1217: The Charter of the Forest
25 October 2023
In 1217 the Charter of the Forest established rights of access to royal forests. It’s still of interest, showing how people can exercise power.
25 October 2023
In 1217 the Charter of the Forest established rights of access to royal forests. It’s still of interest, showing how people can exercise power.
A little-known event in medieval times is still of interest today – it tells us how people can exercise their power…
Launched in 1948, the NHS wasn’t given to us by benign politicians. It was won by workers fighting over centuries for a health service for all. …
Eighty years ago, the greatest land and tank battle ever was fought at Kursk, one from which the invading Nazi forces never recovered…
20 June 2023
Raging ferociously from July to August 1943, Kursk was the most decisive battle of the Second World War, crucially transforming anti-fascist fortunes.
Only the ruling class benefited from slavery. During the long struggle to end it over 1.5 million of Britain’s 12 million people signed petitions against it…
Employers have always tried to make strikes illegal and ineffective. One group of workers stood up to intimidation in the middle of war…
22 December 2022
Finance capital wants to increase profits and to subordinate the production of goods and services for people’s needs. It has developed to become the malign global financial system we know today.
Finance capitalism keeps a malign stranglehold over the real economy, serving only a tiny group of super-wealthy speculators. How did this come about?
Heightened class struggle in the early 1970s was neutered by a Labour government and trade union establishment working in tandem…
27 October 2022
Struggles erupted in the early 1970s, notably the engineering union’s destruction of the 1971 Industrial Relations Act and the miners’ fight over pay. The new Labour government preached class conciliation in exchange for moderation of wages.
Given the siren calls for similar action often heard now, it’s vital to recognise what actually happened the last time a general strike was held…
Today’s world situation is similar to that of the pre-1914 years when imperialist forces were also intent on dividing up the planet’s resources…
22 June 2022
World War One scarred the twentieth century with over 16 million dead and millions more injured, brought about by competition between great imperialst powers. It's lessons are relevant still.
Deep into the First World War, Lenin produced a seminal study of the economic origins of the conflict and a political analysis to guide action…
Michael Faraday never went to a public school, nor to a university. But no scientist has ever been more influential…
Afghanistan is known as “the graveyard of empires”. In its unhappy history the country has long been the victim of imperial ambition and aggression…
Marx’s earth-shattering declaration is truer than ever – those performing all the necessary labour must take over the running of society themselves…
25 August 2021
Post-war Britain was beset by problems. For the majority of people, life was hard and difficult. The 1951 Festival of Britain was an antidote, looking to the future. It was immensely enjoyed and appreciated by the millions who attended.
Seventy years ago, in the midst of post-war austerity and rationing, Britain found the will to create a remarkable, popular festival…
The end of the Second World War could have ushered in a progressive foreign policy for Britain. Labour ensured that it didn’t…
During World War Two, the government prosecuted seven workers because they defended their union convenor. It did not turn out how they expected…
With another set of reforms to the NHS in prospect, it’s worth looking at what workers did for themselves in the past…
23 February 2021
Before the Second World War there was no comprehensive healthcare system, and workplace safety was ineffective. Miners in South Wales showed the way to improve both.
Born 200 years ago, Friedrich Engels played a great part in the working class movement in the 19th century, particularly in Britain…
24 October 2020
Despite Britain's formidable base of scientific and engineering knowledge, development of nuclear power has stalled. Britain needs to change that to secure future energy supplies.
Britain’s nuclear power industry had its origins in outstanding research – and led to the first atomic electricity station in the capitalist world…
British rule in Jamaica lasted over 300 years – and revolts against its brutal plantation system helped bring an end to slavery across the Empire…
As the 19th century dawned, trade unions were made illegal, prices rose, wages fell. Skilled workers led the fightback…
8 May 2020
The Soviet Union bore the brunt of the Second World War in Europe, which ended with the defeat of fascism 75 years ago on 8 May 1945. The balance of class forces shifted away from capitalism for a few post-war decades...