rise
By Alice Summers, 13 October 2018
Workers are effectively paying for their own wage increase through the slashing of employee benefits, share and incentive schemes, with some possibly seeing a net loss.
Macron fails to name new French government
By Francis Dubois, 13 October 2018
More than ten days after Interior Minister Gérard Collomb resigned, President Emmanuel Macron again missed a self-imposed deadline to name a new government.
Grenfell Tower Inquiry:
Survivors and bereaved give evidence—“We will not be silenced anymore”
By Paul Bond, 13 October 2018
The evidence reveals a devastating picture of official negligence before and after the fire.
Russia: Putin ally Kudrin pushes for rapprochement with the imperialist powers
By Clara Weiss, 13 October 2018
Underlying the push toward improving ties with imperialism are the growing class tensions in Russia itself.
France’s Mélenchon tacitly backs Wagenknecht’s xenophobic Aufstehen group
By Anthony Torres, 13 October 2018
By his silence, Mélenchon is tacitly supporting forces within his Unsubmissive France party that are orienting toward right-wing populism and the militarization of Europe.
Polls in German state elections forecast massive rejection of Grand Coalition
By Marianne Arens and Markus Salzmann, 12 October 2018
If current opinion polls are correct, the election results will not only send shock waves through the states affected, but also through the federal government.
Hitler’s resurrection in Germany
By Peter Schwarz, 12 October 2018
A column by Alternative for Germany (AfD) Chairman Alexander Gauland, based largely on a 1933 speech by Hitler, has been published in one of Germany’s most prominent newspapers.
Britain’s pseudo-left oppose worker rebellion against Royal College of Nurses leadership
By Robert Stevens and Chris Marsden, 11 October 2018
The no-confidence motion against the executive of the Royal College of Nurses is only one example of growing opposition to the decades of betrayals by the trade union bureaucracy.
Calls grow in Madrid to ban Catalan nationalist parties
By Alejandro López, 11 October 2018
Banning parties that collectively receive millions of votes would mark a major escalation in the drive of the Spanish and European bourgeoisie to establish a police state.
Kilometres from the ashes of Grenfell Tower
British royals spend millions on palace improvements
By Laura Tiernan, 11 October 2018
More than £1.4 million will be spent to make Kensington Palace more comfortable for Meghan Markle and Prince Harry.
Open letter by students condemns right-wing offensive at Berlin’s Humboldt University
By International Youth and Students for Social Equality (Germany), 11 October 2018
Student organisations from Humboldt University and across Germany published an open letter denouncing the cooperation of the university administration with the far right and its attacks on students’ social and democratic rights.
Brutal conditions at Greek refugee camps condemned
By John Vassilopoulos, 9 October 2018
The appalling conditions in Greece refugee camps are a direct consequence of the filthy deal cut between the European Union, Turkey and the Syriza government in 2016.
Chemnitz: German Neo-Nazi terrorist group relied on extremist network
By Christopher Lehmann, 9 October 2018
The authorities’ claims that the anti-immigrant rampage by neo-Nazis in Chemnitz took them by surprise are not credible.
German government organises mass deportations of refugees to Kabul
By Marianne Arens, 9 October 2018
The louder the protests of working people, the more deliberate and mercilessly the German government pursues its right-wing policies.
French government on verge of collapse after interior minister resigns
By Alex Lantier, 9 October 2018
Like rats fleeing a sinking ship, ministers are abandoning Macron in an attempt to save their political careers by finding positions in municipal politics.
Relations deteriorate between Hungary and Ukraine
By Jason Melanovski, 9 October 2018
Two of eastern Europe’s right-wing governments clash in a dispute over passports, language laws and military exercises.
Build rank-and-file committees to unify struggles against austerity in France!
By the Socialist Equality Party (France), 9 October 2018
Workers face the choice between President Emmanuel Macron’s social counterrevolution and a revolutionary struggle to bring down the Macron government.
French government staggered by Interior Minister Collomb’s resignation
By Francis Dubois, 8 October 2018
Collomb’s resignation has laid bare the weakness of President Emmanuel Macron’s government.
Labour Party-run councils escalate austerity in UK
By Alice Summers, 8 October 2018
Far from standing up to Tory-led austerity measures, Labour councils are blazing the trail when it comes to attacks on public services.
Kremlin suffers defeats in regional elections
By Andrea Peters, 6 October 2018
The electoral upsets that took place in September come as evidence mounts of growing discontent with Russia’s ruling party.
40,000 people protest in Munich, Germany against racism and police state laws
By Markus Salzmann, 6 October 2018
On October 3, the day marking the reunification of Germany, 40,000 people demonstrated in the Bavarian capital against racism and the new Police Task Law (PAG)
The destruction of Germany’s Thyssenkrupp and the role of the IG Metall union
By Dietmar Henning, 6 October 2018
The decision to break up the Thyssenkrupp multinational conglomerate, in which the IG Metall union has played a key role, has been secretly prepared for months.
UK: No to Driver Only Trains in any form, mobilise against rail union sellout
By Michael Barnes, 6 October 2018
The struggle by rail workers in defense of jobs is in danger, due to the systematic sabotage of their fight by the unions.
“I am a poet who has the ability to sing his poems” – Charles Aznavour (1924-2018)
By Paul Bond, 6 October 2018
Aznavour grew up with a love of music and theatre and leaves a legacy of some 1,200 songs, innumerable recordings, and some notable film appearances.
US, UK and NATO allies ramp up anti-Russia offensive over “cyber spying” and Skripals
By Robert Stevens, 5 October 2018
To frame the demand for the seven arrests, the US utilised all the material gathered by its NATO allies against Russia over the Skripal/novichok affair.
Risk of no-deal Brexit staggers European companies and economy
By Alex Lantier, 5 October 2018
With mass layoffs prepared in auto firms, plans in ruling circles are well advanced to place the cost of any Brexit crisis firmly on the backs of workers internationally.
3,000 Dutch public service workers protest in The Hague
By our reporters, 5 October 2018
Anger over high levels of social inequality in the Netherlands swelled after the neo-liberal-conservative coalition government announced the abolition of the country’s tax on dividends.
German parliament president Schäuble advocates militarism and stepped-up state repression in “Unity Day” speech
By Ulrich Rippert, 5 October 2018
Since German reunification 28 years ago, October 3 has become a national holiday and served as a platform for leading state representatives to deliver speeches setting the course for the future.
Brexit and growing social divide dominate crisis-ridden Tory conference
By Robert Stevens, 4 October 2018
Both wings of the Tories are concerned that Prime Minister May’s downfall could lead to a Corbyn-led Labour government that would be unable to keep the working class in check.
Washington threatens preemptive strike against Russian missiles
By Bill Van Auken, 3 October 2018
The threat by the US envoy Kay Bailey Hutchison to “take out” Russian missiles raises the specter of a nuclear Third World War.
UK nurses vote to remove Royal College of Nursing leadership after pay deal sellout
By Ajanta Silva, 3 October 2018
There is growing opposition among nurses and health care workers to a deal that includes an effective cut in real wages following years of attacks on wages and conditions.
German neo-Nazi group arrested after far-right riot in Chemnitz
By Johannes Stern, 3 October 2018
State prosecutors in Saxony and Bavaria ordered the arrest of seven people on Monday on suspicion of forming a right-wing terrorist organisation.
Campaign grows inside Podemos for alliance with Spanish right
By Alejandro López, 2 October 2018
After figures in the Podemos leadership praised Italy’s far-right government, a movement for nationalism and appeals to right-wing parties is growing inside Podemos.
Dozens injured as Catalan separatists and regional police clash in Barcelona
By Alejandro López, 1 October 2018
A year after the Catalan independence referendum, none of the issues that led to the referendum crisis and the violent repression by Madrid have been resolved.
Macron whitewashes French state murder of Maurice Audin
By Francis Dubois and Alex Lantier, 1 October 2018
Audin’s murder in Algeria constitutes a warning of the nature of imperialist war, which still echoes 60 years on, as NATO intervenes across the Middle East.
German Left Party mayor orders deportation of refugees
By Markus Salzmann, 29 September 2018
The Left Party mayor of Frankfurt on the Oder, René Wilke, has initiated a deportation order against seven refugees from Syria, Pakistan and the Palestinian territories.
Meghan Markle’s Grenfell cookbook: The royal family in damage control mode
By Laura Tiernan, 29 September 2018
Markle’s “first solo project” is an attempt to restore public faith in the monarchy, present a caring and “culturally diverse” image and prevent the working class from challenging the wealth, privilege and power of the British ruling class.
Jeremy Corbyn calls for unity with Labour’s right-wing and the “business world”
By Robert Stevens, 29 September 2018
Addressing those who have spent years slandering him and his supporters, Corbyn pleaded that it was necessary “to focus on what unites us. We are on a journey together and can only complete it together.”
Airline workers launch largest strike in Ryanair’s history
By Gustav Kemper, 28 September 2018
The decision by the German unions to call a strike late on Thursday makes today's strikes in five European countries the largest in the budget airline's history.
German Chancellor Merkel loses closest ally
By Ulrich Rippert, 28 September 2018
It has already become clear that the grand coalition relies on far-right elements to enforce its social and political attacks.
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