Britain
“I certainly think that the whole future of higher education is in peril”
Striking university lecturers and students in Bournemouth, UK speak out
By our reporters, 14 March 2020
The WSWS spoke to striking university staff and students in Bournemouth, who were striking with co-workers around the UK at the end of their 14-day national strike.
Coronavirus threatens to overwhelm UK National Health Service
By Thomas Scripps, 13 March 2020
As of Thursday morning, just 29,764 people had been tested nationally in the UK for coronavirus.
International Bar Association condemns British attacks on Assange’s legal rights
By Oscar Grenfell, 12 March 2020
Michael Kirby, the co-chair of the IBA’s Human Rights Institute, branded Assange’s treatment as “shocking and excessive” and likened it to the abuse of detainees at Abu Ghraib.
Lecturers and students rally during last week of UK national strike
By our reporters, 12 March 2020
Rallies were held in several university towns and cities around the UK Wednesday.
Life expectancy growth stagnates in England for first time in 120 years
By Margot Miller, 12 March 2020
Life expectancy decreased in the most deprived 10 percent of neighbourhoods—the North East, Yorkshire and the Humber and the East of England.
Julian Assange’s mother, doctors warn he is at heightened risk due to coronavirus
By Oscar Grenfell, 11 March 2020
In comments to the WSWS, Dr Stephen Frost warned that “the UK government is effectively playing Russian roulette with Julian Assange’s life” and demanded that he be released from Belmarsh Prison immediately.
University and College Union prepares sellout of UK universities national strike
By Thomas Scripps, 11 March 2020
Higher education workers are striking against attacks on pay and pensions that are the direct result of the UCU’s previous betrayal less than two year ago.
Councils to increase tax across UK as services are slashed
By Dennis Moore, 9 March 2020
At present more than 160 councils receive no revenue support grant from Whitehall and the government is shifting responsibility for the funding of local services from government to local council taxpayers.
Years of austerity and welfare cuts lead to record number of foodbanks in the UK
By Margot Miller, 7 March 2020
A Trussell Trust study shows that where the draconian Universal Credit welfare system had been in place for a year, the uptake of food parcels increased by 30 percent and by 48 percent after two years.
Europe’s largest regional airline, Flybe, collapses citing coronavirus impact as final straw
By Robert Stevens, 6 March 2020
The company’s final flights were either grounded minutes before take-off or diverted to the nearest airport in mid-air so that planes could be impounded.
As anger mounts over Assange’s persecution, former foreign minister Carr calls for moral appeals to Australian government
By Richard Phillips, 6 March 2020
Veteran Labor leader Bob Carr is attempting to divert the growing movement for the release of Assange into dead-end appeals to the Australian parliament.
UK university strike confronts wholesale marketisation of higher education
By Thomas Scripps, 6 March 2020
The UK’s higher education sector is being moved into the orbit of global finance and subjected to its demands.
UK coronavirus plan underscores gutting of health and social care
By Robert Stevens, 5 March 2020
The ruling elite in Britain, as internationally, are responding based on defending the interests of the tiny layer of financial parasites, who dominate society at the expense of the working class.
Australian parliamentary parties endorse British show trial of Julian Assange
By Oscar Grenfell, 5 March 2020
As Assange faced a legal travesty, government ministers declared their faith in British “due process,” while the Labor Party maintained its silence.
UK television presenter Caroline Flack’s suicide and the “bread and circuses” culture
By Paul Bond, 5 March 2020
The widespread public revulsion over Flack’s mistreatment and death is symptomatic of a broader culture and a generally healthy response, but it points to a wide and complex cultural crisis that will not be addressed simply by media regulation.
The Grenfell Tower Inquiry: Anatomy of a cover-up—Part 3
By Alice Summers, 5 March 2020
The 900-page report largely ignores or minimises the criminality of cost-cutting companies and a complicit Conservative Party-run local authority.
Struggles break out in Inverness, Bristol ahead of UK Royal Mail national strike ballot
By E.P. Milligan, 4 March 2020
The targeting of disabled employees is bound up with the “Amazonification” of Royal Mail, a process by which the company hopes to compete with global corporate giants.
The Grenfell Tower Inquiry: Anatomy of a cover-up—Part 2
By Alice Summers, 4 March 2020
The 900-page report largely ignores or minimises the criminality of cost-cutting companies and a complicit Conservative Party-run local authority.
UK university workers face a political struggle against Johnson government
By Robert Stevens, 3 March 2020
The strike is the largest ever in higher education, with staff taking action at 74 universities.
The Grenfell Tower Inquiry: Anatomy of a cover-up—Part 1
By Alice Summers, 3 March 2020
The 900-page report largely ignores or minimises the criminality of cost-cutting companies and a complicit Conservative Party-run local authority.
Grenfell Inquiry witnesses granted immunity from prosecution resulting from oral evidence
By Charles Hixson and Robert Stevens, 2 March 2020
All reassurances from the Attorney General and Inquiry about not granting corporations immunity are a red herring. The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 “does not provide a power to arrest any individual.”
Jeremy Corbyn’s criminal silence during Julian Assange’s extradition hearing
By Chris Marsden, 2 March 2020
Corbyn said nothing when he could have raised Assange’s fate in Parliament every single day, informing millions of the fundamental violation of his democratic rights.
Britain and European Union on collision course in Brexit talks
By Peter Schwarz, 29 February 2020
The EU and the British government presented sharply divergent documents outlining their goals for upcoming talks on their future relationship.
Swathes of UK underwater as record storms expose government indifference
By Robert Stevens and Barry Mason, 29 February 2020
The government repeats that it is spending £4 billion on flood defences over the next four years—a pittance—but has yet to announce where and when the money will be allocated.
Judge rules Assange cannot sit with lawyers during extradition hearing
By Thomas Scripps and Laura Tiernan, 28 February 2020
The first week of the extradition hearing in USA v Julian Assange ended yesterday at Belmarsh Magistrates’ Court with Judge Vanessa Baraitser rejecting a submission from Assange’s lawyers that he be allowed to sit with them in court.
Strikers at UK universities speak on their working conditions, pay and pensions
“If you just marketise education, it is not a public service anymore; it is just a commodity”
By our reporters, 28 February 2020
World Socialist Web Site reporting teams spoke to strikers on picket lines at universities in the UK during the first and second weeks of their ongoing 14-day strike.
Interviews from SEP (UK) public rally
“The working class needs to demand that Assange is released, not that the ruling class do it on their behalf”
By our reporters, 28 February 2020
World Socialist Web Site reporters spoke to some of those attending the public rally held by the Socialist Equality Party (UK) in defence of Julian Assange on Sunday in London.
Julian Assange’s father demands immediate bail for imprisoned son
By our reporters, 28 February 2020
John Shipton outlined his son’s decade-long history of arbitrary detention in the UK.
Julian Assange condemns court for preventing him from speaking to lawyers
By Thomas Scripps and Laura Tiernan, 27 February 2020
WikiLeaks editor Julian Assange issued a defiant protest in court yesterday, opposing the flagrant abuse of his legal rights in extradition proceedings brought against him by the United States government.
British Tory government’s general practitioner contracts intensify assault on healthcare
By Ben Trent, 27 February 2020
Over a 12 month period, 55 million patients had to wait longer than a fortnight to see a GP.
“The fight for Assange’s freedom requires the political mobilisation of the working class”
By Oscar Grenfell, 27 February 2020
This speech was delivered by Oscar Grenfell, a leading member of the Socialist Equality Party (Australia) to a public rally in defence of Julian Assange, held in London on Sunday.
Persecuted journalist Assange handcuffed, stripped naked on first day of extradition trial
By Thomas Scripps and Laura Tiernan, 26 February 2020
As proceedings were due to begin, a court official told WikiLeaks Editor-in-Chief Kristinn Hrafnsson that he was barred from the public gallery.
The show trial of Julian Assange begins
By James Cogan, 25 February 2020
The first day of the British court hearing yesterday to determine if WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange will be extradited to the United States left no doubt that what is taking place is a legal travesty that threatens both Assange’s life and fundamental democratic rights.
Assange extradition trial opens in London
By Thomas Scripps and Laura Tiernan, 25 February 2020
Amid growing popular outrage over the railroading of Assange to a US prison, lawyers for the Department of Justice sought to reframe the charges against him.
“Victories are not won through political cowardice, but in struggle”
By Chris Marsden, 25 February 2020
This speech was delivered by Socialist Equality Party National Secretary Chris Marsden to a public rally held in London on Sunday.
Hundreds protest outside Woolwich Crown Court to demand Assange’s freedom
By our reporters, 25 February 2020
Protesters were not allowed anywhere near the building, kept behind barricades and an imposing steel fence by security and police.
Socialist Equality Party (UK) holds London rally in defence of Assange and Manning
By our reporter, 24 February 2020
The meeting was attended by more than 130 workers, youth and students who came from all over the UK.
Don’t Extradite Assange campaign calls on Boris Johnson to intervene
By Robert Stevens, 24 February 2020
The struggle to free Julian Assange requires an implacable struggle by the working class against the Johnson and Trump governments now conspiring to silence him forever.
Sabisky eugenics scandal exposes fascist core of UK Tories
By Thomas Scripps, 22 February 2020
Sabisky’s resignation is meaningless and all the questions now being raised in the media about “vetting processes” are irrelevant.
UK: Grenfell fire inquiry finalises moves to grant corporations immunity from prosecution
By Charles Hixson, 22 February 2020
Giannino Gottardi, who lost his son in the blaze, stated, “These companies put profit ahead of everything. They want to save the name of the company and don’t care about anything else.”
New conflict of interest evidence against UK judge in charge of Assange extradition process
By Kevin Reed, 22 February 2020
Fresh evidence has emerged that the chief magistrate overseeing the extradition trial of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has received financial benefits from organizations connected to the UK Foreign Office.
“This is the Dreyfus case of our age”
UK Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell visits Julian Assange in Belmarsh Prison
By Oscar Grenfell, 21 February 2020
McDonnell described the Assange case as “one of the most important and significant political trials of this generation,” but made clear that his party will do nothing to mobilise the immense popular support that exists for the WikiLeaks publisher.
UK Johnson government rolls out restrictive “points-based” immigration system
By Richard Tyler, 21 February 2020
Those in the trade union bureaucracy who advocated for Brexit, including various Stalinists in the Rail, Maritime and Transport union and “Blue Labour” ideologues such as Paul Embery, together with their accomplices such as the Socialist Party, are politically responsible for this outcome.
Lawyers file new motion demanding release of Chelsea Manning
By Kevin Reed, 20 February 2020
Lawyers for Manning, the courageous whistleblower who has been in prison for eleven months for refusing to testify before a secret grand jury in the case of Julian Assange, have filed a new motion in federal court demanding her release.
Labor Party leads Australian attack on British government over Huawei
By Mike Head, 20 February 2020
The line-up behind the US confrontation with China sheds further light on the persecution of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.
Tens of thousands of UK university staff begin 14 days of strikes
By Simon Whelan and Robert Stevens, 20 February 2020
A series of rolling actions over the next three weeks will culminate in a week-long strike beginning March 9.
Growing support for Julian Assange on eve of extradition hearings
By Oscar Grenfell, 20 February 2020
The fight for Assange’s freedom requires the mobilisation of the working class, not moral appeals to capitalist politicians.
Assange defence team: “The empire calls it espionage. We call it journalism”
By Thomas Scripps, 19 February 2020
A packed press conference was addressed by WikiLeaks Editor-in-Chief Kristinn Hrafnsson, lawyer Jennifer Robinson and Australian MPs Andrew Wilkie and George Christensen.
Australian MPs visit Julian Assange at Belmarsh Prison
By Oscar Grenfell, 19 February 2020
Andrew Wilkie and George Christensen said they agreed with UN official Nils Melzer’s assessment that Assange is the victim of psychological torture.
Claire Mercer speaks on the campaign to abolish UK smart motorways—Part 1
By Robert Stevens, 19 February 2020
Claire Mercer is leading a fight to end the use of “smart motorways” after her husband, Jason, was tragically killed on a smart motorway near Sheffield, on June 7, 2019.
“What we think changes how we act.”
Gang of Four guitarist Andy Gill dead at 64
By Erik Schreiber, 19 February 2020
Gill consciously broke with musical convention to develop his own style of guitar playing and to create a distinctive sound for his band. Similarly, he sought to understand the origins of social and political conditions, rather than accepting them as given.
Labour Party leadership candidates profess Zionism at Jewish Labour Movement hustings
By Robert Stevens, 18 February 2020
After Corbyn’s four years in office, the Blairites are on the verge of winning back the leadership amid the threat of mass expulsions of Corbyn supporters.
Student climate change protests across the UK
“Governments are putting profits before people”
By our reporters, 17 February 2020
Manchester protester: “When it comes to politics and elections, you vote for one side and you vote for the other side but there’s the same puppet master pulling the strings.”
Sajid Javid removed as UK chancellor as Johnson readies offensive against working class
By Robert Stevens, 15 February 2020
Javid’s ignominious exit confirms the essential agenda of the Johnson government is one of escalating the class-war offensive against workers.
John Pilger’s The Dirty War on the National Health Service screening on Australia’s SBS this Sunday
By our reporters, 15 February 2020
The WSWS urges all our readers to watch this powerful documentary on SBS television, at 8.30 p.m. Sunday night, February 16.
UK government spearheads anti-migrant crackdown with deportation of Jamaican nationals
By Thomas Scripps, 14 February 2020
Under Britain’s deeply reactionary UK Borders Act 2007, any offence can serve as a pretext for deportation.
BBC Panorama exposes rising death toll on UK’s “smart motorways”
By Paul Bond, 14 February 2020
Smart motorways were introduced in a cost-cutting measure, as a means of easing congestion without expanding the existing road network—by turning the hard shoulder of conventional motorways into a live traffic lane.
After 10 months’ silence, UK Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn warns against extradition of Julian Assange
By Oscar Grenfell and Chris Marsden, 13 February 2020
For the past year, Corbyn has led the suppression of any discussion over Assange’s imprisonment in Britain and the country’s participation in the US-led attempt to destroy him.
UK postal union calls national strike ballot after collapse of phoney talks
By Laura Tiernan, 13 February 2020
The CWU is seeking to dissipate anger among the workforce and stem opposition over the union’s refusal to honour last year’s strike mandate.
UK steel unions smooth way for job losses and givebacks ahead of British Steel buyout
By Barry Mason, 13 February 2020
The Community, Unite and GMB unions at British Steel are operating as the corporation’s partners in pushing though job cuts, speed-ups and rationalisation.
Ten million workers in Britain toil in “low-quality” jobs
By Margot Miller, 12 February 2020
The Health Foundation report confirms what most workers have long suspected—poor conditions at work make you ill.
Woman who killed UK teenager Harry Dunn was a CIA spy
By Thomas Scripps, 11 February 2020
The Dunn family’s legal spokesman, Radd Seiger, explained it is “high time that the nation can see with full transparency whether or not the government prioritised protecting the identity of the Sacoolas family over the welfare and rights of Harry’s family.”
“I fear for the future of democracy in Britain”
Protesters speak out at demonstration against Tory government deportation plans
By our reporters, 11 February 2020
WSWS reporters spoke with those attending Monday night’s demonstration outside Downing Street in London demanding an immediate halt to all deportation flights.
UK government carries out deportation of around 20 Jamaican nationals
By Robert Stevens, 11 February 2020
The men on board were among 700 immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers being held at two immigration detention removal centres near Heathrow Airport—Colnbrook and Harmondsworth.
UK: Vigil remembers Errol Graham, pays tribute to family’s fight for justice
By our reporters, 10 February 2020
At the vigil, friends, family and local community members held placards bearing Errol’s photograph and condemning the Department for Work and Pensions welfare sanctions that have claimed hundreds of lives.
UK: Johnson uses Trump’s playbook in attack on media
By Robert Stevens, 8 February 2020
The events on Monday were more reminiscent of a tin pot dictatorship than that of an elected government.
UK: Tory health secretary signals ditching Accident and Emergency targets as crisis in NHS worsens
By Ajanta Silva, 7 February 2020
Research by the Patient Association found that 5,500 NHS patients died over the past three years due to spending so long on a trolley in overcrowded hospital A&E units.
Interview with international model Andreja Pejic: “I think standing behind Assange and Manning is where we should all be”
By Sue Phillips and Will Marshall, 7 February 2020
The WSWS spoke with Andreja Pejic about the campaign to free Julian Assange and Chelsea Manning and broader political issues.
Emergency legislation for terror law offenders in UK sets anti-democratic precedent
By Thomas Scripps, 6 February 2020
Whatever measures are used initially against terrorists will be deployed more widely against workers and youth who defy the class war offensive of the ruling elite.
Don’t Extradite Assange meeting in London: The political issues
By Laura Tiernan and Chris Marsden, 6 February 2020
The aim of the Don’t Extradite Assange group is to rehabilitate the Labour Party and the trade unions, its “left” representatives in particular, and to corral the movement in defence of Assange under their control.
UN rapporteur Nils Melzer exposes British government attempts to obstruct his defence of Assange
By Oscar Grenfell, 5 February 2020
That the British government is simultaneously stonewalling Melzer’s inquiries, and apparently conducting a behind-the-scenes campaign against him, underscores the flagrant illegality of the entire US-led vendetta against Assange.
UK: Errol Graham starved to death after withdrawal of benefit payments
By Laura Tiernan, 5 February 2020
Errol weighed just 30kg, or 66 pounds, when his body was found by bailiffs after they broke down his front door to evict him for rent arrears.
Boris Johnson’s government uses London terror attack to call for indefinite detention
By Thomas Scripps, 4 February 2020
For all the cries of “apologist!” in the corporate media, the roots of terrorist groups in the predatory intrigues of the major powers are widely known.
Johnson’s real Brexit agenda is trade war, militarism and class war
By Robert Stevens, 3 February 2020
UK prime minister Johnson is on a collision course with Europe that threatens to end in outright trade war and economic dislocation.
Michael Apted’s 63 Up: The ninth film in the remarkable series
By Kevin Martinez, 3 February 2020
The British documentary “Up” series has followed the lives of a group of Britons from age seven up to the present, when they are now all 63. The latest film provides insights into not only their lives, but the nature of the postwar period.
Firms responsible for covering Grenfell in flammable cladding demand immunity from prosecution
By Charles Hixson and Robert Stevens, 1 February 2020
Evidence revealed as the second phase of the inquiry began demonstrates that the 72 people who were killed in the Grenfell fire inferno were victims of the heinous crime of social murder.
Jaguar Land Rover announces 500 job cuts at Halewood in northwest England
By Margot Miller, 1 February 2020
The response of Unite to JLR’s announcement was to pledge to ensure redundancies are implemented smoothly.
Britain leaves the European Union: Against nationalism, For the United Socialist States of Europe!
Statement by the Socialist Equality Party (UK), 31 January 2020
Workers and young people in the UK must orient themselves not to British nationalism or the EU, but to the growing global upsurge of working class struggle.
Thousands of companies in Britain flout national minimum wage laws
By Joe Mount, 30 January 2020
In 2018, more than 11,000 companies underpaid their workers, while one-in-four workers over the age of 25 on the minimum wage were underpaid in 2019.
“This ain’t a nice place to be: This ain’t Belmarsh, it’s Hellmarsh”
ITV documentary reveals conditions in prison holding WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange
By Paul Bond, 30 January 2020
Despite going unmentioned, Assange’s deteriorating health and the concerns of independent medical professionals about his effective solitary confinement in the health care unit hung silently over the programme.
Edward Snowden warns that Assange and Greenwald prosecutions mark new stage in assault on press freedom
By Oscar Grenfell, 30 January 2020
The NSA whistleblower wrote: “The most essential journalism of every era is precisely that which a government attempts to silence. These prosecutions demonstrate that they are ready to stop the presses—if they can.”
How Canada’s corporate media smeared WikiLeaks publisher and journalist Julian Assange
By Roger Jordan, 30 January 2020
Canada’s leading media outlets have vilified Assange, while bemoaning the impact of WikiLeaks’ exposures on the global interests of American and Canadian imperialism.
Trump ramps up tensions with UK after Huawei 5G decision
By Thomas Scripps, 29 January 2020
The fudge decision is a desperate attempt to placate the Trump administration and avoid a collision over basic issues of economy and security.
US refuses to extradite spy’s wife to UK over death of Harry Dunn
By Barry Mason, 29 January 2020
The UK government have gone into full damage-limitation mode over the explosive conflict, but US Secretary of State Pompeo will not be fooled by such theatrics and will dismiss any appeals regarding Sacoolas, knowing they are made purely for the record.
Royal Family deal over Harry and Meghan only exacerbates crisis of rule
By Robert Stevens, 28 January 2020
For all the talk about the response of an “astute” Queen, what is taking place is a desperate rescue operation that is doomed to failure.
Socialist Equality Party Public Meeting in London:
Free Julian Assange and Chelsea Manning! No US extradition!
28 January 2020
The SEP (UK) urges all readers of the World Socialist Web Site to attend our public meeting in London on Sunday February 23, in defence of imprisoned WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and whistleblower Chelsea Manning.
French “Yellow Vests” rally for Julian Assange outside London’s Belmarsh Prison
By our reporters, 27 January 2020
The protest testified to the global scope of the support for Assange, despite the relentless lies and slanders that have been directed against him by the corporate media.
“People are waking up and if we ‘yellow vests’ succeed, and if Julian Assange gets out, something huge will have happened which could prevent many wars”
An interview with a “yellow vest” protester on the fight to free Julian Assange
By Alice Summer, 27 January 2020
Corinne was one of around 100 protesters who came from France to take part in Saturday’s rally in support of WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange outside Belmarsh prison.
Official inquiry cover-up of Grenfell Fire begins “second phase”
By Margot Miller, 27 January 2020
Benita Mehra’s removal from the panel will not alter the fact that the fundamental purpose of the inquiry is to protect, rather than punish, the guilty.
“We hope this protest will inspire others”
French “yellow vests” protest for Assange outside Belmarsh prison in London
By Alex Lantier, 25 January 2020
The protests point to the deeply-rooted opposition among workers internationally to US and European governments’ relentless campaign to destroy Assange.
Two and a half years after Grenfell fire:
Tens of thousands of UK households live in buildings covered in flammable cladding
By Charles Hixson, 25 January 2020
Next to nothing has been done by the Conservative government to remove dangerous cladding from hundreds of mainly residential buildings that are enveloped in deadly flammable material.
As extradition hearing dates are set, US Department of Justice argues Assange has no First Amendment rights
By Laura Tiernan, 24 January 2020
The latest evidence submitted by the US government underscores the fundamental democratic issues at stake in the decade-long illegal persecution and witch-hunting of Julian Assange and WikiLeaks.
Corbyn nominates arch Blairite Tom Watson for British House of Lords
By Robert Stevens, 23 January 2020
Corbyn’s final outreach to Watson is a fitting end to his fraudulent claim to represent an alternative to the Blairites.
Witnesses testify that CIA spied on Assange and his lawyers
By Mike Head, 22 January 2020
This evidence alone requires the US extradition case to be thrown out of court on the grounds of illegality.
Scottish National Party clashes with Johnson government over second independence referendum
By Chris Marsden and Steve James, 22 January 2020
The invocations of democracy by both sides seek to conceal a row between rival bourgeois factions whose interests, aims and nationalist agendas are hostile to the working class on both sides of the border.
UK: Johnson government plans draconian new anti-terror laws
By Thomas Scripps, 22 January 2020
Patel’s announcement comes after it was revealed that dozens of left-wing and environmental protest groups are included in a counter-terrorism “guidance document.”
UK: Highest-paid CEOs take home 117 times that of an average paid worker
By Barry Mason, 21 January 2020
In 2018, the average FTSE 100 CEO earned £3.46 million, equivalent to £901.30 an hour.
UK Counter Terrorism Policing document seeks to outlaw political dissent
By Thomas Scripps, 21 January 2020
The “guidance document” lists prominent left-wing, anti-war and environmental groups alongside far-right, fascist and white supremacist organisations.
Rebecca Long-Bailey Labour leadership campaign marks end of “project Corbyn”
By Robert Stevens, 20 January 2020
Unity with the Blairite right was the leitmotif of Long-Bailey’s campaign rally.
Rich in US and UK live nearly ten more healthy years than the poor
By Kate Randall, 18 January 2020
Wealthy men and women generally have eight to nine more years of “disability free” life after age 50 than the poorest American and English adults.
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