News and Analysis

Socialist Party statement Not just booted out. The Tories have been crushed. The electorate has punished them for fourteen years of austerity, attacks on the working class, lies and corruption. Less than seven million people went out and voted for the Tory Party, its lowest vote in a century. Ten cabinet ministers and 250 Tory MPs have lost their seats, ...

By Alec Thraves Swansea Socialist Party and Swansea Trades Council Unite has suspended the all-out strike action it was due to start from Monday 8 July, in response to the proposed jobs slaughter by Tata Steel, after a meeting of its reps. This action has forced senior management back to the negotiating table. The fact that, until a few days ...

By Alec Thraves, Swansea Socialist Party and Swansea Trades Council Update 15.45 July 1st This article was posted before Unite’s suspension of its all-out strike action that was due to start next Monday, which has forced talks with the company. We will post further updates. 09.30 July 1st: At the time of writing, Unite members in Port Talbot and Llanwern steelworks are ...

By Alec Thraves (Swansea Socialist Party and Swansea Trades Council) In a bold and decisive escalation of industrial action, Unite the union has announcedthe beginning of indefinite strike action at Tata’s Port Talbot and Llanwern plantsfrom July 8th.This move will be welcomed by many steelworkers, community campaigners and thewider trade union movement who are determined to retain primary steel production,secure ...

By Gareth Bromhall (Secretary Swansea Trades Council and socialist parliamentary candidate for Swansea West) Welsh Labour leader Vaughan Gething, who took up the position just three months ago, lost a vote of no confidence after two Labour Members of the Senedd (the Welsh Parliament), both critics of his leadership, were absent. At the centre of the controversy is a £200,000 ...

Ele Jane, Cardiff East Socialist Party Between 3 and 4 June, 19 protesters were arrested in Cardiff and Swansea in a brutal escalation of police response to the Palestine movement. A video shows eight police officers surrounding a disabled activist, and forcing his head down, before escorting him away. An emergency demonstration was called in response outside Cardiff Bay police ...

By Alec Thraves, Swansea Socialist Party and Swansea Trades Council Tata’s threat to close down its UK steel operations must be met with united strike action from all of the steel unions! Over the weekend, Rajesh Nair, Tata steel CEO, has responded to Unite’s planned work to rule and overtime ban, due to start on June18th, with a threatening letter ...

Build a socialist election challenge Fourteen years of Tory government look set to come to an end on 4 July, 2024. Fourteen years of the super-rich raking in £billions, while the rest of us suffer falling living standards and crumbling public services. No wonder millions will be rejoicing to see the back of Sunak and his cronies. Unfortunately, however, a ...

By Alec Thraves, delegate from Swansea Trades Council With a rebranding its name, on the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the Wales TradesUnion Congress (TUC), the 2024 biennial congress of ‘TUC Cymru’ in Llandudno was arefreshing and largely combative event, which took up the key issues facing the trade unionmovement in Wales.A big factor in this changed mood, compared ...

By James Ivens Student fury against the Israeli state onslaught in Gaza is crying out from encampments at dozens of unis. Socialist Students and the Socialist Party members are there in support – camping in some occupations, organising solidarity actions for others, and discussing among students and workers how this movement can win. It’s not good enough that vice-chancellors – ...