Them & Us

Seasons' greetings

Christmas, we're told, is a time for giving and for families. And it appears to be Christmas all year for MPs' spouses and relatives who were paid a total Ł3.7 million from the public purse as office staff last year!

Pay cut

It's not only low paid workers being hit by another year's pay freeze ie cut, spare a thought for the chief executive of Easy Jet, Carolyn McCall. She only pocketed Ł7.7 million in pay and bonuses this year, down from Ł7.8 million in 2013.

Wealth gap growing

Income inequality in the OECD countries (including Britain and the USA) is at its highest level for 50 years. The average income of the richest 10% of the population is about nine times that of the poorest 10%, up from seven times 25 years ago.

The widening wealth gap between rich and poor is not only a social blight but, as the OECD report concludes, is actually restricting economic development.

Ukip's hard shoulder

If readers believe that road congestion is due to poor public transport and the anarchy of capitalism, then think again. Ukip's leader Nigel Farage has excelled himself in spouting xenophobic nonsense by blaming M4 motorway traffic delays on uncontrolled migration.

Next, a Ukip representative will be blaming the floods earlier this year on same sex marriage legislation - hang on, they did!

Don't breathe deep

With an estimated 29,000 deaths in the UK due to air pollution (mainly from motor vehicle emissions) and the government continuing to break air quality laws, the best solution establishment MPs can come up with is to suggest siting new hospitals and schools away from major roads.

Capitalist politicians, slavishly obedient to vehicle manufacturers, seem to be missing the point ie reducing road traffic through an integrated, affordable public transport system and developing clean energy propulsion.

Cookery lesson

The launch of a Church of England-funded report into the rising use of food banks went off-message when panelist Tory Lady Jenkin blamed poor people for lacking cooking skills and poor food management.

In fact, the report blamed benefit delays and government cuts, coupled with low wages and rising living costs for the majority of families going hungry.

Wigged out

Judges, out of touch?... bigoted?... In the case of Ł165,000 a year judge Terence Richard Peter Hollingworth, well yes!

His 'honour', referring to crime victim and law student Deepa Patel, said: "With a name like Patel, and her ethnic background, she won't be working anywhere important."

Hollingworth resigned as deputy district judge when the Crown Prosecution made an official complaint. But incredibly he remains a top immigration judge.

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Finance appeal

The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.

The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.

The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.

The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.

Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.

We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to click here to donate to our Fighting Fund.