The cul-de-sac of dissident republicanism

One year on from the killing of two British soldiers at Massereene barracks in Antrim and the shooting of a PSNI officer in Craigavon, attacks carried out by dissident republican groups have become more frequent, sophisticated and deadly.

The car bombing of Newry Courthouse came after several failed attempts to detonate large bombs such as the 300lb bomb intended to target Ballykinler army base in Co. Down. It was the first activated car-bomb of it’s kind since the Real IRA (RIRA) Omagh bomb in 1999 which killed 29 people - the single worst atrocity of the Troubles. Given that there was reportedly only 17 minutes warning given to the police, it was extremely fortunate nobody was killed. Customers at a nearby pub were given no warning by the police.

Bonuses for Bankers… Dole for youth…

CAPITALISM STINKS!
Join the socialist opposition

Bankers at Barclay’s Capital have been thrown a pay increase of a staggering 93%. From a modest £99,000 these investment bankers have gone up to £191,000 in just one year and that doesn’t include their bonuses!

Michael Foot - the end of an era

Many "Old Labour" workers and socialists will be saddened at the death of Michael Foot and will see it as signifying the death of an era.

However the ideas of Michael Foot - of piecemeal socialist reform of society through successive 'progressive' Labour governments - died long before he physically passed away on 3 March.

Paying for the rich to party

Belfast City ratepayers are to pay £1,200 for booze for the Ulster Reform Club's anniversary dinner. The Council has set the money aside for the clubs dinner in November.

100th International Women’s Day

Fighting capitalism to win equality

In 1910 at the second International Conference of Working Women, Clara Zetkin, a German revolutionary socialist, proposed that every year in every country there should be a celebration on the same day - a Women's Day - to press for their demands.

PCS - All out to defend jobs & services

Defend the Civil Service Compensation Scheme

The decision by PCS members to take industrial action on the 8th and 9th of March and to impose a national overtime ban is a clear message that they will stick together to secure an acceptable settlement that defends their contractual rights under the Civil Service Compensation Scheme.

Britain - The great anti-poll tax victory

How 18 million people brought down Thatcher

The majority of trade union leaders are completely unprepared to meet the onslaught on jobs and public services, the worst for 40 years. But that does not mean that the inevitable resistance is destined for defeat. On the 20th anniversary of the introduction of the poll tax to England and Wales, PETER TAAFFE looks back on the ‘unofficial’ mass movement which humbled the seemingly invincible Margaret Thatcher.