New Communist Party of Britain

Brexit: down to the wire

BREXIT TALKS have come down to the wire amidst Leaver fears that Boris Johnson will use the cover of the Christmas break to fudge an agree-ment with Brussels to allow continued easy access to the European single market. The Prime Minister says he still wants a deal but not one “at any cost”, warning that the talks are still “most likely” to end without an agreement. But European Union chief negotiator Michel Barnier remains upbeat about reaching agreement before the end of the transition period deadline on 31st December.

Tidings of comfort and joy

SADLY, there’s not much sign of ‘glad tidings’ during the festive season overshadowed by the coronavirus plague that has swept through Britain this year. Whilst the people’s democracies spared no effort and moved swiftly to counter the threat, the governments in the imperialist heartlands dithered, putting profits above people’s health that led to the premature deaths of hundreds of thousands of people throughout the capitalist world.

Grave pay cuts

TWO CIVIL service unions, Prospect and PCS, along with Unite are taking up the cases of workers employed by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) who are facing having their incomes cut in half and losing health benefits by the Tory Government using the excuse of Brexit.

Coming to terms with COVID-19

IN THE months and years ahead there will be numerous articles, books and even television dramas about COVID-19. With this in mind, John Aston’s book will be one amongst many critiques of how the pandemic was handled and for the most part mishandled.

Prof Ashton’s book is without doubt a mine of useful information. The author, who is one of the world’s leading experts on public health, gives accounts of previous plagues starting with the Black Death, which hit Europe in the 14th Century. Cholera came in the 19th century; Spanish Flu after the First World War, and more recently the SARS and Swine Flu pandemics of the early 21st Century.