Solidarity 392, 3 February 2016

Waiting lists in the NHS are increasing for physical illnesses. But at least they are monitored, and the government feels pressure to reduce them. According to a new report from the NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children), one child in five of those referred to child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) is denied service. For those who get it, the wait for an assessment appointment averages two months across the country, more than 26 weeks in some areas, and “years not months” in others. In other words, an unmanageably long time for the child or adolescent...

Two victories have been won in the Court of Appeal against the bedroom tax. A woman who was a survivor of abuse from her ex-partner and had a panic room fitted by the police, and was then forced to pay the bedroom tax on it, won her case; so did Sue and Paul Rutherford, taxed for the spare room used to store equipment for their disabled grandson and to allow carers to stay over. Rather than give its victims some respite, the DWP will keep trying to overturn the verdict. The cost to the DWP of the legal fees in fighting the panic room case is several times more then it would cost to scrap the...

In one of the most violent street clashes of recent times, on Saturday 30 January in Dover fascists, including the National Front and English Defence League splinter groups, fought with hundreds of anti-fascist protesters in Dover. Anti-fascists broke through police lines to try to stop a fascist anti-migrant march. Many people on both sides were injured by flying bricks and by weapons. After a lengthy battle, the police eventually contained the anti-fascists and allowed the fascist protest to continue to a rally where speeches decried “Third World scum”. Earlier, four coaches organised by the...

Chancellor George Osborne claims the UK’s £130 million tax deal with Google “is a major success [for UK] tax policy.” Google agreed to pay £117 million for ten years’ worth of non-payment of taxes, plus £13 million in interest. But Google’s sales figures for 2015 alone were an £4.6 billion! Google's effective tax rate is just 3%! UK corporation tax is currently 20% (already reduced from 28% by the Tories in 2010), the lowest in the group of G8 countries. That Italy is pursuing Google for €227 million in back taxes from Google makes the UK deal even more risible. In case you were thinking the...

The process of preparing for Momentum’s first national committee meeting has had negatives but also definite positives. Things seem to be taking a step forward. We need to make the most of the positives to push things forward further. A sort of NC meeting was due in January, made up entirely of appointees. There was outcry, the meeting was delayed to 6 February, and a system of elections was put in place, with local groups electing delegates to regional meetings, which elected delegates to the NC. Even then, there were only three weeks to meet and elect delegates, leading to various problems...

A three-page advert in “Labour Research” (monthly magazine of the Labour Research Department) costs £4,000. But the current issue of the magazine gives the SNP three pages of advertising for nothing. Uncritically and inaccurately, an article entitled “Scotland and Employment Relations: Scotland - Showing the Way?” covers the SNP’s position on the Tories’ Trade Union Bill and the SNP’s attitude towards trade unions. The article accepts without challenge Sturgeon’s claim that the SNP “will do everything in our power to frustrate, undermine and stop the Bill being enacted.” It portrays the Labour...