Today, workers in the public sector across Leeds have taken strike action in defence of government attacks on their pensions; making them work longer, pay more and receive less at the end of it. Around 7,000 marched and then participated in a regional TUC rally today in Leeds, where Socialist Party member Iain Dalton addressed the crowd on behalf of the TUC Youth Forum. Earlier … Continue reading Leeds Strikes Back on N30
Over 300, overwhelmingly parents and students, marched today against the proposed conversion of Prince Henry’s Grammar School in Otley to academy status on 1st December this year. That this comes on top of 6 days of strike action by teachers, with around 60-100 on picket lines each day, and a public meeting of well over 250 people should leave anyone convinced that the populace of … Continue reading Otley Marches Against Academy Proposals
Holding a public meeting prior to the biggest action in living memory on November 30th, independents and people drawn from a multitude of left-wing movements voiced their dissatisfaction with the government and sought to make plans for N30 and beyond. Nial Vivian, Hyde Park & Headingley Socialist Party Discussions varied around individual picket lines and turnouts expected, as well as tactics for swelling the ranks … Continue reading Leeds Rallies In Preparation for N30 Pensions Strike
Iain Dalton spoke to Occupy Leeds activist Stephanie Maston ID: Why are you and other people involved in Occupy Leeds? SM: We’re all there for different personal reasons, but we came up with an official statement within the first week to try and draw them together. But it really boils down to us seeing that we are part of the 99% as opposed to the … Continue reading Interview With An Occupy Leeds Activist
Otley Town Council held a public meeting last night to discuss the opposition to the academisation of Prince Henry’s School. Over 250 people were in attendance, including parents, students and staff from the school with an overwhelming majority against the school becoming an academy. Andy Smith, Aireborough & Horsforth Socialist Party The speakers discussed the various issues the school and community face from becoming an … Continue reading Massive Public Meeting of Opposition to Proposed Academy in Otley
Over 200 people turned up at Occupy Leeds in City Square today to hear folk rocker Billy Bragg play a short set in solidarity with the camp. Starting off with a specially re-written version of ‘Which Side Are You On?’, referencing the occupy movement, he went through other wellknown songs such as ‘World Turned Upside Down’ before finishing with a rousing rendition of the Internationale. … Continue reading Billy Bragg Plays Occupy Leeds
The third day of the strike by teachers against the academisation of Prince Henry’s Grammar School, Otley saw an even larger amount of teachers and members of the public supporting the picket line. They were supported once again by a strong presence of students, who had to leave the picket line at 8.30am as years 11, 12 and 13 had been called into school in … Continue reading Anti-Academy Strike Still Going Strong
Last weekend, Leeds district Socialist Party hosted an education day school on General Strikes in theory and practice. Attended by 15 people, the day school was split into three sections. Alicia Blackett, Hyde Park & Headingley Socialist Party Iain Dalton introduced the topic in the first session, pointing to the huge waves of strikes, occupations and protests developing across the world in response to brutal … Continue reading Leeds General Strike Day School
On Wednesday 16th November, teachers in NASUWT and NUT at Prince Henry Grammar School (PHGS) in Otley took their second day of strike action against the proposal to turn the school into an academy. Iain Dalton, Leeds Socialist Party Socialist Party members joined the picket line to offer our full support for the protest and their campaign. The Socialist Party has participated in several campaigns … Continue reading Teachers, Parents and Students Say No to an Academy in Otley
Joining a movement rapidly spreading across the globe, individuals took up occupation of City Square in Leeds at 9am on Friday morning. Starting small, including members of the Socialist Party, Leeds occupation has grown significantly over its first two days of existence, playing host to a number of visitors from other occupation movements across the country. Nial Vivian, Leeds Socialist Party The occupation, taking root … Continue reading Occupy Leeds Begins
Leeds Socialist Party 