February 2021 | Page 2 of 3 |

Nuclear arms: Is ‘New START’ hope for peace?

February 18, 2021 Robert Bechert, CWI

The Biden administration’s January 26 joint agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin to sign ‘New START’, a five-year extension to the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, was greeted with some relief. After the US withdrawal from […]

Scotland: Independence, socialism and tasks facing the ‘pro-indy’ Left

February 17, 2021 Matt Dobson, Socialist Party Scotland (CWI)

The impending explosive struggle over the right to indyref2 [a second referendum on independence for Scotland] is dominating the outlook of all classes and political tendencies in society. There are widening divisions, both inside the […]

Nigeria: “The police subjected us to torture while in custody”

February 16, 2021 Eyewitness report by Moshood Oshunfurewa, arrested Democratic Socialist Movement (CWI) branch organiser

A peaceful protest called by activists over the weekend, Saturday 13 February 2021, to protest the decision to reopen Lekki tollgate to business was openly and brutally repressed. This new repression following widespread protest against […]

Sri Lanka: On the edge of catastrophe

February 15, 2021 Prasad Welikumbura, United Socialist Party, Sri Lanka (CWI)

Since the beginning of last year, the whole world suffered from the Covid-19 crisis. Though developed capitalist countries seem to ‘manage’ the situation – yet by no means all of them – and are able […]

Nigeria: Violent police clampdown against peaceful protest over ‘Lekki shootings’

February 13, 2021 DSM Reporters, Lagos

A violent clampdown took place against protesters on Saturday 13 February 2021 as they were assembling to peacefully protest the decision of the Lagos State Judicial panel to reopen the tollgate where scores of protesters […]

A missed opportunity: An insider’s account of Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership of the Labour Party

February 13, 2021 Peter Taaffe (first published in Socialism Today, issue 245, February 2021)

This Land – The Story of a Movement, by Owen Jones, is an important account of the rise and fall of Jeremy Corbyn, his army of supporters, and his colossal effect on the labour movement. […]

Grenfell Tower fire disaster: Are we any closer to justice?

February 12, 2021 Paul Kershaw, Unite union, Housing Workers’ Chair

The government’s inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire disaster in London, on June 2017, in which 72 people died, has resumed. The inquiry has been agonising for the survivors and bereaved. Fire safety problems are […]

Black Workers’ Charter: A programme to fight racism

February 12, 2021 Socialist Party (England & Wales) Black & Asian group members

The black and Asian group of the Socialist Party (CWI England & Wales) is producing a Black Workers’ Charter to start a discussion about the demands needed to fight for the rights of black and […]

ANC factional struggle exposes state and ‘dirty tricks’ campaign against workers’ movement

February 11, 2021 Shaun Arendse, Marxist Workers Party (CWI South Africa)

The ANC presidency of Jacob Zuma (2009-2018) saw already widespread corruption reach unprecedented new heights in South Africa. The media coined the term “state capture” to describe Zuma’s growing brazenness in appointing ministers and other […]

Britain: Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) conference prepares for local elections

February 10, 2021 Socialist Party (CWI England & Wales) reporters

Over 550 attended the online conference of the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) on 7 February in preparation for the local elections in May. Dave Nellist, TUSC national spokesperson, was in the chair. He […]