News & Analysis – Page 5

European AstraZeneca debacle: mismanagement, misinformation and vaccine diplomacy

A number of countries in Europe halted the use of the AstraZeneca/Oxford University vaccine over the past two weeks, due to an unproven (and unlikely) association with blood clots. Following a review by the European Medical Agency, they have now resumed, but this politically driven decision has seriously dented public confidence in the vaccine, which was already low.

Sarah Everard: Killed by the System

“Killed by the system we’re told ‘protects’ us.” These were the words on one placard at the vigil held on Saturday evening for Sarah Everard in London – a protest against the daily violence, oppression, and unsafe conditions that women face under capitalism.

Salmond vs Sturgeon: SNP crisis envelopes Holyrood

It has been an explosive couple of weeks at Holyrood, as Nicola Sturgeon and Alex Salmond testify before a special parliamentary inquiry, pitting current and former SNP First Ministers against one another. Representing rival factions of the party’s upper echelons, the personal break between Sturgeon and Salmond over the latter’s inappropriate conduct has had deep political implications.

UCU members: Reject insulting 0% pay offer! For a united fightback!

On 2 February, UCEA (the Universities and Colleges Employers Association) made a final pay offer to UCU members in higher education (HE) of an insulting 0% pay rise for the coming year; in other words, a real-terms pay cut.

Ireland Under Brexit: Crushed Between the Millstones of Imperialism

On 1 January 2021, Boris’ Brexit deal came into effect, and with it the ‘Northern Ireland Protocol’. The Brexit deal has set Britain and the EU up for a multitude of future collisions.

Boris Not Welcome

Boris Johnson’s recent visit to Scotland was supposed to demonstrate the strength of the United Kingdom and the benefits of “mutual cooperation” between its constituent nations. Few people were convinced, however, of the sincerity of the messenger, or the point of the message pitched by Britain’s ‘Minister for the Union’.

Fight Covid, Fight Capitalism! (Editorial 37)

The Government promised that they were doing everything in their power to save the festive Christmas and New Year period from another sudden lockdown, and yet 2021 began with scientists announcing we are going through the most dangerous phase yet.

Labour right-wing forces Richard Leonard out

After surviving a previous attempted coup, Richard Leonard resigned from the Scottish Labour leadership last week, just four months from the next Holyrood election. With details of this latest coup circulating the press, it is clear that Keir Starmer was involved in removing the left-wing MSP.

Lockerbie 32 Years On: Imperialism, Framings and Cover-ups

Just before Christmas, outgoing US Attorney General Bill Barr announced additional charges relating to the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie in 1988. This announcement is clearly politically motivated, and is symbolic of how the entire investigation has been focused on imperialist interests, rather than a genuine desire to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Struggle for School Safety – EIS Must Lead!

As the pandemic worsens many workers have been forced into struggle to ensure that basic safety standards are met. Schools have been a key battleground in the past month in the fight for safe conditions.