Britain
UK MPs submit early day motion on Assange
By Thomas Scripps, 18 July 2020
The signatories have all either hitherto kept a criminal silence over Assange’s persecution, or, in the case of Corbyn, McDonnell, Abbott and Long-Bailey, found their voice only after losing leading positions in the Labour Party.
Outbreak of COVID-19 at Pretty Little Thing distribution centre in Sheffield, UK
By Tony Robson, 17 July 2020
The outbreak among the 1,000 plus workforce demonstrates that the highly exploitative and unsafe practices of the Boohoo Group extend across the supply and distribution network.
UK Royal household workers threatened with job losses
By Charles Hixson, 17 July 2020
The July 7 announcement, impacting 650 workers, followed reports of the crisis facing the royal budget.
UK excluding Huawei from 5G network
By Thomas Scripps, 16 July 2020
US President Donald Trump was quick to boast of his administration’s responsibility for the UK’s volte face.
“We’re just cannon fodder. This is a policy about economics not safety.”
Teachers, educators and parents speak out against UK September school reopening
By our reporters, 16 July 2020
The Johnson government plans to fully reopen schools nationally in September despite the heightened risks from COVID-19 transmission.
Transport for London downplayed COVID-19 dangers to bus, rail and tube workers in critical early months
By Laura Tiernan, 16 July 2020
New documents reveal that TfL focused on operational efficiency at the expense of workers’ lives.
Quarter of a million threatened with homelessness by UK government’s lifting of evictions ban
By Dennis Moore, 16 July 2020
Almost 230,000 tenants across England have fallen behind with rent payments since the start of the pandemic.
Academy of Medical Sciences warns 251,000 more people could die of COVID-19 in Britain
By Robert Stevens, 15 July 2020
The modelling is based on deaths in hospitals alone and not in care homes and other settings.
Large coronavirus outbreak at Rook Row Farm in Britain
By Thomas Scripps, 15 July 2020
This is the latest, and one of the largest, workplace outbreaks in the UK since the ending of the national lockdown by the Johnson government.
Jennifer Jones speaks on UK Boycott Return To Unsafe Schools campaign
By Tom Pearce, 15 July 2020
The Facebook site of the group has created a map of school closures due to outbreaks, which is a powerful source of information for parents.
COVID-19 outbreaks escalate across England
By Thomas Scripps, 14 July 2020
Workers have been raising safety concerns for months, but have been smothered by the continued inaction of government agencies and local politicians.
Pandemic and Tory government measures having brutal impact on London’s disadvantaged young people
By Harvey Thompson and Charlotte Salthill, 14 July 2020
The report notes, “Families who were already enduring hard, challenging lives have had to survive lockdown in the most appalling circumstances.”
Bereaved family members march on Downing Street to demand UK COVID-19 inquiry
By Robert Stevens, 13 July 2020
Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK have set up a petition calling for an “immediate inquiry” that has been signed by over 154,000 people.
Restricted access to Grenfell inquiry for survivors and bereaved
By Alice Summers, 11 July 2020
The inquiry restarted after a three-month delay amid widespread outrage from survivors and the bereaved over further proposed delays.
Chancellor Sunak announces end of UK jobs furlough and rolls out cheap labour scheme
By Robert Stevens, 10 July 2020
Sunak’s declaration that “we can’t protect every job” is the understatement of the century. Companies are announcing thousands of redundancies every day amid warnings of unemployment reaching 5 million by next year.
After police killing of Badreddin Abadlla Adam
More evidence of ill-treatment of asylum seekers in Glasgow hotels
By Steve James, 9 July 2020
Two weeks after the police killing of 28-year-old Sudanese man Badreddin Abadlla Adam, asylum seekers in Glasgow continue to face appalling conditions.
British government’s token arts rescue package: A “back-to-work” agenda amid an ongoing catastrophe
By Paul Bond, 9 July 2020
The limited financial assistance provided is based on the Johnson government’s claim that the pandemic is on the wane and that theatre, dance and music venues will soon be able to get back to relying on revenue from the paying public.
UK: Coronavirus exposes Leicester’s sweatshops and government hypocrisy
By Thomas Scripps, 8 July 2020
Government ministers have struck a pose of outrage at a situation they have ignored for years and want to replicate across the country.
UK meat processing factories involved in COVID-19 outbreak back up and running
By Tony Robson, 8 July 2020
Local authorities and the trade unions have worked to conceal the criminality of the corporations so as not interfere with the premature re-opening of the economy.
UK set to ban Huawei from 5G network
By Nick Beams, 8 July 2020
The key factor in the decision was the move by the Trump administration in May to ban the use of US software in Huawei’s operating systems.
Nearly 200,000 jobs lost in the UK amid pandemic
By Robert Stevens, 7 July 2020
Workers have been laid off particularly heavily in the retail, travel, hospitality, and manufacturing sectors.
British government reimposes welfare benefits sanctions as pandemic continues and unemployment rockets
By Simon Whelan, 6 July 2020
By June, the number of job center claimants had risen by 126 percent since the start of the pandemic, to 2.8 million.
UK pubs reopen in “Super Saturday”: A criminal act
By Thomas Scripps, 4 July 2020
The inevitable deadly consequences of the Johnson government’s latest move will be fully revealed in the weeks and months to come.
Tories resurrect cynical “Clap for Carers” on 72nd anniversary of the NHS
By Rory Woods, 4 July 2020
Sunday’s event insults the memory of hundreds of health and social care workers who died of COVID-19 trying to save the lives of others.
British government ramps up campaign against China
By Jean Shaoul, 3 July 2020
The Tories’ aim is to open another front in US imperialism’s economic, diplomatic, and military-strategic offensive that threatens military war against the world’s second largest economy.
UK government’s guidance on school reopening: Back to “normal” from September
By Tania Kent, 3 July 2020
There will be no social distancing, no personal protection for children or staff and no school closures if children or staff record positively for COVID-19.
Strike against Tower Hamlets Labour council’s “fire and rehire” of 4,000 employees
By Alice Summers, 3 July 2020
Facing massive budget shortfalls, the Labour-run London borough plans to lay off 4,000 workers before rehiring them on significantly worse pay and conditions.
Unite offers support for 10 percent job losses at British Airways, EasyJet, Ryanair
By Laura Tiernan, 2 July 2020
The scale of the ongoing jobs massacre was underscored by EasyJet’s announcement Tuesday that 1,900 pilots, cabin crew and ground staff will be made redundant, with Airbus announcing 12,300 job cuts worldwide by Summer 2021, including 1,700 in the UK.
Johnson pledges “New Deal” for UK as he prepares savage attack on workers
By Chris Marsden, 2 July 2020
Johnson is prime minister of a declining imperialist power, dominated politically, economically, and socially by a financial oligarchy whose sole concern is that the flood of wealth into its coffers continues.
Lockdown in Leicester amid surge in infections throughout UK
By Robert Stevens, 1 July 2020
Outbreaks at food factories, garment plants and schools attest to the criminality of Johnson government as it ditches a national lockdown.
COVID-19 increase at UK’s 2 Sisters, Rowan and Kober meat processing factories
By Tony Robson, 1 July 2020
Inadequate and unsafe forms of transport, poor working conditions, and rundown accommodation are class issues bound up with the wealth extraction demanded by capitalism.
New US indictment of Julian Assange not served in UK courts
By Thomas Scripps, 30 June 2020
In yet another Kafkaesque turn, UK legal proceedings are continuing on the basis of an indictment which has been replaced and therefore has no legal force in the US.
Broader reopening of UK schools leads to spread of COVID-19 infections
By Tania Kent and Tim Pearce, 30 June 2020
Recent outbreaks in schools almost doubled to 44 in one week—16 more than were recorded at hospitals
“It’s eugenics by the back door”
UK disability campaigner Doug Paulley speaks on coronavirus pandemic
By Alice Summers, 30 June 2020
Doug has recently been involved in legal action opposing the use of “scoring” systems to deny ventilator treatment to the sick, disabled and elderly.
Royal Mail workers in the UK face jobs massacre
By Paul Lee, 30 June 2020
Two thousand management job cuts will be followed by at least 20,000 redundancies from the remaining workforce.
Sudanese asylum seeker shot dead in Glasgow
By Steve James, 29 June 2020
The tragedy is the consequence of the brutal treatment handed out to asylum seekers in the city and throughout the UK.
UK government ends lockdown: Feigned official outrage over beaches, raves, and football celebrations
By Laura Tiernan, 29 June 2020
Neither Johnson’s glib and deceitful comments, nor the filthy headlines of the press can conceal their role as the real authors of these dangerous scenes.
Onslaught on jobs and conditions at British Telecom
By Barry Mason and Robert Stevens, 29 June 2020
Slashing offices from 300 to 30 comes on top of proposals to cut BT's 100,000-strong workforce by around 13,000.
WHO warns of “very significant” coronavirus resurgence in Europe
By Will Morrow, 27 June 2020
The resurgence is driven by governments’ reopening policy, whose aim is the full resumption of corporate profit-making, regardless of the threat to workers.
British government suppressed daily pandemic death toll by thousands
By Simon Whelan, 27 June 2020
The government suppressed the extent of COVID-19 fatalities because its policies created the conditions for tens of thousands of needless deaths.
British Airways workers denounce company “offer” to slash pay and conditions
By John Newham and Laura Tiernan, 27 June 2020
BA workers must break free of the corporatist grip of the unions and fight for rank-and-file committees to organise joint action with airline workers across the globe.
UK government refuses support to unemployed migrant workers facing destitution during pandemic
By Harvey Singh, 27 June 2020
Although exact figures are difficult to obtain, it is estimated that up to 250,000 children could directly be threatened with poverty due to the “no recourse to public funds” status of their parents.
UK Labour leader Keir Starmer uses bogus anti-Semitism accusation to sack Rebecca Long-Bailey
By Robert Stevens, 27 June 2020
The move demonstrates that no criticisms of the Israeli government will be allowed in the Labour Party and that Starmer will deal decisively with what remains of the Corbynites.
The Salisbury Poisonings: Skripal drama framed as anti-Russian propaganda
By Thomas Scripps, 27 June 2020
The BBC’s three-part The Salisbury Poisonings uses drama as state propaganda and is designed to reignite the Skripal affair that dominated UK politics in 2018.
Five cruise ships detained by UK revealing atrocious conditions of seafarers
By Paul Bond, 26 June 2020
Globally there have been numerous suicides reported among crew members stranded at sea.
Parliamentary report exposes widespread fire-safety failings three years on from Grenfell Tower inferno
By Alice Summers, 26 June 2020
Of the 2,000 high-rise buildings still coated in highly flammable materials, 300 are clad with the Aluminium Composite Material (ACM) panels used on Grenfell Tower.
US indictment of Assange based on testimony of FBI assets, convicted child molester
By Oscar Grenfell, 25 June 2020
The indictment paints a picture of US operatives pouring through decade-old tabloid gossip and dredging up the most unsavoury creatures of their own intelligence agencies to fling mud at Assange.
Johnson announces end of UK’s lockdown
By Robert Stevens, 25 June 2020
The bulk of the UK economy, barring “close proximity” venues such as nightclubs, soft-play areas, indoor gyms, swimming pools and spas, will reopen July 4. All schools will reopen in September.
London bus drivers’ lives threatened by union collusion on inadequate COVID-19 measures
By Laura Tiernan, 25 June 2020
The Unite union is playing a crucial role for the government and Transport for London in policing the back-to-work drive and concealing the immense dangers facing bus and transport workers.
Unite union facilitates cover-up of COVID-19 outbreak in UK meat processing plants
By Tony Robson, 25 June 2020
Meat processing factories across the world have become a breeding ground for the virus, and working in them is a potential death sentence.
Boris Johnson reinforces imperialist agenda of Britain’s overseas aid
By Jean Shaoul, 24 June 2020
The Department for International Development, which disperses Britain’s £15.2 billion aid budget, is to be subsumed under the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Johnson used pandemic to step up privatisation of UK public sector
By Margot Miller, 24 June 2020
The corporate raid underscores the cynicism of government ministers clapping frontline workers and hailing NHS workers as “heroes.”
All schools in England to open in September
By Tom Pearce, 24 June 2020
The government’s decision to return to the full opening of schools has been taken without any systematic review of the impact of the wider reopening of the economy.
Reading terror suspect fought in US-British proxy war to overthrow Libya’s Gaddafi
By Robert Stevens, 23 June 2020
Saadallah and his family have connections to the British-based group of Libyans who were opposed to the rule of the country’s then-leader, Colonel Gaddafi.
Walkout by sorting office workers at Barnsley Royal Mail after coronavirus outbreak
By Thomas Scripps, 23 June 2020
Royal Mail workers at the central post sorting office in Barnsley, England walked out yesterday after colleagues tested positive for coronavirus.
UK students in precarious situation during the pandemic
By Ioan Petrescu, 23 June 2020
An online petition demanding the reimbursement of all this year’s fee due to the pandemic has gathered 345,731 signatures as of the time of writing. Another one, that only asks for refunds for the third semester, has 109,282 signatures.
Suspected assailant in Reading terrorist attack was known to UK intelligence agencies
By Robert Stevens, 22 June 2020
If the assailant is Saadallah, it would be the second terrorist attack carried out in Britain by a Libyan national—who was known to UK intelligence agencies—in the space of three years.
Corporations continue to slash workforces in Britain
By Barry Mason, 22 June 2020
Employers are using every opportunity to exploit the pandemic crisis and further slash costs as they shed thousands of workers.
Julian Assange’s fiancé calls on the Australian government to secure his freedom
By Oscar Grenfell, 22 June 2020
The “60 Minutes” program was the first substantive examination of Assange’s plight by the Australian media since the coronavirus pandemic began.
Around 250 workers infected with COVID-19 in three UK food processing plants
By Robert Stevens, 20 June 2020
The outbreaks underscore the criminality of the government’s decision to enforce a mass return to work and the lack of basic work safety in plants that have been operating during the pandemic.
OECD warns of deep recession in Britain and Europe due to pandemic
By Steve James, 20 June 2020
The OECD envisages no “return to normal” in the world economy, predicting instead mass unemployment and instability.
Doctors head legal challenge to UK government on health care deaths and PPE
By Rory Woods, 20 June 2020
At least 181 health workers and 131 social care workers have died while working on the frontline.
Johnson government mounts offensive against mass opposition to police violence and racism
By Thomas Scripps, 20 June 2020
Home Secretary Priti Patel is linked with a Facebook group providing a platform for the far-right thugs who attacked Black Lives Matter protesters.
British Airways workers in limbo as deadline for mass redundancies passes
By Alice Summers and John Newham, 19 June 2020
One BA worker told the WSWS, “I’ve been with BA for 25 years and was earning more than this new contract in 1996!”
Johnson government reneges on waiving health surcharges on NHS workers from overseas
By Tony Robson, 19 June 2020
What is being demanded by migrant NHS workers is not preferential treatment, but rights that should be extended to all overseas workers.
UK nurses from overseas demand permanent residence after battling COVID-19
By our reporter, 19 June 2020
The SEP was contacted by an overseas nurse from the south of England, urging support for a petition demanding permanent residence for non-EU National Health Service migrant workers.
COVID-19 killing the working class in Britain at more than twice the rate of the wealthiest
By Simon Whelan, 18 June 2020
The pandemic is exacerbating the effects of already growing socioeconomic and urban inequalities.
UK: Marcus Rashford campaign forces Johnson government climbdown over summer free school meals
By Tania Kent and Harvey Thompson, 18 June 2020
The announcement followed a public campaign by 22-year-old Manchester United and England footballer Marcus Rashford.
UK: 600,000 workers already kicked off payrolls during COVID-19 lockdown
By Robert Stevens, 17 June 2020
Companies are implementing long-planned restructuring operations with mass layoffs, a halt to hiring, and pay cuts the order of the day.
UK: Pandemic produces surge in household debt, accelerates child poverty
By Barry Mason, 16 June 2020
Tens of thousands of jobs have already gone, and job losses are expected to mount as companies take advantage of the situation to impose long-term restructuring plans.
UK: Johnson opens the economy and guarantees fresh COVID-19 outbreak
By Thomas Scripps, 16 June 2020
Scientists warn that easing the lockdown under current conditions is likely to lead to a resurgence of coronavirus, endangering lives and throwing away the sacrifices made by workers and their families
UK: Legal action highlights social-Darwinist policies against the disabled during COVID-19 pandemic
By Alice Summers, 16 June 2020
Numerous medical guidance documents published during the pandemic suggest that coronavirus patients can be denied or deprioritised for medical care solely on the basis of their age or existing mental or physical disabilities.
“This government has decided that disabled people are better off dead”
UK disability campaigners speak out on coronavirus pandemic
By Alice Summers, 16 June 2020
The WSWS spoke to disability rights campaigners last weekend about the impact of coronavirus pandemic and the Johnson government’s “herd immunity” policy on the lives of disabled people.
UK government encourages fascist provocation to justify police crackdown
By Thomas Scripps, 15 June 2020
The stage has been set for a law-and-order campaign, directed against anti-police violence protests involving hundreds of thousands of people.
Three years since the Grenfell fire: Collaboration with Grenfell Tower Inquiry must end!
By Robert Stevens, 15 June 2020
Hundreds of thousands of people still go to bed every night in unsafe buildings, with thousands in the “high-risk” category.
UK Health and Safety Executive provides cover for Johnson government’s back-to-work drive
By Tony Robson, 13 June 2020
The Health and Safety Executive has not carried out any inspections of workplaces since March to reduce risks to its own staff.
Scottish government moves to end lockdown as COVID-19 deaths hit 4,000
By Stephen Alexander, 13 June 2020
Scotland has the third worst coronavirus death rate in the world.
Service Prosecuting Authority drops all but one investigation into British war crimes in Iraq
By Jean Shaoul, 13 June 2020
The British government is serving notice that it has no intention of honouring domestic or international law outlawing abuse, torture and murder by its military and security forces.
UK: Police refer decision not to prosecute over death of Belly Mujinga to Crown Prosecution Service
By Michael Barnes, 12 June 2020
No trust can be placed in the Crown Prosecution Service. Justice depends on the independent intervention of the working class.
Report finds European lockdowns saved millions of lives, ending it threatens millions
By Thomas Scripps, 11 June 2020
The report is an indictment of governments’ initial delays in implementing public health measures and a warning of the terrible consequences of the return to business as usual.
Homeless thrown back onto the streets as UK lockdown ends
By Dennis Moore, 11 June 2020
The Tories feel free to abandon the pose of concern for the fate of the homeless and dump then back where they came from.
Transport for London refuses FOI requests into bus and transport COVID-19 deaths
By Laura Tiernan, 11 June 2020
The involvement of Deputy Mayor of London for Transport Heidi Alexander is proof of a cover-up reaching into the office of Labour’s Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan.
US Postal Service covers up COVID-19 death toll in New York City
By Tom Carter and Shuvu Batta, 10 June 2020
“There are people that have been gone for weeks, and people who have been gone who never came back.”
UK: Johnson government demands police repression of George Floyd protests
By Robert Stevens, 10 June 2020
Tory MPs as well as Labourites denounced “thuggery” and “violent” protesters, focusing on the tearing down of the statue of a Bristol slave trader Edward Colston.
UK: Setback for Johnson’s school reopening plan due to popular opposition
By Tania Kent, 10 June 2020
The temporary retreat is a credit to the millions of parents and educators who opposed the government and acted in defiance of the trade unions.
UK protesters speak on George Floyd demonstrations
By our reporters, 9 June 2020
“America claims to be the ‘land of the free,’ but protesters are being denied their First Amendment rights”
Johnson government falls in behind Washington’s economic war with China
By Jean Shaoul, 9 June 2020
The “Get Brexit Done/Global Britain” perspective has been exposed as a chimera.
UK: Postal workers at Bridgewater walk out as six COVID-19 cases confirmed at Wellingborough
By Paul Lee, 9 June 2020
Workers have faced threats of disciplinary action such as “wilful delay of the mail,” which can lead to instant dismissal.
UK: Virus infection rate increases as Johnson government continues ending lockdown
By Robert Stevens, 9 June 2020
Since imposing a lockdown on March 23, Johnson and government ministers have proclaimed keeping the “R” rate below 1 as the precondition for ending the lockdown. But ending the lockdown continues.
Tens of thousands continue UK protests against racism and police brutality
By Robert Stevens, 8 June 2020
More than 100,000 people across Britain continued to protest the death of George Floyd over the weekend.
The Malthusian underpinnings of Boris Johnson’s “herd immunity” strategy
By Thomas Scripps, 8 June 2020
Today the toll of the pandemic is viewed by leading figures in the ruling elite as a supposedly natural “check” on sections of the population considered a drain on profits.
UK: After the clapping stops—The way forward for NHS workers
By Rory Woods and Chris Marsden, 6 June 2020
Things came to a head last week because it has become impossible for the government to maintain the charade of unity behind “our carers.”
Collaborations with Grenfell Tower Inquiry must end after corporate witnesses granted legal immunity
By Alice Summers, 6 June 2020
The attorney general announced that any statements given to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry by companies cannot be used as evidence against them in a future prosecution.
UK: Prime Minister’s Questions reveals Labour’s complicity in Tory back-to-school campaign
By Thomas Scripps, 6 June 2020
Every capitalist party in the world is working on behalf of the corporations to impose a reckless return to “the new normal.”
Opposition builds to re-opening of UK schools
By Tania Kent, 5 June 2020
In response to a Zoom webinar held by the National Education Union on Wednesday—two days after the re-opening of schools—many educators on Facebook expressed hostility to the inaction of the union.
London bus drivers face COVID-19 disaster: Build rank-and-file safety committees!
By Laura Tiernan, 5 June 2020
Unite has signed off on the Johnson government’s COVID-19 transport plan despite the serious and imminent danger it poses to drivers and the travelling public.
Thousands protest in London against police killing of George Floyd
By Robert Stevens, 4 June 2020
Protests were marked by their multi-racial character, with attendees comments confirming that what is taking place in the US is a common experience facing millions across the globe.
Nearly 65,000 COVID-19 deaths in UK according to Financial Times
By Barry Mason, 4 June 2020
The FT highlighted the fact that in absolute terms the number of excess deaths in the UK is the highest in Europe, and internationally is only second to the US.
Survey exposes COVID-19 dangers facing call centre workers
By Joe Mount, 4 June 2020
Several call centre workers have lost their lives to COVID-19, with thousands in fear that their health and safety is being jeopardised.
Woman pinned down by police officers in London: “I can’t breathe”
By Thomas Scripps, 3 June 2020
Police violence is directed against the working class, particularly its poorest sections, and falls disproportionately on black communities.
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