From the KKE

A video short produced by the Greek Communist Party which highlights the struggle through 2011 against EU diktat and a government of traitors

 

From the SW and Cornwall District Committee

As chair of the South West and Cornwall District of the Communist Party of Britain, I'd like, on behalf of the Committee, to wish all comrades, supporters, friends and visitors to this website warmest season's greetings.

We hope that everyone who is celebrating a festival at this time - Christmas, Hannukah, Yalda (to name but three)- will have a very happy time and that all of you will be able rest and enjoy yourselves.

We hope also that 2012 will be a year of success in the struggle for a just, democratic and peaceful future.

With best wishes
In comradeship

Liz Payne
District Chair

Generally Speaking

A message from the General Secretary

Please accept my New Year greetings on behalf of the Communist Party, and my thanks for your efforts to build the labour movement and our party in the fightback against Britain’s unelected government of the bankers.

It has been an eventful year which has witnessed a shift from sporadic and isolated opposition to austerity and privatisation to something bigger, with a higher political quality that could prove much more durable. We have some way to go but it is clear that workers will not leave the battlefield to the ruling class. 2011 was the year history caught up with the Murdochs and their hit men and women. How fitting that at the same time, the labour movement rallied to save the Morning Star, the only newspaper owned by its readers.

It is now more necessary than ever for organised workers to speak out and to act. We have millions of unemployed. Young people cry out for decent jobs. Public services are being plundered and packaged up for sale. Education and the NHS, in particular, are being prepared for privatisation. Unnaccountable bankers, though rumbled and despised, continue to hold economic and political power. The fight continues to establish the sovereignty of the people against big business and European Union diktat. Ruling class aggression at home feeds British imperialist aggression abroad. Funds that should be used to build homes for the people are used to bomb others into submission.

Break the Coalition

The National Question

There has been some (very isolated) criticism of those on the left who take an anti EU position. Much of it rests on the opinion that to stand against the European project results in some sort of petty nationalist attitude. But to ignore the "national question" is a dangerous and immature position to take.

The following article appeared in the September/October 2011 edition of Challenge - the magazine of the YCL. You can read more about the CPB's position on Europe in this article.

Britishness – An Impossible Concept?

Britishness, like any concept of nation, is contested, socially and politically constructed, historically variable and both personal and public.

South West in danger of becoming low pay zone

George Osborne's plan to end national pay rates for public servants by levelling down public sector pay to that of the private sector would have a devastating impact on the South West, says the TUC.

This is partly because of the high percentage of public sector workers in the region (27.1%) and partly because of the already low pay (£1.58 per hour less than the UK average). Devon and Cornwall, in particular, would be badly affected because the pay rates for the two counties are lower still - £2.55 less for Devon and £3.59 less for Cornwall than the £14.90 national average.

Nigel Costley, Regional Secretary of the South West TUC, said: "When the Chancellor talks about regional and localised wage negotiations, what he really means is driving down pay to the lowest levels. This will have devastating impact on the economy of the West Country by embedding a low-pay culture that has already caused so much hardship for hard-working families. In recent years progress has been made to close the pay gap between average pay here and that of the UK average but we are in danger of going into reverse.

"The region is dependent upon the public sector and the government is already cutting earnings by reducing pay and increasing pension charges. The latest plan will involve a league table of pay rates across the country, consigning much of the West Country to the bottom divisions of pay.

"This will drive out valuable skills from the region and hit the quality of public services. Already the South West has problems recruiting certain skills in education and health, such as midwives, and this will make matters worse.

'Comparing public and private earnings is complex because public workers tend to be professionals such as teachers or nurses. Such workers have spent years in higher education and training. Professionals in private jobs having spent the same time developing their skills tend to earn a lot more.

The vision for our economy should be one based upon good pay and high performance. We want young people to aspire to develop good skills and help deliver top class public services as well as successful trading companies. A low wage economy will mean young people will do their best to escape.'

Taken from a press release

Is a Robin Hood tax all it seems?

Taken from the Morning Star

It seems a nice idea. Tax the financial speculators enriching themselves at our expense and use the proceeds to raise people out of poverty.

The Robin Hood tax campaign, which is sponsored by some 50 charities and other non-government organisations and supported by such luminaries as Comic Relief founder Richard Curtis and Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, is pushing this course of action.

According to the campaign, a package of financial transaction taxes on the purchase and sale of foreign exchange, shares, bonds and various derivatives, could raise over $400 billion (£250bn) worldwide.

That is more than enough to achieve the Millenium Development Goals, which range from halving extreme poverty to halting the spread of HIV/Aids and providing universal primary education by 2015, or even more ambitious goals.

But aren't these campaigners being a little starry-eyed? Assuming this amount could be raised by such means, can we trust governments to spend it for that purpose?

International Solidarity

Nicaraguan workers express their solidarity with the workers of Great Britan as they prepare for strikes on the 30th of November

N30 - Why unions HAD to strike for ALL

Why were the strikes important? Why are the trade unions so vital to the fight against the coalition government? How did the strikes help those not in unions or not on strike?

Lets make one thing clear - these strikes have to be about far more than public sector pensions. Yes, because of the anti-union laws in Britain, the unions need to have a specific reason to strike. The public sector pension reforms were that reason.

But while striking over unjustified pension reforms is perfectly valid, this struggle needs to be seen in the wider context of the anti-cuts movement. To not see the strikes in this context lends ammunition to the anti-strike, right wing attacks on the trade unions.

Report of Sylvia Pankhurst Event

Preparation started back in early June. First we got available dates from the Plough. Then we got in touch with Mary and Liz for dates that would fit them.

Really from then on it was not too difficult. The Plough put the event in its programmes. We got some A4 posters from the film producers, stuck a notice on the bottom and circulated them.

Elijah designed flyers for the event and a preview featured on the North Devon Journal's cinema page.

I wrote a letter to be given to each cinema goer which I enclose.

Forty-six people attended. Women outnumbered men. For a North Devon Communist Party event that is excellent. We had a literature stall which was well received. Free issues of the latest copy of Liberation, invitations to the next Liberation event and copies of the Country Standard were given out.

The Peoples Charter: New group in Torrington

As of February 2012 the Peoples Charter movement will be expanding into Torridge and West Devon. I shall be setting up a group for Torrington and the surrounding area (to also include the local college Petroc), in order to help promote awareness for alternative economics and the community.

Morning Star Appeal

Readers and supporters of the Star launched a massive internet campaign today in response to an urgent appeal for £75,000 by Christmas.
An overwhelming £15,541 was received in the first day, but there is still a long way to go. Assistant editor Richard Bagley said:
"The response has been absolutely staggering in such a short space of time. Everyone here has been buoyed by the tremendous support that has been shown for the only left daily in the country." But he warned, "We've got a long way to go yet."
He urged readers and supporters to keep up the momentum in every possible arena to raise funds.

Anti-Capitalist, Pro. . . ?

For all the diversity of the Occupy movements around the world, about the only thing they (broadly) agree on, is that they are anti-capitalist.

I say broadly, because some people involved may not be completely "anti-capitalist" but are certainly anti-status-quo-capitalist. And I suppose that puts them in something of a New Labour position. They are the new Third Way sort of ditherers.

And I don't think ditherers is too harsh. They would call themselves "anti-greed", which is fair enough, but being anti-greed means they've swallowed the right wing lie that the 2008 financial crash was caused by greed. That sort of analysis completely ignores the fact that capitalism is an unsustainable system with inherent contradictions and exploitation at its core. To blame the greed of a few people, but believing in the system, is just sticking your head in the sand.

Occupy Bristol Video

From the Guardian

Occupy Plymouth

Taken from http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/Protest-group-sets-camp/story-13778063-detail/story.html

THE FIRST of what are expected to be many tents were erected in Plymouth city centre, as protesters highlighted the nation's growing discontent with the financial crisis.
The Occupy Plymouth activists chose the Jigsaw Garden, opposite the Roland Levinsky building at Drake Circus, to build the encampment, and shortly after noon on Saturday, the first three tents were pegged down.
By nightfall they were joined by several more tents, with others expected to follow over the next few days.
The Occupy Movement said it hopes to bring together hundreds more like-minded people in the coming days, claiming they will "stay for as long as possible", mirroring protests across the globe.
Some of the early arrivals wore Guy Fawkes masks made famous by the V for Vendetta graphic novel and film, and now used as the symbol for Anonymous – considered the world's most famous group of hacker-anarchists.
Tim Gulliver, media spokesman for the Occupy Plymouth group, said the plan was "to stay for as long as possible."
Tim, from Peverell, said the group – started on Facebook – had held two planning meetings and has the support of Plymouth Trades Union Council and various political organisations.
He said the aim was to "draw attention to the inequalities in society" and speak for 'the 99 per cent'.
He said: "Figures from Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs show that the richest one per cent of the population owns 23 per cent of the total UK wealth.
"The Times Rich List shows how the rich are getting richer every year. We clearly aren't all in this together.
"We come from different political backgrounds and from none. We come from across Plymouth and the surrounding area.
"We are old and young, in work, out of work and in education. What unites us is the knowledge that the system we live under is wrong, unsustainable and economically and ethically bankrupt.
"We have come together to stand against the greed of corporate Britain and the belief that the 'free market' can solve all of our problems.
"We are part of a global movement because the system we stand against is global in its exploitation.
"We live in a country of vast inequality and have a government that is more concerned about business profits than people.
"We are the 99 per cent."
Tony Staunton, secretary of Plymouth Trades Union Council, said he believed the protest offered hope and inspiration to workers facing cuts and unemployment.
He said: "This is the start of the English revolution. We have applauded the revolts across southern Europe and the Middle East against the plunder of the super-rich, now we are fighting back here at home.
"The demand is simple – the super-rich corporate executives and bankers have taken all the taxpayers' money, and we want it all back!"
A lone Police Community Support Officer was on hand as the first activists arrived.
PCSO Tyrst Fentem spoke briefly with them, as the first tents were placed on the private land. He said he merely warned them to keep safe, particularly at night, and to contact police if they felt threatened by anyone.

Devon and Cornwall Housing Crisis

Taken from BBC News

Homes in Devon and Cornwall 'cost 13 times annual wage'

Average house prices in Devon and Cornwall are 13 times the average annual individual wage, according to the National Housing Federation (NHF).
It said the average house in Cornwall costs £228,585, with the average individual salary at £17,628 a year.
In Devon, the average home costs £241,575, with the average income at £17,940 a year, the organisation has said.
The NHF added there was a greater need for affordable homes.
Jenny Allen, South West lead manager for the NHF, said: "Lack of supply is at the root of the problem.
"Ministers need to act now to implement a range of measures to turn the tide on the current housing crisis, ensuring that homes continue to be built in the region and that affordable housing options remain."
The federation said more young professionals and middle income families are being priced out of the market.
The figures have been published in a report called the South West Home Truths.
In Devon, the South Hams is the most expensive area to live and Plymouth is the cheapest.
In 2010, the NHF said the average house prices in Cornwall and Devon were 12 times the average annual wage.

21st Century Marxism - Weekend Festival

Weekend of Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 November
A weekend of culture and debate, with 37 sessions, seminars, plenaries, a film viewing, a book launch and campaign launches.
Internationalist Rally with leaders of the communist movement from Russia, China, India, Cuba, South Africa, Ireland and Britain.
Click on the image above to take you to the main CP site with full details.
Speakers include:

Prakash Karat [India]
Yuri Emeljanov [Russia]
Navid Shomali [Iran]
Eugene McCarten [Ireland]
Robert Griffiths
Alvaro Sanchez [Cuba]
John Foster
Cheng Enfu [China]
Mary Davis
Hans Modorow [Germany]
Liz Payne
Blade Nzimande [South Africa]
Jeremy Corbyn MP
Gawain Little
Professor Prem Sikka
Carolyn Jones
Bill Greenshields
Ben Stevenson
Phil Katz

Qantas Strikes

Taken from Communist Party of Australia

Qantas management is clearly prepared to destroy the airline, as it now exists, in order to complete its non-unionised, cheapjack makeover of the once iconic, widely respected and publicly owned national carrier.

Joyce almost says as much: “I’m fighting for the survival of Qantas into the long term, and if we have to take short-term pain and to stand up to the unions, and resist these bully-boy tactics to make sure that the company survives, we will do that.”

Read the full article

Revolution

Kindly submitted by http://www.newseda.com

YCL condemns TUC backed pay cut for the lowest paid

Taken from www.ycl.org.uk


The TUC’s call for a pay cut for workers earning the minimum wage has been accepted by the government. The TUC had requested that the National Minimum Wage be increased by 3%, far below inflation, whilst workers wait for economic growth ie. more profitable monopolies.  Consequently the full rate of the NMW has been increased by 2.5%, the rate of 18-20 year olds has been increased by 1.2% and the rate for 16 & 17 year olds by just 1%.

Inflation for September 2011 stands at 5.6% and that is the minimum amount by which the cost of living has increased.

YCL Acting General Secretary, Mick Carty, said that “the least young workers can accept is a TUC that promotes their interests not one which ignores the fundamental class antagonism in society and continues to attempt to find a compromise with the monopolies”.

Occupy Bristol

Picture taken from https://network23.org/occupybristol/

They have free cake!

There has been recent controversy over the occupy Bristol event on College Green disrupting the Remembrance Day events in the next few weeks. The Occupy Bristol website has statements from members and lots of information.

Marx: Economic Crisis

Labour Theory of Value, variable capital, surplus value, profit, rate of surplus value, rate of profit, the tendency of the rate of profit to fall - all in 9 minutes! I'm sure some of you will have see it before, but this is an excellent video. If you can memorise this, you will never loose an argument to a Tory again. . .

Euroscepticism is not just for the Tories

It's not often that the Morning Star will find itself allied with the Daily Mail, Daily Telegraph and Daily Express. It is even less likely to see Bob Crow, RMT General Secretary and John Foster, International Secretary of the Communist Party share a platform with Zac Goldsmith, Conservative MP and most of the membership of UKIP.

On Monday the House of Commons will debate on whether to hold a referendum on Britain's membership of the EU. Much of the media coverage has focussed on the likely splits within the Conservative Party. This is hardly surprising as Euroscepticism has often been seen as the preserve of the right, while the left have been characterised as willing to “give up our nationality” to the EU.

It is time to correct that fallacy. Brian Denny of the RMT and NO2EU campaign sets out the case of the left at the launch of the People's Pledge campaign in the following video:

John Foster, in a recent letter published in the Morning Star sets out the left's case for withdrawal from the EU:

The primacy of market competition and the free movement of capital lie at the heart of the EU's founding treaties.

These principles are not likely to be removed.

Nor, therefore, are the legal judgements that place them before the collective rights of labour.

They also take precedence over the economic powers of national parliaments.

The left in Britain calls for Parliament to nationalise endangered industrial plants, renationalise utilities such as transport and energy and impose controls over the movement of capital.

It isn't likely that EU treaties will be amended to permit such intervention.

On the contrary - the big business interests at the heart of the EU are seeking to end any remaining freedom for national parliaments to allocate funding to welfare, pensions, education and health, probably as early as this autumn's EU summit.

The current EU crisis is systemic.

It derives from its combination of the legal fiction of free markets with the real existence of monopoly power.

The EU unites the developing economies of eastern and southern Europe with the advanced monopolies of Germany, France and Britain.

British and British-based US banks have seized control of finance, German monopolies of industrial production and the French giants have mopped up utilities.

This is the real origin of the financial imbalances which now threaten the EU.

The right often talk about wanting a trading union, but not a political union. The naivety of this argument should be plain for all to see during the current economic crisis.

Simply put, the EU is a playground for big business. It is not the European Parliament that takes away the national sovereignty of member states, it is the free trade element that allows monopoly capital to run rough-shod over the rights of working people within those member states.

South West TUC leads delegation of low paid workers

Taken from http://www.tuc.org.uk/economy/tuc-20143-f0.cfm?regional=8

Low paid workers will next week tell members of the Low Pay Commission visiting Cornwall they must be bolder and raise the National Minimum Wage (NMW).

The Low Pay Commission is an independent body set up to advise the government on the impact of the NMW and next week two commissioners are in Cornwall.

The South West TUC is leading a delegation of low paid workers from around Cornwall to meeting the Commission. It will include low paid workers from the tourist industry, agency workers, care assistants, young worker representatives and migrant support workers. They will tell the Commission the county is one of the most expensive places to live in Britain, with the average annual earnings sitting at £20,997 (compared to £25,277 in England) and the average house costing more than nine times that (£191,000), compared to seven times the average annual wage in England (£164,800).

Britain and Poverty: The Embedded Issue of Our Society

It is apparent that with government cuts to the public sector and cuts to the welfare state, poverty is going to become even worse. According to UNICEF statistical findings on child poverty, the UK, USA and Mexico have the worst levels of relative child poverty, the UK hitting the 19.8% mark and in terms of absolute child poverty 29.1% - we fall behind countries such as the USA and Australia in terms of absolute poverty.

A recent study by the Institute of Fiscal Studies has found that absolute child poverty is to increase to 3.1 million and 3.3 million living in relative poverty by 2020, combined this amounts to 6.4 million children living in some kind of poverty. Also the study highlights the issues for the working class claiming 13.7 million living in both relative and absolute poverty by 2020.

Quantitative what? Inflation and monetary policy

Capitalism is an inherently unstable system. It is cyclical in nature. Precariously balanced between inflation and deflation, boom and bust, growth and depression.

Inflation

Inflation is commonly portrayed as a “rise in the cost of living”. It is measured by the government in two ways: the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Retail Price Index (RPI). These measures track the prices of commodities.

On one level, inflation is the result of supply and demand. Recent fires in Russia have led the Russian government to stop exporting grain. This shortage of grain will increase the value of grain in world markets, causing the price, and that of other products such as bread, to be inflated. Conversely, were there to be an increase in the supply of grain, its value would fall, and the price would be deflated.

But this supply and demand can only partially account for inflation and deflation. Were grain to be as common as grains of sand, it would not become worthless. There is still labour invested in the sowing and harvesting of grain, still labour invested in the grinding of grain into flour, and the baking of flour into bread. The absolute value of an item is determined by the labour power invested in its production.

However, with industrialisation, the amount of labour needed to make bread has fallen. Whereas in the past, bakers would spend ten minutes kneading dough to make a single loaf of bread, now vast machines can knead hundreds of loaves of bread at once. Bread can be made without being touched by a human hand. This increase in the supply of bread will at first make the capitalist more money – he has more bread to sell. But as the market becomes flooded with mechanical bread its value will fall, its price is deflated. We then have very cheap bread, but less people employed to make it, and less people employed means a reduction in the ability of our workers to buy the commodities!

So what else can determine the changing price of a commodity?

Dispelling the myth: Innate Human Selfishness

Humans have for years claimed that for reasons of ‘selfishness’, Communism could never work. It seems to be at the core of any argument against Marx’s work. However, if you were to trace back the origins of this argument you will find that in fact this idea is nothing but western propaganda. It is true that humans have a survivalist instinct, but this survivalist instinct does not overt the means of greed and selfishness. Surviving has forever been intertwined within a community or a family. For instance: primitive man would forage and hunt in groups, fish work in shoals, apes live and work in collections, lions live in prides etc. In fact Marx argued that in the Ancient stage of society reflected a ‘primitive type of communism’ where there was shared division of labour and the modes of production were shared.

Global Development: Aid - the myth of western support

Development Aid has to be one of the most misconceived and ill composed terms. We believe aid to be a donation to an individual or collective that will help support their needs. However development aid is in fact a term coined by Western enthusiasts to try and dampen the disgusting truth, that is aid (in the western context) is in fact a loan that carries an unfixed interest.

To put into example the truth of aid we need not look any further than the DFID (The Department of International Development), in a report DFID made it clear of their intentions that aid was going to be directed into the most important areas of developing countries. Of course by important they mean ‘areas that suit capitalist interest’. Furthermore they stressed the matter of D.R of Congo’s failure to facilitate a comparable amount of paved roads to Britain, according to the DFID the need to construct more paved roads lies in the interest of the poor and the vulnerable of the sub-Saharan countries. First and foremost roads cannot allow greater geographical or social mobility if the civilians cannot afford cars and if there is no public transport to allow it (which in the D.R.C there isn’t just as many other sub-Saharan countries). Secondly the word ‘paved’ really stands out to me, why is it that to alleviate the poverty of a country they must have paved roads? Apparently this creation of paved roads will benefit the economy, whatever way you look at it; it will ultimately benefit the capitalist world and in fact under develop the periphery countries as the GDP mostly spent on paying back the debt amounted from ‘Aid’.

South West News and Views

A new edition of News and Views has just been released with all of the latest news from the South West District. It includes all of the details of the Speaking Tour in Exeter, Somerset, Dorset and Bristol

In to action against the ConDems Get involved - come and join us! Speaking Tour: South West dates announced The nationwide CP speaking tour is to make four stops in the South West of England [see Events right]. Launching the new edition of Britain's Road to Socialism, the open public meetings will discuss why Britain needs socialism more than ever.  As well as promoting the new edition of the party programme, the meetings coincide with the launch of a new district website and the unveiling of a new district banner and a growing membership and increasing branch activity across the region. New Website The South West of England and Cornwall District of the CPB is pleased to announce the launch of its new website. For details of events in the region and information on the party's local campaigns, visit and bookmark.  National Speaking Tour The national speaking tour is making four stops in the South West. For your nearest location go here.   Celebrating the Bolshevik Revolution A celebration and meal in Taunton on November the 12th. With Guest speaker Jean Turner, Honorary Secretary of the Society for Co-operation in Russian & Soviet Studies. Visit the event section for details  North Devon film night North Devon are showing the film “Sylvia Pankhurst - Everything is Possible” on the 22nd of November, with guest speaker Mary Davis. Go here for details.   Facebook CP supporters group Follow on Twitter Forward to a Friend Events Visit our site for full listings Dorset Location: Dorchester Date: Saturday 15th October – 12:30 start Address: Colliton Club, Colliton Park, Dorchester, DT1 1XJ Speakers: Robert Griffiths – CPB General Secretary Paul Kimber – Councillor, Weymouth & Portland Borough Council Tim Nicholls – Dorset Socialists Carl Wainwright –  Dorset CPB Branch Secretary. Devon Location: Exeter Date: Monday 17th October – 19:30 start Address: Exeter Phoenix Centre Black Box Studio, Gandy Street, Exeter, EX4 3LS Speakers: Robert Griffiths – CPB General Secretary Liz Payne – CPB National Women's Organiser and South West District Chair Somerset Location: Bridgwater. Date: Monday 24th October –  19:00 for 19:30 start Address: Unity House, Dampiet Street, Bridgwater, TA6 3LZ Speaker: Robert Griffiths – CPB General Secretary Bristol Location: Bristol Date: Monday 28th November – 19:15 start Address: YHA Building, 14 Narrow Quay, Bristol, BS1 4QA Speakers: Robert Griffiths – CPB General Secretary Local speakers TBA Shop Visit our site for all the latest items

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YCL News

New YCL newsletter

Open publication - Free publishing - More communism

New Education Section Launched

Vist www.southwestcommunists.org.uk/education for a new section of the southwest website. Includes classic Marxist texts and free downloads from the CPB.

Western Media - Unfair and Untrue

A western country prides itself around its privately owned media enterprises, it’s ‘freedom of speech’ and sees other countries practising state owned media as ‘un-democratic’ or ‘having no freedom’ - this can be no further from the truth.

Our freedom of speech is in fact the words of a corrupt business man whose enterprises intend to win over and manipulate public opinion. For example, in the 1980’s the Daily Mail reported an increase in black stabbings in order to try and get the peoples' backing for changes to our immigration control. The Sun 2002-onwards supported all efforts of the US and UK government in their operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. 2011 London riots are passed off as a result of ‘a sick pocket of our society’ rather than investigating the real issue of social and material deprivation and absolute poverty.

South West Speaking Tour

Follow the link below for all the latest news on the nationwide speaking tour when it comes to the south west of England and Cornwall

United We Stand

The People's Charter - Not just an anti-cuts campaign

Recently the People's Charter was described to me as "the CPB's anti-cuts campaign".

The People's Charter is not an anti-cuts movement. Yes, if adopted, it would mean that none of the government's cuts would be enacted. But more than that, it is a document for the future. It is a set of policies and demands that lay the groundwork for the building of socialism in this country.

As for the CPB reference, I hand over to John Hendy QC

Taken from the Morning Star 17/05/2011

Planned Economy: Practicality and approach

Over 100 years ago, Western countries moved from traditional economics to laissez faire economics. They moved from a Feudal System into the Modern Capitalist System. The capitalist system promotes free trade, fiscal policy, floating exchange rates and privatisation of state enterprise.

The Working class are subjected to low wages and poor working conditions being maintained because “…the costs of production of labour consist of precisely the quantity of means of subsistence necessary to enable the worker to continue working, and to prevent the working class from dying out” Friederich Engels.  Privatisation of state enterprise including: the selling off of the transport sector meaning mass redundancies and decline to the extent of transport network, the selling off of lifeline services such as the NHS to private corporation and the list goes on. The privatisation of these services will mean the poor and the vulnerable will suffer the cost of paying for treatment and the destruction of their social liberty and mobility.

Launch

The South West Young Communist League blog is now officially active! You can follow us on twitter @SWYCL and visit out our main site - www.southwestcommunists.org.uk/ycl