Whose side are you on?

Tories out! - Corbyn in with anti-austerity and socialist policies

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Whose side are you on? That was the theme of Jeremy Corbyn's speech that launched Labour's election campaign.

While the Tories are on the side of the "dodgy landlords" who evict families to make way for luxury apartments, Corbyn has pledged to build 100,000 affordable homes and cap private rents.

While Johnson represents the "bad bosses" who exploit their workers, Labour wants to raise the minimum wage right away to at least Ł10 an hour, including for young workers, and scrap zero-hour contracts.

Corbyn promises to go after the "big polluters", "tax dodgers" and "vested interests" - creating green energy jobs and increasing taxes on the rich.

Supporting the post workers at the Socialism 2019 Saturday rally, photo Mary Finch (Click to enlarge)

He has pledged to stop Tory cuts and privatisation, rebuild the NHS, schools and other public services, scrap Universal Credit and put rail, mail and water into public ownership. Personal care for the elderly and prescriptions will be free and tuition fees scrapped.

This is a clear anti-austerity platform that puts the interests of the working class centre stage.

That's why we are campaigning for the victory of a Corbyn-led government in this election. But at the same time we recognise that the privileged elite - the bankers, the billionaires and the private profiteers 'on the other side' - will do everything they can to protect their "vested interests".

So as well as fighting to elect a Corbyn government, we are organising now for the socialist programme and future battles that will be necessary to bring about the radical change in the interests of working-class people that is so desperately needed.

Tony Blair launches manifesto to sabotage a Corbyn government

Socialism 2019 speech extracts

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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.