Although this is how the decision of the supreme court has
been interpreted, the actual decision is the narrower one of what the GB
Equality Act (EA) of 2010 means by ‘sex’, which it has decided means biological
and not certified sex. It has therefore
been hailed by ‘gender critical’ activists as a victory for common sense and by
certain trans activists as an attack on their human rights. (read more)
Teachers
in the North are to receive a twice rejected 5.5% pay deal. Unions have agreed to the deal without their
members being balloted. The
Northern Ireland Teacher's Council, representing the five teaching unions,
released a statement stating that the difference this time was a proposal from
Education Minister Paul Girvan to establish independent panel to examine how
excessive workload on teachers could be reduced. Its work is scheduled to be completed by
November. (read more)
Marxists believe that power in society resides in capital, in the capitalist system and its property relations in which ownership and control of the means of production etc. are monopolised by one class. In the form of money, capital can be otherwise employed to gain political influence through the media, buy politicians and discipline governments through speculation on the bond markets. (read more)
Now somewhat obscured by the new Trump tariff row, the
Signal discussion about the assassination of Yemeni civilians has led to a
great deal of controversy. Within the US
security is the main issue, with the inclusion of a journalist (who covered up
the conspiracy) and the establishment’s denial of any wrongdoing adding fuel to
the fire. No-one seems to question the legitimacy
of the attacks on civilians. (read more)
The genocide is roaring
ahead. Western governments are attacking Palestinian solidarity. We urgently need to broaden and deepen the
movement.
In recent articles we have suggested the
need for a new direction for Palestine solidarity. What has essentially been
protest must become action and challenge the many forces at home collaborating
with the genocide. (read more)
During last year’s UK
general election campaign Keir Starmer claimed that there would be no return to
austerity under a Labour government.
However, this commitment was abandoned almost immediately when new
chancellor Rachel Reeves announced spending cuts of £3bn just a few weeks
later. The headline grabber in this package was the ending of the universal
winter fuel payment for pensioners.. (read more)
The 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement in April 2023 was met with jubilation and celebration in Belfast. Past and present taoisigh (Irish government leaders), British prime ministers, US presidents and a raft of academics were brought together by the local universities and media in an extended celebration.Yet all is not well. If the decay of the agreement is of concern, the universal failure of academia, of the press, the trade unions and political parties to acknowledge such decay is astounding. John McAnulty provides that missing critique and suggests how Ireland will move beyond this historic inflection to fulfill the revolutionary implications of its initial struggle for freedom.
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10 April 2023
25 Years On: in the debris of the Good Friday Agreement
The 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement is being
marked by assemblies of the great and the good. Joe Biden rushes through the
North, avoiding attention to the barren political landscape. On RTE television
the ghost of Bertie Ahern dominates, while the high point will be the upcoming visit
of Bill and Hilary Clinton and Tony Blair to a celebration at Queens
University.
No-one will remark on the unsavoury character of
these saints of peace. Even less will anyone notice that the fine mansion that
they built is now in ruins. (read more)
Defend a woman’s right to tell
the truth - 20/10/21
People before Profit student
society calls for ‘no-platforming’ of feminists and LGB rights activists -
25/03/21
Puberty Blockers: An
unregulated live experiment on children - 17/04/21
Vulnerable children being seen
at Gender Clinics - 06/03/21
On the Reactionary Roots of
Queer Theory - 28/02/21
A new front in human
liberation, or a medical scandal in the making? - 09/01/21
Amnesty International Ireland opposes the right to free speech -
06/11/20
Gender Identity Ideology, the Trans Rights
Movement, and
homophobia - 27/09/20
Socialism, Feminism and transgender politics -
07/09/20
All COVERAGE
Socialist Democracy Statement on Coronavirus pandemic - 28/03/20
The promise and reality of vaccination -28/03/21
Herd immunity - myth and reality - 30/11/20
Coronavirus pandemic - a deepening health and economic crisis - 28/07/20
Protest, class conflict and Covid 19 - 06/05/20
Unionism’s silent shift on the pandemic
- 16/05/20
Ideology and Science - 05/05/20
Big Pharma in Ireland - 24/04/20
Europe and the pandemic - 09/04/20
All COVERAGE
Rayner O’Connor Lysaght Presente!
Tributes from
International
Viewpoint
Irish
Labour History Society
Socialist
Voice
Sráid
Marx
Emancipation,
Liberation & Self-determination
Workers
Liberty
Irish
Republican Marxist History Project
The
Pensive Quill
Irish
Left Archive
Obituray from the Irish Independent
A selection of writings by Rayner can be found online at:
Socialist Democracy
Arguments for a Workers' Republic
The Encyclopedia of Trotskyism
Red Mole Rising
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