Britain
The CIA Democrats vs. Julian Assange
By Patrick Martin, 23 April 2018
The lawsuit filed by the Democratic National Committee is an attack on the First Amendment guarantee of freedom of speech and the press.
Skripal case developments further discredit British government lies
By Simon Whelan, 23 April 2018
As the UK government’s lies over the Skripal affair continue to unravel, Moscow has accused it of yet “another gross violation” of international rules.
British Commonwealth summit sees line up against China and Russia
By Mike Head, 23 April 2018
The CHOGM gathering saw a concerted drive to transform the 53-member grouping, long regarded as an imperial relic, into a confrontational vehicle.
Tragic killings of teenagers in London used to urge greater police powers
By Paul Mitchell, 21 April 2018
A major reason for the ramped-up law-and-order campaign is next month’s local elections, with the Conservatives so hated—particularly after the Grenfell Tower tragedy—that they face a wipe-out.
Britain’s Stop the War Coalition: Tying the working class to the pro-war Labour Party
By Chris Marsden, 21 April 2018
The building of a genuine anti-war movement can only proceed through a ruthless exposure of Labour’s apologists.
UK: Report by building research firm reveals scale of criminality that led to Grenfell fire
By Barry Mason, 20 April 2018
No one has been brought to justice for last June’s fire, but a report by a building research body makes clear there is ample evidence to allow for immediate arrests and charging to proceed.
Nearly 30,000 single-parent families made homeless in England in 2017
By Dennis Moore, 20 April 2018
Last year, one third of single parents were affected by welfare cuts, while 39 percent are struggling in low-paid, often insecure work.
Murdoch’s Times witch-hunts academics for questioning UK government’s Syria lies
By Julie Hyland, 19 April 2018
Under conditions where the imperialist powers are dragging humanity towards a third world war, the ruling elites can no longer countenance critical opinion.
UK government’s racist targeting of Caribbean migrants provokes backlash
By Robert Stevens and Thomas Scripps, 19 April 2018
The tightening of immigration legislation was in line with a policy of creating, in Prime Minister May’s words, a “really hostile environment” for “illegal” immigrants.
UK government rejects Corbyn’s demand for parliament to vote on war
By Chris Marsden, 18 April 2018
Amid mass anti-war sentiment, Jeremy Corbyn is seeking to prop up the tattered reputation of the Labour Party by claiming that it can serve as a check on the May government.
Protesters in Britain speak out against air strikes in Syria
By our reporters, 18 April 2018
The World Socialist Web Site spoke to protesters in London and Bristol.
University and College Union sells out UK lecturers strike
By Robert Stevens, 18 April 2018
It was to demobilise opposition to its rotten deal with the employers that the UCU cut the number of universities due to walk out this week, before suspending strike action altogether
UK: Labour right lines up with government over Syria bombing
By Chris Marsden, 17 April 2018
Yesterday May faced widespread criticism, but largely for having failed to recall Parliament rather than any substantive opposition to the illegal action taken by the US, France and the UK.
Anti-academy schools protests in UK curtailed by trade unions
By Tom Pearce, 17 April 2018
Any strikes called by the teaching unions, as a way of maintaining control over the anger of staff at the consequences of becoming academies, are being confined to a few single schools.
“I feel repulsed and outraged about last night’s attack on Syria—it was completely unnecessary”
UK workers oppose drive to war
By our reporters, 16 April 2018
Anti-war protester: “There should have been a referendum on whether to go to war! They are asking us to go to war with no evidence.”
UK: Demands grow for May government to hold debate on Syria attack
By Robert Stevens, 16 April 2018
UK Prime Minister Theresa May is due to make a formal statement to parliament today on the Syria airstrikes, but no vote is to take place.
British government admits links to Manchester and London terror attack groups
By Jean Shaoul, 16 April 2018
The British government and security forces worked closely with terrorist organisations in Libya and Syria, allowing them back to the UK to spawn a layer of British-born jihadis.
US and imperialist allies launch strikes against Syria
By The World Socialist Web Site Editorial Board, 14 April 2018
All of the governments participating in this new onslaught are crisis-ridden and lack any electoral legitimacy.
British cabinet agrees on “action” against Syria, bypassing Parliament
By Julie Hyland, 13 April 2018
Prime Minister Theresa May convened her senior ministers with the express purpose of signing off on a major escalation in the seven-year US-led war for regime change in Syria.
UN agency fails to substantiate claims of Russian use of “military grade nerve agent” in Skripal poisoning
By Julie Hyland, 13 April 2018
The alleged attack on the Skripals, using what was described as a Novichok nerve agent, was intended as a critical element in justifying US and British war plans against Russia.
New pro-EU party planned to oppose Corbyn and Labour
By Julie Hyland, 13 April 2018
The project intends to “borrow” ideas from “both left and right,” promoting divisive identity politics—based on race, gender and sexual orientation—while championing “wealth creation and tighter immigration controls.”
National Union of Students lobs sexual harassment smears at UK lecturers
By Thomas Scripps, 12 April 2018
The NUS’ report claiming rampant sexual harassment by UK academics adds fuel to the media furor against the UK lecturers’ strike.
At the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester
Frankenstein: Exciting production marks 200 years since publication of Mary Shelley’s work
By Margot Miller, 12 April 2018
The Enlightenment ideas in Shelley’s novel speak forcefully to a modern audience, who can empathise with something created as an articulate rational being and reduced by society to a “monster.”
France and UK spar to be leading US military partner in Syria
By Chris Marsden, 11 April 2018
The UK’s standing with Washington was undermined in 2013, when Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron called a parliamentary vote on a planned strike on Syria and lost.
Yulia Skripal discharged from hospital and taken to secret location
By Robert Stevens, 11 April 2018
The same treatment will likely be meted out to Sergei Skripal, with Salisbury hospital announcing he will be discharged in “due course.”
UK higher education and university staff oppose union sellout ahead of ballot result
By Thomas Scripps, 11 April 2018
There is strong resistance to the University and College Union’s attempted sell-out of the pension dispute by university staff who oppose the bureaucracy’s lying claims.
UK workers protest Special Educational Needs and Disabilities cuts by Bradford’s Labour council
By Tania Kent, 11 April 2018
The cuts will result in the loss of 25-30 members of staff across Bradford, with the aim of saving an estimated £770,000 a year.
Two weeks since WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange silenced by Ecuador
By Niles Niemuth, 11 April 2018
It is no coincidence that Assange has been shut off from any form of communication with the outside world as the US and its allies prepare for an escalation of war in Syria and beyond.
UK and French forces on ground in Syria as US prepares wider war
By Halil Celik, 10 April 2018
The alleged chemical weapons attack provides an all-too convenient excuse for both countries to deepen their existing operations in Syria.
UK’s Open University to be decimated, as more jobs are eliminated
By Simon Whelan, 10 April 2018
Hundreds of jobs are threatened in the largest restructuring and redundancy programme in university history.
Britain piles on lies to shore up Skripal poisoning accusations against Russia
By Robert Stevens, 9 April 2018
Faced with a devastating exposure of the May government’s concoctions, within the space of a month, the British media is in damage limitation mode.
Bogus anti-Semitism campaign against Corbyn and Labour reveals its Zionist agenda
By Jean Shaoul, 9 April 2018
The furore over Jewdas confirms that the three-year-long campaign accusing Corbyn of tolerating anti-Semitism is part of an effort to discredit the entire left.
Isle of Wight Council continues to cut services
By Paul Bond, 9 April 2018
Every aspect of social provision on the island stands as an indictment of the capitalist system.
UK: Metropolitan Police admit role in construction blacklist
By Paul Bond, 7 April 2018
As police admitted involvement in the blacklisting of building workers, around 60 campaigners and victims walked out of the Undercover Policing Public Inquiry, angered over a continuing cover-up.
London residents draw connection between Grenfell and Kemerovo fires
By our reporters, 7 April 2018
The WSWS spoke to London residents about the fire in Kemerovo, Russia that claimed at least 64 lives.
US escalates anti-Russia campaign as contradictions mount in Skripal narrative
By Mike Head, 6 April 2018
Yulia Skripal said she and her father are recovering quickly, casting more doubt about the claims that a “weapons grade” nerve gas was involved in the poisoning of the Skripals.
British government admits MI5 enjoys carte blanche to break the law
By Simon Whelan, 6 April 2018
Under conditions in which social and political antagonisms are reaching the breaking point, the state security apparatus has accelerated its anti-working class and anti-socialist activities.
Charities work with UK Home Office to deport rough sleepers
By Tom Pearce, 6 April 2018
In 2017, the rough sleeping rate in London showed an 18 percent rise since 2016, with 59 percent of rough sleepers in the capital being non-UK nationals.
The right-wing politics of the British “Labour anti-Semitism” smear campaign
By Jean Shaoul, 5 April 2018
The tendencies and prominent leaders involved make clear that strident accusations of anti-Semitism are aimed at shifting British politics sharply to the right.
The lies of the imperialist powers over the Skripal affair unravel
By Robert Stevens, 5 April 2018
Not since Nazi Germany has the world witnessed such a shameless falsification of events as the provocation concocted around the poisoning in England of former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter.
UK security review exposes militarist agenda behind Russian Novichok allegations
By Thomas Scripps, 5 April 2018
Prime Minister May defined the Fusion Strategy as the “use of all our capabilities” to “project our global influence.”
UK’s Porton Down military lab head: Russia not identified as source of Skripal poisoning
By Julie Hyland, 4 April 2018
The laboratory’s statements explode the British government’s utilisation of the Skripals’ apparent poisoning to ratchet up NATO’s provocations against Moscow.
Teachers across the UK vote for industrial action
By Thomas Scripps, 4 April 2018
Representing the vast majority of teachers in the UK, the votes are a response to the catastrophic conditions prevailing in primary and secondary schools across the country.
Sunday Times uses dirty tricks, slander and lies to tar Labour’s pro-Corbyn left as anti-Semitic
By Robert Stevens and Chris Marsden, 4 April 2018
The Sunday Times investigation is an exercise in McCarthyite witch-hunting, which has failed to substantiate spurious allegations of widespread anti-Semitism in the Labour Party.
Socialist Equality Party (UK) holds online meeting for education workers and students
By our reporters, 2 April 2018
The Education Fightback forum, titled “No sell-out by the UCU! Form rank and file committees!” was attended by education staff and students from around the UK.
Education Fightback forum hears special needs teacher: “A 30 percent increase in class size with the same level of staffing”
By our reporters, 2 April 2018
Schools have piloted schemes over the past year offering free school meals to children over the school holidays, because their families are too poor to feed them.
Education Fightback forum:UK lecturer speaks on casualisation of Higher Education sector
By our reporters, 2 April 2018
Stephen told the forum that one-third of existing contracts are teaching only, and paid by the hour, and less than two-thirds of British academics have a permanent contract of employment.
Protesters denounce silencing of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange
By Robert Stevens, 30 March 2018
The Ecuadorian Embassy’s decision to sever all communication between Assange and the outside world is an illegal and vindictive act of political persecution.
Vote “No” to University and College Union sellout of UK lecturers pension strike
By Robert Stevens, 29 March 2018
The University and College Union’s Higher Education Committee voted to put an inferior pensions’ offer from Universities UK to a ballot, in the face of lecturer’s opposition.
Labour Party right lead demands for second Brexit referendum
By Julie Hyland, 29 March 2018
Despite stating recently that he was in favour of “a customs union” with the EU, Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn has stopped short of endorsing membership of the Single European Market and a second referendum.
The poisoning of Skripal and the campaign against Russia
By Bill Van Auken, 28 March 2018
From the Zinoviev Letter of 1924 to the alleged poisoning of a double agent in the UK, both US and British intelligence have a long record of employing lies to justify war and reaction.
Anti-Semitism accusations against Corbyn aimed at criminalising the left
By Chris Marsden, 28 March 2018
Labour Friends of Israel, of which most MPs at Monday’s protest are members, is dominated by the party’s right-wing and was at the centre of the coup plot against Corbyn.
UK: Grenfell fire inquiry withholds vital evidence from the bereaved and survivors
By Paul Mitchell, 28 March 2018
Lawyers for the bereaved, survivors and local residents will be prevented from raising issues of a “social, economic and political nature.”
Russian diplomats expelled over allegations of poisoning of ex-spy in UK
By Bill Van Auken, 27 March 2018
The mass expulsion of Russian diplomats from the US, 14 EU countries, Canada and Ukraine marks a coordinated campaign to pave the way to war.
The UK Further Education strike: Lessons of the lecturers’ revolt against the University and College Union
By the Socialist Equality Party (UK), 27 March 2018
The attacks on Further Education staff are central to the Conservative government’s plans to turn education over to the private sector.
UK: Eight million hit by welfare cuts
By Dennis Moore, 24 March 2018
Adjusting for inflation, the last decade has been the weakest for average earnings in two centuries—the product of above-target inflation and poor nominal pay growth.
Attend online and call-in forum March 27
The way forward for UK lecturers after the revolt against the University and College Union
24 March 2018
The Socialist Equality Party (UK) is hosting an online and call-in forum for lecturers, college staff, other education workers and students on Tuesday, March 27, at 7:30 p.m.
NHS FightBack: Reject health trade unions’ sellout NHS pay deal!
Statement by the Socialist Equality Party, 23 March 2018
The agreement between the 12 unions covering workers in the National Health Service was finalised behind the membership’s backs with the Guardian reporting negotiations were carried out “in conditions of strict secrecy.”
UK-led anti-Russia campaign used to hit out at Trump, pressure EU
By Chris Marsden, 22 March 2018
Tuesday was the day the UK expelled 23 Russian diplomats and their families, while May chaired a session of the national security council to discuss further actions against Russia.
Barely any “affordable” housing being built in the UK
By Margot Miller, 22 March 2018
Local councils, many Labour-run, have responded to rapacious funding cuts from central government by privatising services, selling off remaining council stock and facilitating highly profitable deals with developers.
UK-EU draft deal pleases neither side of ruling elite’s Brexit divide
By Chris Marsden, 21 March 2018
Struck against the background of demands for action against Russia, the agreement gave expression to rising antagonisms between the UK and its European rivals.
“The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference and that’s how those in power view many in our society”
Grenfell fire: An interview with North Kensington resident Joe Delaney
By Robert Stevens, 21 March 2018
In this interview, local resident Joe Delaney speaks about his initial involvement in tenants housing issues in North Kensington and the Grenfell Action Group, his thoughts on the Grenfell fire and the official public inquiry.
European Union joins UK in ratcheting up anti-Russia campaign
By Chris Marsden, 20 March 2018
The Skripal affair has been used by the UK and powerful voices within the US political and military establishment to push the two major European states away from Russia.
London, NATO step up war threats against Russia over Skripal poisoning
By Alex Lantier, 19 March 2018
NATO authorities issued a barrage of political and military threats at Russia, a nuclear-armed power, without providing any evidence for their allegations.
Witch-hunt of Corbyn aims to silence popular opposition to anti-Russia offensive
By Chris Marsden, 19 March 2018
Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn’s cautioning against a “rush to judgement” in the alleged poisoning of former double agent Sergei Skripal has prompted frenzied media denunciations.
Questions mount about UK allegations over "novichok" poison in Skripal case
By Alex Lantier, 19 March 2018
Scientists have repeatedly questioned the existence of the ‘novichok’ poison which London is claiming, without providing evidence, that Russia used to poison Skripal.
The campaign over the Skripal poisoning: An international war provocation
By Chris Marsden, 17 March 2018
The campaign by the imperialist powers in Europe and the United States over the poisoning of former Russian spy and British double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter stinks to high heaven.
The role of the UCU Left in the effort to shut down the UK lecturers strike
By Robert Stevens, 17 March 2018
From its formation, the UCU Left pledged to work with the right wing within the UCU leadership, and has served to suppress opposition and bolster the authority of the unions.
UK: Lecturers and students speak on struggle to fight savage pension cuts
By our reporters, 17 March 2018
WSWS reporters spoke to striking lecturers and students on picket lines and at rallies Thursday and Friday in London and Glasgow.
The UK lecturers strike and the struggle against marketisation
Former student sues university for cost of her education
By Thomas Scripps, 16 March 2018
The collective endeavour of learning is being replaced by a purely financial and adversarial relationship between universities and students and the academic workforce.
As tensions escalate, UK expels 23 Russian diplomats
By Chris Marsden, 15 March 2018
May is leading an international offensive to reinforce demands for action against Russia, up to and including a military response, working in close collaboration with the US.
UK lecturers resume strike following rebellion against UCU sellout agreement
By Robert Stevens, 15 March 2018
From the beginning of the dispute, the SEP has insisted that the UCU is not an organisation fighting in the interests of workers. It is a tool of management and, as with all the unions, cannot be reformed through rank and file pressure.
Striking UK lecturers speak out after rejecting union sell-out deal
By our reporters, 15 March 2018
The World Socialist Web Site spoke with striking lecturers yesterday in London, Manchester and Sheffield.
The Skripal poisoning: What lies behind UK-US ultimatums against Russia?
By Alex Lantier, 14 March 2018
As London and NATO concoct a case for war against Russia based on allegations that Moscow poisoned Sergei Skripal, certain elementary questions must be asked.
UK university lecturers revolt against union sell-out agreement
By Robert Stevens, 14 March 2018
Thousands protested nationally and hundreds of lecturers lobbied outside the union’s headquarters in London Tuesday to demand rejection of a deal reached the previous evening.
“I’m delighted with the voices of solidarity from West Virginia”
Students and lecturers at the University of Aberdeen speak about the issues in the strike
By our reporters, 14 March 2018
Members of the IYSSE spoke to students and striking lecturers at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland about the issues in the lecturers’ struggle.
UK seeks international support for anti-Russia measures
By Chris Marsden, 14 March 2018
UK Prime Minister Theresa May is engaged in a high-stakes effort to turn the tide internationally towards stepped-up conflict with Russia, up to and including a military confrontation.
Striking UK lecturers speak out to denounce attempted UCU sell-out: “I’d like to see the membership taking control more as it has done today”
By our reporters, 14 March 2018
World Socialist Web Site reporters interviewed striking lecturers at an all-day protest of several hundred lecturers, students and university workers outside UCU’s headquarters in North London.
“It’s certainly not going to shut me up”
Grenfell fire: Joe Delaney answers right-wing media witch-hunt
By Robert Stevens, 14 March 2018
The World Socialist Web Site spoke to north Kensington resident Joe Delaney about the recent attack on him by the Sunday Times.
UK prime minister delivers ultimatum to Russia, heightening war danger
By Laura Tiernan, 13 March 2018
May’s speech follows a wave of anti-Russia hysteria unleashed by the media, political and military establishment, including the mobilisation of 180 military personnel in the cathedral city of Salisbury.
Corbyn's Shadow Chancellor says Labour MPs will boycott RT
By Laura Tiernan, 13 March 2018
Once again, the Corbynites have adopted policy positions associated with the pro-war majority that dominates the Parliamentary Labour Party.
UK: More than a million welfare benefit sanctions imposed against disabled people
By Dennis Moore, 13 March 2018
In 2015, the UK government withheld £132 million from claimants in the form of sanctions.
Increase in social deprivation hits tens of thousands of children in UK
By Liz Smith, 12 March 2018
That so many are in poverty is a result of the unions’ refusal to oppose successive governments’ austerity and pay freeze agendas.
Still no facts in UK/Russia double agent poisoning case
By Robert Stevens, 10 March 2018
Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia are in a critical condition after allegedly being exposed to what has been described only as a “nerve agent.”
Britain: 15,000 jobs in retail and leisure under threat, as jobs go throughout economy
By Richard Tyler, 10 March 2018
The high street retail and leisure sectors have been impacted by uncertainty over the consequences of Brexit and online shopping.
Corbyn opposes Momentum leader Jon Lansman’s bid for Labour’s general secretary post
By Julie Hyland, 9 March 2018
Far from marking a breach in the bureaucratic apparatus, the contest between two supporters of leader Jeremy Corbyn underscores the anti-democratic, right-wing character of Labour.
For a unified socialist movement of lecturers and students!
International Youth and Students for Social Equality (UK), 8 March 2018
A fight to build solidarity between lecturers and students involves a political struggle against the University and College Union, National Union of Students and other false leaderships.
Anti-Russia campaign follows alleged poisoning of former UK/Russian double agent and daughter
By Robert Stevens, 8 March 2018
Sergei Skripal is a former colonel in Russia’s GRU, the military intelligence service. He spent four years in jail in Russia after being found guilty in 2006 of passing secrets to the British MI6.
UK lecturers speak in support of West Virginia teachers
By our reporters, 7 March 2018
World Socialist Web Site reporters spoke to striking UK lecturers and other university staff during the first two days of this week’s four-day strike in Leeds, Glasgow and Manchester.
Income losses of British millennials second only to those in Greece
By Simon Whelan, 7 March 2018
Research reveals that in 2014 British millennials earned 13 percent less than those born in and around 1970 at the same stage in life.
UK government lies exposed over civilian casualties in Iraq and Syria
By Jean Shaoul, 6 March 2018
Airwars estimated that the number of civilians killed last year by the US-led coalition against IS was between 11,000 and 18,000.
Theresa May’s Brexit speech gets short shrift from European Union
By Chris Marsden, 3 March 2018
Despite her conciliatory tone, May failed to meet EU demands to flesh out what her government means by “ambitious managed diversion.”
UK university lecturers, college staff and students hold joint protest in London
By our reporters, 1 March 2018
The rally followed the previous day’s talks during which the union signalled its intention to capitulate by offering further concessions over pensions.
The UK lecturer’s dispute and the marketisation of higher education
By Thomas Scripps, 1 March 2018
The attack on university lecturers is one element in a far advanced programme aimed at the destruction of higher education as it has been known for decades.
UK Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn slithers toward sellout
By Chris Marsden, 1 March 2018
Corbyn’s speech expresses the role that would be played by any future Labour government, under conditions where a deepening Tory crisis could hasten a general election.
UK lecturers and students speak out during second week of strikes over pensions
By our reporters, 28 February 2018
WSWS reporters spoke to lecturers, other university staff and students at picket lines and rallies around the UK on Monday and Tuesday.
Right-wing media launch witch-hunt against Grenfell activist Joe Delaney
By Barry Mason and Robert Stevens, 28 February 2018
The accusation should be met with contempt by the thousands of residents who know Delaney, and all those in the UK and internationally who have solidarized with the Grenfell victims.
Grenfell Tower combustible cladding was never tested
By Richard Tyler, 27 February 2018
No record of independent testing of the cladding/insulation system has been found by three separate investigations into the Grenfell fire.
UK local authorities escalate anti-homelessness policies
By Barry Mason, 27 February 2018
Living on the streets is a very precarious existence, reducing life expectancy to 47 years compared to 81 years for the average person in the UK.
London tower block leaseholders oppose having to pay cladding repair bill
By our reporters, 26 February 2018
The owners of the Citiscape apartments in south London, Proxima GR Properties, are trying to force leaseholders to pay at least £2 million for replacing unsafe cladding.
Follow the WSWS