In the early hours of Friday morning we will learn whether Scotland has voted in favour of Independence. The arguments have been well rehearsed from the uncertainty of Independence, and the stability offered by the Union, to the economic and democratic freedom offered by Independence. As a supporter of the Union, and the Better Together […]
Privatised railways have failed passengers and taxpayers
Sep 10th, 2014 by Grahame Morris.This week began with protests at Northern Rail stations, including Seaham, campaigning against the introduction of higher fares, threats to rail services, and job cuts on the rail network. Northern Rail has been pressed by the Department for Transport to raise extra revenues as sixty nine percent of their costs are covered by subsidies they receive […]
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Ending the secrecy that shrouds the sell off of the NHS
Sep 4th, 2014 by Grahame Morris.The arguments about the fragmentation and privatisation of NHS services are well rehearsed. The public know the reorganisation wasted £3 billion and vital resources which should have been spent on frontline services and patients, but what has often gone unnoticed is the democratic deficit and the erosion of our rights to question those who run public […]
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March for the NHS
Aug 20th, 2014 by Grahame Morris.The NHS is firmly on the Road to Privatisation. The promise to protect the NHS and to halt any top down reorganisation lasted up until the point David Cameron became Prime Minister. Without any mandate David Cameron undertook the largest top down reorganisation since the foundation of the NHS, laying the framework for the whole […]
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Standing on the shoulders of giants
Jul 16th, 2014 by Grahame Morris.This year’s 130th Durham Miners Gala was a huge success. The weather was perfect, there were over 60 banners from former coalfields across the region and the festival atmosphere was complete with superb brass bands playing everything from miners classics to modern standards. The Gala remains the UK’s largest annual trade union gathering despite the closure of […]
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Training and the ‘forgotten 50%’
Jul 14th, 2014 by Grahame Morris.For too long there has been an assumption that the best path to success for young people is via the conventional academic route. That kind of thinking is now out of date. For a 14 year old following the traditional academic route there is a clear route through GCSEs to A’ levels and on to […]
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Government have lost control of the NHS
Jun 25th, 2014 by Grahame Morris.David Cameron once promised the health service was safe in his hands, he said his priority could be summed up in three letters – NHS. To highlight his commitment the Conservative Party prior to the election repeatedly promised “no more top down reorganisations”. However, within months of its formation,the Coalition pursued the biggest reorganisation since […]
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The Coalition’s Last Stand
Jun 13th, 2014 by Grahame Morris.Dennis Skinner summed up the country’s mood when he declared the recent Queen’s speech to be the “Coalition’s last stand.” The Government set out their agenda for the next 12 months leading up to the general election. It was a missed opportunity, lacking the ideas, policy and ambition that is required to meet the challenges we face, […]
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Labour’s cost of living contract
May 7th, 2014 by Grahame Morris.In less than three weeks voters will go to the polls with the UK still in the midsts of a cost of living crisis for ordinary people up and down the country. After plunging the UK into a double dip recession, recent growth figures have left David Cameron denying a cost of living crisis exists. […]
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International Workers’ Memorial Day
May 5th, 2014 by Grahame Morris.This week workers and Trade Unionists around the world held events, demonstrations and vigils to mark International Workers’ Memorial Day on Monday 28 April. The day intended to serve as a rallying cry to remember the dead, but also to fight for the living. Every year, two million men and women die worldwide as a result […]
