What the Socialist Party says:

As has been explained in previous issues of The Socialist, this economic crisis was not caused by working class people and they should not pay for it.

To stop the debilitating and even murderous effects of this budget requires a powerful movement in defence of jobs, homes and services.

A first step must be a massive national trade union-led demonstration and the building of local anti-cuts unions to organise solidarity and action to stop cuts.

See 'Build united action to stop the cuts'.

We demand:

No cuts in wages, jobs, services and benefits. For a living income for all.
Make the bankers and the rich pay for their crisis. Tax the rich.
Nationalise the banks and major companies under popular, democratic control. Compensation to be paid only on the basis of proven need.
End privatisation of public services. Take all sub-contracted services back in house. End the profiteering from our public services.
An immediate 50% increase in the state retirement pension as a step towards a living pension for all pensioners.
Annual increases to be linked to average earnings.
Increase the minimum wage to Ł8 an hour and abolish all exemptions to it. For an annual increase in the minimum wage, and all wages, linked to average earnings or above.
For investment in training and job creation in social care, child care and health care.
For investment in a massive programme of house building and refurbishment to create decent public housing and jobs.

A democratic socialist plan of production, enabling resources to be allocated based on need, not profit and in an environmentally sustainable way.

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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.