The Socialist Labour Party wishes to condemn, without reserve, the attack on the sovereign state of Iran by the United States and Israel.
This illegal act of aggression under international law has already cost innocent human lives, and we see this as the latest of a series of conflicts, spurred on by the US’s imperialist ambitions in that part of the world.
We also condemn the duplicitous response of the UK government, which has claimed, on the one-hand to be free of involvement while simultaneously deploying aircraft in the conflict arena, instead of working towards de-escalation and negotiation. We urge the immediate ban of arms sales and military aid to the aggressor states, from the UK.
We are concerned by the potential for escalation in this conflict and the possibility that this could be a key moment in global history, should this conflict develop even further.
This morning (27/02/2026) woke up to the spectacular result of the Greens win in the Gorton and Denton by-election, in Manchester Labour was beaten to 3rd place. They had won the seat in 2024 with a majority of 13,000 which has now been crushed by the Greens to a withering 9,364 votes, and a massive swing of 26% from Labour to the Greens.
The other astonishing aspect of the result is the complete annihilation of the Tory vote, reduced down to just 706 votes out of an electorate of 76,000, and losing their deposit.
There is little doubt that the traditional duopoly of power of Tory and Labour has been smashed, and the political landscape in this country has shifted irrevocably.
There is little doubt that the traditional duopoly of power of Tory and Labour has been smashed, and the political landscape in this country has shifted irrevocably.
The Conservatives are busily re-inventing themselves as Reform to avoid electoral oblivion and the electorate have called foul on Labour’s lies, austerity, war-mongering and its support for Zionist, ethno-supremacist regimes; the Epstein political class has been shown the red card.
There is little doubt from the result in Gorton and Denton, that the Green’s progressive rhetoric has been very successful in capturing the leftist vote, which demonstrates that there is a real hunger in the electorate for left-wing policies. A real hunger for real change.
The political position of both the Greens and Your Party, remains uncertain on key issues:
Are they anti-NATO or not?
Are they anti-EU?
Are they an anti-Zionist Party?
Are they fully committed to common ownership of key industries?
Do they have a close relationship to the Labour Movement and Trades Unions?
The Socialist Labour Party as a long-standing Socialist party has clear answers to the questions left by others including the Greens and Your Party.
It is a party that has a long and consistent history of advocating an avowedly socialist platform, it is a party founded by Trade Unionists for Trade Unionists, and it is the solidarity of the working people that can and will change this country for the better. This is what we stand for.
If you agree with our policies and are interested in standing as a Socialist Labour Party candidate in the forth-coming elections, please contact us via email at generalsecretary@socialistlabourparty.org.uk
In 1982, Arthur Scargill gave an interview to Ian White on his recollections on the Battle of Saltley Gate and the Miner’s Strike of 1984-85, for the Look North program.
Arthur’s reflections on the events of 1972 and the Strike of ’84 should give us pause to reflect.
His central message about the importance of solidarity among the working class, is just as vitally important as it ever was.
When workers are united, they are unstoppable force, and that lesson should not be lost because we forgotten our history, particularly in these days of austerity and downward pressure on the pay and conditions of working people.
On Februrary 22nd 2026 ‘The Isle of Islay’ branded ferry pulled into Greenock harbour from Turkey.
Steel produced abroad again as with the Germany produced tracks and coaches for Edinburgh Tram build. Too costly to taxpayer, recent examples of capitalist decisions to globalise theft of world resources at a cost to UK self sufficient re-industrialisation.
The ‘inevitability’ of further poverty cost to the working class – after the 2008 economic crash – has to be justified by a ruling class to maintain its economic dominance.
Post 2008 and post 2020 Covid outbreak in Britain the political ‘inevitability’ of capitalism terminology is austere aka austerity. Pre 2008 capitalist cronies termed working class dire economic and social circumstances as Cost of Living Crisis for them to bear with stoicism and national pride. Post 2024 new terminology has entered the public arena. A Right to Die option for people expendable, surplus to requirements.
The historical development of economic and political austerity since the end of the Second World War is explained in Socialist Labour Party Manifesto (pages 3-5) along with the way to develop a Socialist economic and political transformation that consigns ruling class exploitation to the dustbin of history.
We now experience a revitalised and more organised working class in a fight for life and peace in the world.
The Socialist Labour Party has a Constitution and political Manifesto to steer Britain towards Socialism.
The events of yesterday, with the arrest of Peter Mandelson, draws to an end a chequered career of a politician, who will no doubt go down in history as the icon of everything this is corrupt and sleazy about the Labour Party.
As Mandelson perp-walks to infamy, it’s worth reminding ourselves that his loathing for genuine socialism extended to the Socialist Labour Party, which came to a head when he debated the issue of Clause IV with our Comrade Arthur Scargill in Hartlepool in 1995, a debate organised by Tribune, and attended by current members of the Party
Arthur recalls that he won the debate hands down, and that, once he saw that he was losing the argument, Mandelson asked the chairperson to forego a vote on the outcome of the debate, playing his usual Machiavellian tricks.
Arthur insisted it went ahead and won the vote 10 to 1!! Tribune later sent a photo to Arthur, with he and Mandelson debating, which read “-“Bobby” Looking to the heavens for deliverance”. It was obvious to Mandelson, that at that point, he had lost the debate.
The note attached to the photo of Arthur Scargill debating Peter Mandelson, which reads, ” – “Bobby” looking to the heavens for deliverance”.
Five years later, in 2001, Arthur Scargill described Labour’s policies and Mandelson:
“The government’s policies on the NHS, education and housing were “disastrous” and Mr Mandelson was an “unmitigated disaster”.
He added that job cuts at steel company Corus would help highlight his fight against the market forces Mr Mandelson and New Labour had embraced.
“The mass destruction of the British coal industry is testament to the fact that I got it right and they got it wrong,”
Given the current unpopularity of the Labour Government, and of Keir Starmer in particular, it seems that the prediction that Mandelson was an “unmitigated disaster” was prescient.
As the Gorton and Denton by-election, nears it is worth remembering that Peter Mandelson was one of the architects of New Labour, and has been instrumental in bringing the Labour Party to its current, parlous state; mistrusted, corrupt and wedded to Thatcherite ideology.
This week sees 54th anniversary of the Battle of Saltley Gate, 10th February 1972. The battle went on through the entire week and workers across Birmingham came out in support. 15-20,000 marched on Saltley and ensure that the gates to the coking plant were closed.
The police had advised the government that they had everything under control, but as a result of the extent of solidarity from working people: men and women from diverse cultures, the police ordered the gates to be closed. The Prime Minister, Edward Heath, lost the following election after asking who ran the country. We, the people told him.
This was the time when an unknown Yorkshire miner, Arthur Scargill, became known in Britain and as leader of the 1984 – 5 Miners Strike, universally. The struggle continues. Saltley was a clear victory. A further confrontation at Orgreave mirrored Saltley. A demand for a public enquiry continues.
Birmingham Trade Council organised the 40th anniversary celebration in 2012 when Arthur Scargill, Ken Capstick, Deputy Leader of the Yorkshire miners during the strike and Bob Crow, General Secretary of the RMT were speaker. Banner Theatre performed music, including sings from their production telling the story of the Battle of Saltley Gate. Teacher and Troops Out activist Mary Pearson was M.C.
You can watch a video of Ken Capstick speaking at the 40 anniversary.
Here is the BBC report from 2012 on the anniversary:
Our comrade, Paul Liversuch recently attended a coffee morning with MP Samantha Niblett, MP for South Derbyshire, an event to which he was invited. There were about thirty people in attendance, and Paul took the opportunity to question her on a number of issues.
The issue of a recent statement by the Trades Union, Unison, was raised on care homes which revealed that care is dearer when privatised.
Paul raised the issue of the proposed abolition of trial by jury, which he argued was an attack on democracy, particularly in relation to the government’s strategy to use terrorist legislation to label demonstrators as terrorists.
The response from Samantha Niblett was that the cost of trails by jury cannot be afforded, but our comrade pointed out that the war in Ukraine is costing the country £billions, which should be spent on our economy. Samantha Niblett replied that as she is on Armed Forces Select Committee, in Parliament, she would vote for war, but our comrade repeated his view that it should be spent on this country. Niblett retorted that he would say that because he’s a socialist. Our comrade Paul, responded “you bet!”. A revealing comment from a Labour MP, who clearly doesn’t identify as a socialist.
Paul continued to press his argument that trial by jury was a fundamental human right, and that it was important to defend human rights. He reminded the MP that these policies of this Labour government are eroding our human rights.
The next issue raised by our comrade related to the Birmingham Bin strike, Samantha Niblett was asked whether she would be prepared to take a drop of £8000 per year in salary? Angela Rayners comments relating to the strike were also raised and Paul expressed his view that Angela Rayner is a sell-out. Samantha Niblett denied this.
Lastly opportunity was taken to raise the SLP’s policy relating to Proportional Representation and the need to reform England’s electoral system.
Our comrade Paul felt that this was a good opportunity to raise important issues with his elected representative, to put them on the sport as well as raising the Socialist Labour Party’s profile locally.
The Socialist Labour Party wishes to express its support for the government of Venezuela, led by Acting President Delcy Rodríguez. We recognise the legitimacy of her government, supported by the institutions, trade unions and the people of Venezuela. We unequivocally support the right of the Venezuelan people to govern themselves and determine their own futures, as well as their right to defend themselves against the imperialist behaviour of the United States.
We call upon the British government to recognise the legitimacy of the government of Venezuela and call for the cessation of all hostile acts by the United States.
We condemn utterly the aggression and barbarism of the United States in the illegal abduction of President Nicolás Maduro to United States territory in open and flagrant disregard of the international law. Such actions make a mockery of the United States claim to represent the so-called ‘rules-based order’ and threatens to destabilise global security.
Socialist Labour Party 5th of January, 2026
Declaración oficial del Partido Laborista Socialista sobre la situación en Venezuela
El Partido Laborista Socialista desea expresar su apoya al gobierno de Venezuela, liberado por la presidenta en funciones, Delcy Rodríguez. Reconocemos la legitimidad de su gobierno, apoyado por las instituciones, los sindicatos y el pueblo de Venezuela. Apoyamos inequívocamente el derecho del pueblo venezolano a gobernarse a sí mismo y determinar su propio futuro, así como su derecho a defenderse de la conducta imperialista de los Estados Unidos.
Hacemos un llamamiento al gobierno Británico para que reconozca la legitimidad del gobierno de Venezuela y exija el cese de todos los actos hostiles de Estados Unidos.
Condenamos rotundamente la agresión y la barbarie de Estados Unidos al secuestrar ilegalmente al presidente Nicolás Maduro en territorio estadounidense, en abierto y flagrante desacato al derecho internacional. Estas acciones desvirtúan la pretensión estadounidense de representar el llamado “orden basado en reglas” y amenazan con desestabilizar la seguridad global.
El Partido Laborista Socialista (Reino Unido)
5 de enero de 2026
You can download the statement in PDF format in both English and Spanish.
The Socialist Labour Party were shocked yesterday by the events in Venezuela, which included the abduction of the elected President of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
This is a flagrant violation of International Law by the gangster state led by Donald Trump.
The official statement from the SLP is shown below:
