Exam results fiasco exposes capitalism’s ‘drive for failure’

Exam grading debacles in Scotland and today’s A-level results have provoked a backlash amongst students, teachers and parents. The current system is failing young people, depriving them of their future. We need to fight for change.
by Chris Herriot, De Montfort University UCU

Continue reading Exam results fiasco exposes capitalism’s ‘drive for failure’

Pandemic, Prejudice and Poverty: A Marxist Solution

Six months ago when we entered this new decade, nobody could have predicted that we’d be being propelled into the second half of 2020 by a worldwide mass #blacklivesmatter movement under the restrictions of the most global and paralysing lockdown in history. It would be foolish to attempt any accurate predictions of exactly what the rest of the year has in store for us, but what we can say for certain is that this period of instability has only just begun.

Continue reading Pandemic, Prejudice and Poverty: A Marxist Solution

SNP Side with Tories to Block Support for Tenants

By Phil Martin, IMT Edinburgh

MSPs belonging to the Scottish National Party teamed up with the Tories in the Scottish Parliament at the end of May in order to vote against measures designed to protect tenants during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Members of the parliamentary COVID-19 committee were considering amendments to emergency legislation that were put forward by Scottish Labour and the Scottish Green Party.

Continue reading SNP Side with Tories to Block Support for Tenants

Spain Demand for “New Marshall Plan” Reveals Crisis in EU

After several weeks of tug-of-war, a precarious agreement was reached on aid to EU member countries that need extra financing to deal with the economic crisis triggered by the coronavirus epidemic. The states will get up to 540,000 million euros, but under what conditions? What does this have to do with the Marshall Plan for Europe that Pedro Sánchez demands? Is this viable?

Continue reading Spain Demand for “New Marshall Plan” Reveals Crisis in EU

Pandemic shows the Growth Commission is Dead. Fight for a Scottish Workers’ Republic

Almost six years have passed since the Scottish independence referendum, and over this time, the UK has been ruled by a perpetual Tory government. This stasis has led to a resurgence of the independence campaign. It is important to analyse what such an independent Scotland would look like in our current crisis.

Continue reading Pandemic shows the Growth Commission is Dead. Fight for a Scottish Workers’ Republic