As the Tories pile more horrors upon us, the latest being the shameful agreement to transport refugees to Rwanda, it is encouraging to see more signs of discontent. The criticism that has come from princes, politicians and priests is a reflection of the wider opposition in the country. People feel ashamed for our country and angry at our government and, most important of all, are coming out in greater numbers to protest.
On the trade union front the cost-of-living crisis is feeding into increased support for industrial action, led by the RMT and provoking the usual hysterical response from the Tories and their cheer leaders in the media.
So, with class struggle returning to the political agenda, it is a good time to assess the balance of class forces both here and abroad. Dave Middleton writes about the state of the economy, why the ‘experts’ take a different view to that of people on the receiving end, and he uses socialist theory to answer the question, How Is the Economy Doing?
For too long we have been limited to making personal choices, trying to live an ethical life in a world driven by greed. The growth in class struggle will mean more opportunities for collective action. But that should not diminish the importance of individual action. Jo Buchanan tackles the environmental and human costs of fashion in Ethical clothing – can we afford it?
There is an old saying, ‘It is class, not colour that divides us.’ But racism is used to divide our class. Susie Granic and Marylin Tyzack write about racism in Australia and in the development of the Windrush Scandal.
So many writers have contributed to this issue. My apologies to all those who did not get a mention this time. But I will end with a reminder that this week is the fifth anniversary of the Grenfell tragedy. Jo Buchanan has written an important piece, Grenfell Tower – a tragedy in three acts. Please read and reflect.