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The Socialist Labour Party condemns the military attack on Iran begun over the weekend by United States President Donald Trump acting in conjunction with the fascist state of Israel.

The bombing of Iran’s nuclear facilities makes a mockery of US calls for the restoration of “negotiations in accordance with the plan agreed in 2015 between Iran and the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council plus Germany (the P5+1), a plan scrapped by Trump on 2018, during his first term as president.

This bombing not only violates international law but is In breach of the US Constitution as Trump has not even consulted the US Congress.

China, Russia, Venezuela, Cuba and North Korea have condemned the United States for its appalling act of aggression. The Socialist Labour Party calls on all governments which genuinely want peace, not world war, to join them.

What is needed are not empty pleas for “restraint” but action which will enable Iran to effectively counter the insane war-mongering of Donald Trump and the fascist state of Israel, and at the same time bring an end to Israel’s ongoing destruction of Palestine.

Socialist Labour Party
Sunday, 22 June 2025

The position of the Socialist Labour Party

Welfare or Warfare, that is the question. That is the question that divides those who care for one another from those who want to dominate and kill others. It includes those who  believe in  helping others, in a welfare state, our NHS, housing, transport, fare wages, pensions  and conditions at work, care for the elderly and disabled. Respect for gender and race. After all, It is warfare that creates the need for welfare.

The other side of the question contains those who want to dominate others, who think only about profit and power. Those who are prepared to use force  to get their will, to suppress others and remove their liberty.

This, they dress up as the need to show strength, for security. They are prepared to invest in arms and weapons that will be used to kill others, to suppress others, to rob them of their well being and wealth. This is neo-colonialism, empire building. It will be dressed up as security, the need to protect ourselves. We need weapons for our defence. We need a strong arms Industry to build these weapons. After all, the arms industry provides jobs, well paid and highly skilled jobs. This is money well spent .

This is not defence, it is offense. It is possible to produce weapons for use to defend us in a case of aggression against us. This is quite different to weapons designed for offense, to kill and subjugate others.

The Arms industry does produce jobs. However, while siphoning off vast amounts of money it pollutes the planet while producing the means of killing people. The money invested in “defence” should go into industries producing many more secure, highly skilled jobs, meeting social needs – such as an integrated energy policy, involving all environmentally acceptable forms of energy:  carbon-capture/clean-coal; wave; barrage; geo-thermal and, above all, solar power.

 Why is it so much easier to find money for killing than money for social and economic well-being? 

The Socialist labour Party is fully committed to Welfare, not Warfare. We believe that the wealth created by our industries must be invested in people, in their welfare, not in killing and suppressing people.  We will restore all benefits and at the higher rate seen in many European countries. We will invest in industries producing socially useful products., in transport, housing, education, our NHS and our vital infrastructure. We will leave Nato, and produce arms only for defence. We will end austerity.

How will we pay for this? By a fair taxation system, taxing the rich and stopping  tax evasion. Having left Nato we will not be raising the percentage of our GDP on arms, paid to the Arms Industry. We will cancel the renewal of the Trident Nuclear submarine fleet, producing an estimated saving of £205 billion. We will stop selling arms to conflict zones such as Palestine or the Ukraine which just fan the flames of war. Through nationalisation of our vital industries we will not be paying excessive bonuses to fat cat bosses. Our trade unions will play a vital part in ensuring safety and proper wages and conditions at work.

In this way we will be able to end austerity. To pay proper welfare benefits, pensions and wages to our citizens.

End austerity, Tax the rich. Welfare not warfare, comrades.

Arthur Scargill.

Chris Butler.

June, 2025

The brutal invasion of Iran by the fascist State of Israel but should result in all countries who believe in justice launching an invasion of Israel.

Arthur Scargill 13-6-2025

Justice Delayed Is Justice Denied
ORGREAVE ANNIVERSARY MARCH AND RALLY
Saturday 14th of June 2025 Assemble 1pm City Hall, Barkers Pool, Sheffield, S1 2JA
SUPPORT US IN OUR CAMPAIGN FOR TRUTH AND JUSTICE ~
Come along and support the Annual Orgreave Rally organised by the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign, commemorating the 41st anniversary of the police riot at Orgreave and celebrating the great Miners’ Strike of 1984/5. Please bring your banners, placards, drums, whistles, family, comrades and friends. Led by the Unite Brass Band, come and march with us through Sheffield and support our call for an inquiry for truth and justice for striking miners brutalised by the state at the Orgreave Coking plant on 18 June 1984. SUPPORT OUR CALL FOR AN ORGREAVE INQUIRY SPEAKERS: • Watty Watson – Arrested and youngest sacked Scottish Miner • Lois Austin – Campaign Opposing Police Surveillance • Michael Mansfield KC – Lawyer for Orgreave miners • Maria Vasquez-Aguilar – Chile Solidarity Network • Chris Skidmore – Yorkshire Area NUM Chair and Orgreave Veteran • Kate Flannery – Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign • Dave Smith – Blacklist Support Group COMPÈRES Chris Peace and Joe Rollin Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign

The Encampment has been situated outside Bangor University since May 2024.The protest was much enlivened this Spring, after so much wind and rain into the New Year.It is a real achievement to have been in solidarity with the people of Gaza, in this terrible time of Genocide by Israeli government and military forces.Whilst supported locally,the leadership on the ground is students and other young people, they are spending their time in tents and maintaining the Encampment.

They have challenged the University management to disinvest from Israel, and continue with that demand.They also highlight the horrible ongoing Genocide, and campaign for a Free Palestine; the establishment and protected Internatjonal recognition of a Palestinian State. On the 24th of May they were at the head of a protest march, walking from the BBC offices in Bangor to the Clock Tower in the centre of Bangor.The protest was advertised as, Stopiwch lwgu plant Gaza, Stop starving the children of Gaza. People were asked to wear black and carry an empty saucepan.

This was a series of protests against BBC offices in Wales.I00 people + took part in a powerful show of solidarity with the people of Gaza.

Three of us from the local Socialist Labour Party took part. Kathrine Jones, SLP Welsh Region 25/5/2025

It appears from news reports that the London Metropolitan Police have found the time and resources to investigate an incident from over a year ago where a member of a young Irish hip hop group flew a flag of a group or groups who oppose Israeli aggression and genocide. This has resulted in a charge associated with a “terror offence” to which a young man from Belfast will be required to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court next month.

Here’s a thing, the same Metropolitan Police have, as they acknowledge on their own website, a responsibility if“a UK resident has been responsible for core international crimes anywhere in the world (then) they may be investigated and prosecuted in the UK”. Such “core international crimes” include a litany of serious offences including genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

I suggest to the Metropolitan Police Force or for that matter any police jurisdiction within the UK that they need not focus their attention or resources on minor matters such as the waving of flags but rather focus higher up the scale of seriousness of offence such as complicity, aiding and abetting or furnishing the means to commit such serious crimes. I suggest to the Met that they need not have to cast their net across the Irish Sea but rather just stroll a few hundred yards along the Thames. There they will find several senior government figures and officials well worthy of serious “core international crimes” investigation.

James McDaid, Leader, Socialist Labour Party. 24/5/2025

Yesterday’s (1-5-2025) local election results should give us cause to pause and reflect. Reform have caught the political establishment by surprise by the extent of their success. It is widely acknowledged that Reform achieved a major political breakthrough. The party won the Runcorn and Helsby parliamentary by-election by a razor-thin margin, overturning a massive Labour majority and gaining its first MP in this Parliament. It also captured two newly created mayoralties in Greater Lincolnshire and Hull & East Yorkshire, signalling growing regional support. Additionally, Reform UK took control of ten councils, including Staffordshire and West Northamptonshire, and even my own Derbyshire and secured a total of 677 council seats nationwide — surpassing both Labour and the Conservatives in vote share.

Political pundits say that this represents a seismic shift in the political landscape, with voter projections suggesting that Reform UK could now command up to 30% of the national vote in a general election. Starmer: Reform’s best recruiter For those of us, who have been keen political observers, this will not come as any surprise. Notwithstanding the steady right-ward drift that has been going on in the Labour Party for decades, many observers are attributing the meteoric rise of Reform to the mis-directed policy decisions of the current Labour government.

In the run-up to the General Election, last year, Labour promised to be the party of change, but many of us, observing many of Starmer’s lies and U-turns on progressive policies, on assuming the leadership of the Party, knew that the promised change would never materialise. The last 10 months of Labour government has surpassed even the lowest expectations of the most sceptical of us. The betrayal of the WASPI women, the removal of the winter fuel allowance, attacks on the benefits of the disabled, the continued support for rogue state of Israel in its genocide of the Palestinian people, not to mention the pumping of £billions into an unwinnable war in Ukraine, while simultaneously complaining about the ‘black hole’ in the country’s finances, not to mention their anti-immigrant rhetoric.

It seems that the Labour Party faithful are beginning to recognise the root cause of their electoral problems.  The narrowly re-elected Labour Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones said just after the count: “I think national government needs to look and see what people are saying. I wrote [to Starmer] as soon as the winter fuel allowance was mooted and I said it was wrong…The results tonight demonstrate that they need to be listening to the man, woman and businesses on the street and actually deliver for the people, with the people…The working man and businesses want national government to listen to them properly and help drive this great country forward…What I’m saying to Keir is this: he needs to listen and take action.”

It is precisely that sense of betrayal by Labour, that has driven people into the arms of Reform. The result of Labour’s desire to out-right, the Right. History shows us that at times of economic difficulties, some will react positively to populist, right-wing rhetoric, people like Reform, that exploit people’s fears and prejudices, in its unholy grasp of the reins of power. Once unthinkable, now, a Farage-led government in 2029 seems a distinct possibility.

This country is crying out for genuine change, not endless iterations of re-warmed Thatcherism. For most of my adult life I have seen this country passed from one establishment-led party to another, each party promising change, which never materialises, while the quality of life has diminished for the working classes. There is an urgency about the situation that we find ourselves in, we have just four short years to prevent a Farage-led, fascist government here in the UK. There has to be a fight-back against the fascistic Reform party.

The Socialist Labour Party stands in a unique position to provide the alternative. The Socialist Labour Party stands on a truly socialist platform, with a transformational manifesto, a manifesto that is a blueprint for a just and equitable society. The Party’s manifesto directly addresses the need for the abolition of capitalism, which is the root of the country’s problems and provides the political mechanism for the transference of wealth to those who create it, through their effort and labour, the working classes, with the aim, as enshrined in the Party’s constitution, “To promote political, social and economic emancipation of the people as a whole.” (Clause IV, 16). A cause and a future worth fighting for.
Allistair Lomax

The Struggle Goes On.

Wakefield, Saturday 10 May 2025 Start time: 10.45am Ends: 17.00 Banners Held High festival 2025:

With Banners Held High is Yorkshire and the Humber’s very own Trade Union and community festival — an established and well-loved fixture in the trade union calendar. Held annually, it commemorates the end of the Miners’ Strike and reflects on the lessons learned. Last year’s event, marking the 40th anniversary of the Strike, held the biggest march so far. Trade union branches from across the country marched with banners, joining progressive campaign groups, stall holders and local residents. This year, the theme is “40 Years On – The Struggle Continues.” Trade unions are stepping up across new workplaces, defending workers against fresh challenges, standing strong for their members, and protecting our collective right to protest. Speakers include guest Jeremy Corbyn and Union Leaders. A series of Fringe events will take place before and after the main festival, reflecting on the legacy of the Miners’ Strike and exploring how those lessons can guide us through today’s battles. These events are open to all. Banner Held High will take place on 10 May: Gather on Smyth Street: 10:45am Banners march across Wakefield City Centre: 11:30am Speakers, Music and Poetry at Wakefield Exchange (WX): 12pm – 5pm Arthur Scargill, John Tyrrell . Socialist Labour Party 30/4/2025

Dear comrades, In the past, the Socialist Labour Party has had a presence at the May Day Gala in Chesterfield and the Silk Mill Festival in Derby. This year the May Day Gala will take place on Monday, the 5th of May and the Silk Mill Festival will take place on Saturday the 7th of June. Would anyone be interested in being part of SLP presence at these events, this year? These may be opportunities to make people aware of the Socialist Labour Party’s presence and policies, and hopefully generate interest. Please get in touch via the form on the Contacts pag and we can begin the organisation. In solidarity, Allistair Lomax