Best Socialist Party (CWI England Podcasts (2025)

1
Where next for Mélenchon and La France Insoumise? 41:13

Play Pause

1d ago41:13

41:13

Tony Saunois, CWI Secretary, discusses his review of Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s book, “Now the People – Revolution in the 21st Century”, with Sean Figg, from the CWI’s International Secretariat.Mélenchon and the movement he leads, La France Insoumise (Frace Unbowed), are well positioned to play a critical role in how the crisis of French capitalism devel…

1
Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana launch 'Your Party' - What the Socialist Party thinks 46:36

19d ago46:36

46:36

More analysis at https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/The fact that steps are being taken to develop ‘Your Party’ will be very welcome news to the 800,000 who have already said they want to join. Against the background of brutal austerity from Starmer’s New Labour Mark II and electoral gains for Reform the need for a workers’ party with socialist poli…

1
Episode 145. Youth Walkout against Trump 25:28

3M ago25:28

25:28

Today's podcast is a discussion with Socialist Students national Organiser Adam Gillman, about the Youth Walkout against Trump campaign. Go to www.socialiststudents.org.uk to get involvedSocialist Students press releaseBuckingham Palace has booked in Donald Trump’s state visit to the UK for 17-19 September.Already hundreds of students have signed u…

1
Zarah Sultana MP leaves Labour - what next in the fight for a new workers' party? 17:43

4M ago17:43

17:43

Today’s podcast is a discussion with Socialist Party General Secretary Hannah Sell, around the announcement on the 3rd July 2025 that Zarah Sultana MP was resigning from the Labour Party to, together with Jeremy Corbyn, “co-lead the founding of a new party, with other campaigners and activists across the country.”The Socialist Party has been pushin…

1
Socialism the Podcast Episode 143: Fighting for LGBTQ+ rights in 2025 52:33

4M ago52:33

52:33

While it was never true that LGBTQ+ liberation was an inevitability within the system of profit-before-all-else capitalism, the basis for that hope has suffered major blows in the last year. The pace of attacks can feel overwhelming. Donald Trump’s second term has begun with cruel attacks on LGBTQ+ rights in the US on a much bigger scale than in hi…

1
Socialism the Podcast Episode 142: Trade Wars and the workers' movement 32:01

6M ago32:01

32:01

Hannah Sell, the general Secretary of the Socialist Party, discusses the chaos unleashed on the world economy by Donald Trump's ‘liberation day’ tariffs.What is the logic of the massive tariffs introduced by Trump? Despite appearances, it is not simply a question of a crazy billionaire having got the keys to the White House. Trump reflects the decl…

1
Socialism the Podcast Episode 141: The battle for the PCS 20:28

7M ago20:28

20:28

Dave Semple, Public and Commercial Service Union (PCS) national Vice president, speaking in a personal capacity, discusses the issues at stake in the upcoming union elections. From 16 April, ballot papers will go out to PCS members to vote for a new National Executive Committee (NEC) and president. PCS organises workers in the civil service, in gov…

1
Episode 140. The German elections: Disaster for Establishment Parties 37:08

7M ago37:08

37:08

Sascha Stanicic discusses the recent German elections in February 2025, which saw a drop in votes for the ‘establishment’ parties, and an increase in support for both the leftwing Die Linke and the right wing Alternative für Deutschland (AfD).Sascha is the federal spokesperson for– Sozialistische Organisation Solidarität (SOL) – the section of the …

1
139. The Crisis in Higher Education 23:45

8M ago23:45

23:45

The National Organiser of Socialist Students, Adam Powell Davies, discusses the crisis facing higher education and Socialist Students' new national campaign Funding not Fees. Socialist Students is serious about fighting to end the uni funding crisis, by mobilising students to demand no course cuts, no job losses, and for free, fully funded educatio…

1
138. Fighting for a new party under Starmer 32:39

9M ago32:39

32:39

Today’s podcast is a discussion with former socialist MP Dave Nellist, the national chair of the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC). We will be discussing some of the main themes from this year’s TUSC conference, which had the heading ‘Fighting for a new party under the Starmer government. And what role for TUSC?’If you are not yet a mem…

1
Socialism 137. Where is Britain going? 39:43

9M ago39:43

39:43

Today’s podcast is a discussion with Socialist Party General Secretary Hannah Sell, introducing the party’s new document on British perspectives produced by the National Committee. This important document is being distributed to all members for reading and discussion ahead of the Socialist Party National Congress in March. At the Congress, the docu…

1
136. Trumpism and its limits 41:53

11M ago41:53

41:53

The election victory of Donald Trump opens a new era internationally, and domestically in the United States. This election win is not merely a changing of the guard at the White House. Although the US has had right-wing presidents in the past, for example, Ronald Reagan, who presided over a neo-liberal onslaught, including brutal attacks on the tra…

1
135. The US Elections 16:11

1y ago16:11

16:11

In this episode of the podcast, Tony Saunois, General secretary of the Committee for a Workers International, analyses the general trends in the leadup to the US elections and why the outcome will have a major effect on the global capitalist system. Tony will be speaking on Sunday 10th November from 11am-1pm at Socialism 2024, the weekend of social…

1
134: How to fight the far right 26:27

1y ago26:27

26:27

In this episode of the podcast Josh Asker the editor of 'The Socialist,' explains the tactics and strategies needed to build a mass movement against the far right.Socialism 2024Get your tickets for socialism here: www.socialism.org.ukDo you want to be part of building the socialist opposition that we need to end austerity, poverty, climate crisis, …

1
Nigeria Erupts - Build the Solidarity Campaign 21:37

1y ago21:37

21:37

In August protestors took to the streets in towns and cities across Nigeria in anger at the deepening social and economic crises gripping the country, felt by ordinary Nigerians as a worsening cost of living crisis. But the state, led by the government of President Bola Tinubu, cracked down hard. Hundreds of activists have been detained without cha…

1
133. Trade Union Congress 2024 27:28

1y ago27:28

27:28

133. Trade Union Congress 2024If the trade unions were to take the first steps towards building a political alternative it could rapidly build into a mass force to challenge Labour, the populist and far right, and to fight for the socialist change we need. So far, the union leaders have stubbornly resisted such an initiative. But in this changed po…

1
132. Tories Smashed! Build The Socialist Opposition 28:33

1+ y ago28:33

28:33

Not just booted out. The Tories have been crushed. The electorate has punished them for 14 years of austerity, attacks on the working class, lies and corruption. The result, in terms of the number of seats, is a Labour landslide, but enthusiasm for Keir Starmer’s Labour was absent from this general election. The absolute vote for Labour was 9.6 mil…

1
131. Prepare A Workers' General Election Stand 28:34

1+ y ago28:34

28:34

131. Prepare a workers’ general election stand In the local elections on 2nd May, the Socialist Party stood as part of the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC). TUSC is an electoral coalition which was co-founded by the late Bob Crow, then general secretary of the RMT transport workers’ union. Its primary goal is to enable trade unionists,…

1
130. The fight for workers' politics now 31:13

1+ y ago31:13

31:13

Over the last two years of strikes the working class in Britain has begun to feel its collective power. It is about to face a Starmer-led government that will defend the interests of the capitalist class. Further development of trade union militancy is going to be vital, but our class will also desperately need its own party. Any steps that can be …

1
Crisis & Class Struggle in Germany 28:30

1+ y ago28:30

28:30

Sascha Staničić, national spokesperson of the Socialist Organisation Solidarity, Sol, the CWI in Germany, discusses the CWI’s analysis of the crisis and class struggle in Germany, with Sean Figg, from the CWI’s International Secretariat.For a whole period German capitalism has been a bulwark of stability for capitalism on the European continent. No…

1
Capitalism in Crisis and at War – A Marxist Analysis 42:43

1+ y ago42:43

42:43

The crisis of world capitalism means war and conflicts, economic stagnation and crises, and political instability on every continent. The working class, young people, and the poor masses around the world are responding with uprisings, mass movements, strike waves and an increased searching for the forms of organisation and the political ideas neces…

1
129. Marion Lloyd: a socialist candidate for PCS general secretary 21:46

2y ago21:46

21:46

Marion will build an industrial plan capable of winning, including national and selective action and overtime bans. Marion will ensure that PCS takes the lead to coordinate with other unions on pay, jobs and against Tory anti-union laws. Marion will give your reps and branches the tools they need to do the job you elected them to do. Get involved: …

1
128. Behind the headlines, how can the Israel-Palestine conflict be solved? 43:29

2y ago43:29

43:29

Capitalism and its political representatives are totally incapable of meeting any of the needs of working-class and poor people anywhere on the globe. All that is on offer is a never-ending diet of war, poverty, oppression and repression.Now the Israeli regime is on the verge of launching a brutal land offensive in Gaza, raising the possibility of …

1
127. A Marxist take on the world economic crisis 57:14

2y ago57:14

57:14

In this podcast with Hannah Sell, Socialist Party general secretary, we look at the world economy, how the capitalist system works – or doesn’t work - and draw conclusions for socialists. It is the first time that, across much of the world, a surge in inflation has coexisted with widespread financial vulnerabilities. The longer the inflation persis…

1
126. Chile 50 Years On - socialism is possible but heroism isn't enough 48:51

2y ago48:51

48:51

Fifty years since it was crushed, the Chilean revolution of 1970-73 remains a reference point, not only in Chile, but internationally, for both the working class and its organisations - and the capitalist classes. In Chile, in the wake of the 2019 mass movement, the legacy of the coup is again hotly contested. The defenders of capitalism feel compe…

1
125. Dave Nellist - former 'Workers' MP on a Worker's Wage' discusses the Tory sleaze scandal 38:25

4y ago38:25

38:25

We sat down with Socialist Party member Dave Nellist to discuss the latest Tory sleaze scandal, how he went about only taking a average worker's wage and how as a supporter of the Militant (now the Socialist Party) he used his position as a Labour MP to give a voice for working class people everywhere and fight for socialist change.Dave was a ‘Mili…

1
124. Cop 26 - Socialist Change to end Climate Change 52:29

4y ago52:29

52:29

November 5/6 in Glasgow saw some of the largest political mobilisations since the onslaught of the Covid pandemic. The catalyst was the bosses’ summit, COP26, a forum to find ‘solutions’ to limit global warming, but more importantly, to save the capitalist system. The first protest on the Friday saw a march of up to 20,000 strong – which was an ove…

1
123. Cuban protests – what do they represent? 35:38

4y ago35:38

35:38

Cuban protests – what do they represent? On 11 July, Cuba was rocked by the largest protests to have taken place since the “Maleconazo” protests that erupted in 1994. The 1994 protests followed the collapse of the former USSR and the abrupt cutting off of aid to Cuba. It resulted in a staggering 30% decline in Cuban GDP and the introduction of what…

1
122. Afghanistan in crisis: A colossal failure of western capitalism 34:09

4y ago34:09

34:09

Afghanistan in crisis: A colossal failure of western capitalism. After two decades of military occupation and trillions of dollars spent by western governments, millions of Afghans are now back to where they were in 2001 - under the brutal rule of the Taliban. Yet the capitalist politicians responsible for this tragic debacle - Messrs Tony Blair, G…

1
121. Fighting to save the NHS 37:19

4+ y ago37:19

37:19

The future of the NHS hangs in the balance. Nearly five million people are waiting for treatment. Covid has pushed our health services to the limit, but years of underfunding meant it was already in crisis before the pandemic. Waiting lists were already rising, as were the huge staff shortages.But rather than addressing these problems as a priority…

1
120. Tories in crisis - Preparing for struggle in post-Covid Britain 48:07

4+ y ago48:07

48:07

Tories in crisis - Preparing for struggle in post-Covid BritainFar from an era of sustained economic upswing, social peace and a Tory ascendency opening up for post-Covid Britain, the prospects ahead are for heightened class conflict and turbulent political times.The last fifteen months have been unprecedented in the history of capitalism. In Brita…

1
119. Organising in the food and retail industry 45:46

4+ y ago45:46

45:46

Retail has felt the full impact of the Covid pandemic but the resulting heightened struggle between different capitalist interests within the sector, and between big business and retail workers, reflects longer-term trends.During the pandemic, we saw shortages of basic goods during the first few weeks – what was this due to? There were lots of talk…

1
118. Where now for the Scottish independence movement? 18:56

4+ y ago18:56

18:56

6 May 2021 saw the election of a majority of MSPs to the Scottish parliament committed to a second referendum on Scottish independence. Is an independent Scotland now inevitable? How will Boris Johnson and the Tories respond? Should socialists and the workers' movement fight to lead the struggle for self-determination for Scotland? Philip Stott, na…

1
117. How can Palestinian liberation and an end to Israeli state terror be won? 38:09

4+ y ago38:09

38:09

What can the Palestinians in Palestine and Israel do to develop their struggle?What are the UN and governments around the world doing to try to get a ceasefire?And what about the methods of Palestinian struggle? Do the rockets fired from Gaza help the Palestinians’ struggle?And what about the working class in Israel? How possible is it for Israeli …

1
116. May elections and crisis in the Labour Party 26:46

4+ y ago26:46

26:46

The Tories are claiming victory – but what is the perspective for Johnson and his party? The austerity they are planning for the working class and the lack of solutions that they have for all the problems we face will smash any hope-against-hopes there is that they will improve things.The Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) is the elector…

1
115. Biden’s stimulus – can it solve the problems of US and world capitalism? 35:19

4+ y ago35:19

35:19

And what about beyond the US – how will this spending play out on the world stage? What does it mean when Biden says ‘America’s back’?Do these packages represent a new New Deal comparable to that of Roosevelt in the 1930s? What results did FDR’s version achieve? How should the left respond to this turnaround of approach? We ask what role does the l…

1
114. Football super-league - reclaim the game 27:13

4+ y ago27:13

27:13

The withdrawal of the six football clubs in England from the Super League - after protests and action by fans, players and other club staff - will be rightly celebrated. That’s the start. What is necessary now to reclaim football? The billionaire owners who attempted to rob our clubs and game are still in charge. They cannot be trusted and must be …

1
113. Corruption, cronyism and capitalist politics 29:15

4+ y ago29:15

29:15

This episode was recorded on Tuesday 23 April 2021 and by the time we’ve published it more revelations have emerged from the murk of Westminster. Johnson won the last general election by distancing himself from his own party - including Cameron - and ludicrously posing as some kind of champion of the 'little people' against the elites. But this sca…

1
112. A socialist mayor for Liverpool 42:56

4+ y ago42:56

42:56

How can elected positions be used to advance the struggle of working class and young people against the bosses’ and the Tories’ Covid austerity?The Socialist Party is part of the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition, organising to work with trade unionists and socialists to offer a programme that builds on Corbyn’s anti-austerity stand at the bal…

1
111. PCS elections - the struggle for fighting trade unionism 38:51

4+ y ago38:51

38:51

111. PCS elections – the struggle for fighting trade unionismHow can the trade unions, as the main mass organisation of the working class, be organised to fulfil their full potential in the fight against Tory covid austerity?In this episode we speak to Marion Lloyd, the socialist candidate for president of the PCS union which organises civil servic…

1
110. The Paris Commune 29:30

4+ y ago29:30

29:30

The Paris Commune 1871 is rich in lessons for the struggles today. Listen to Peter Taaffe, Socialist Party political secretary, discussing the rich lessons for today.The Committee for a Workers’ International, the world socialist organisation to which the Socialist Party is affiliated, will host an online rally to celebrate the Paris Commune annive…

1
109. End violence against women 20:12

4+ y ago20:12

20:12

What is the socialist approach to ending both violence against women and defending the right to protest?This bonus episode is a recording of the introduction to a national meeting hosted by the Socialist Party on Friday 19 March, attended by around 150 people.What are the factors that made the murder of Sarah Everard the trigger for the protests?Wh…

1
108. SNP warfare – what does it represent? 25:57

4+ y ago25:57

25:57

What does this mean for the independence movement in Scotland?How can workers and young people, who overwhelmingly back independence, take their struggle forward? The Socialist Party Scotland is the sister party of the Socialist Party in England and Wales.This episode of Socialism looks at the feud within the SNP and what it means for the independe…

1
107. 1971: how workers beat anti-union laws 1:01:22

4+ y ago1:01:22

1:01:22

What can we learn from the defeat of the Industrial Relations Act 1971?Capitalist commentators often refer to the 1970s as a kind of dark age, and accuse socialists of wanting to return to it. What they’re frightened of is the huge power of a working class that fought and often won during that decade.One major victory was the defeat of the Tories’ …

1
106. Black workers' charter 50:23

4+ y ago50:23

50:23

How can we fight racism and capitalism today?Black and Asian people have been disproportionately affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. In fact, they are disproportionately affected by austerity, and by all the inequalities and attacks that face the working class.Meanwhile, working-class youth showed their willingness to fight racism and class inequali…

1
105. Russia protests: what future for Putin's regime? 48:28

4+ y ago48:28

48:28

What next for the mass protests in Russia?Facing down brutal police repression, tens of thousands seized the streets in Russia to oppose the arrest of opposition leader Alexi Navalny. Vladimir Putin's dictatorial regime was shaken.While working-class Russians suffer ever more misery, Putin has built himself an opulent private palace. The anger agai…

1
104. School workers need a fighting union 56:35

4+ y ago56:35

56:35

How can the National Education Union win for school workers?During the pandemic, educators and support staff have been on the front line of the Tories’ war for private wealth over public health. Schools became key breeding grounds for Covid-19.Then, in January, the NEU forced a humiliating government U-turn on school reopening. What are the lessons…

1
103. The Arab Spring 25:51

5y ago25:51

25:51

What are the 2011 Arab Spring’s lessons for now?Ten years ago, revolutions erupted in Egypt and Tunisia, and rapidly spread in the Middle East and North Africa. Workers and poor people enraged by their living conditions toppled dictators.World capitalist governments were taken by surprise. Why did Marxists in the Committee for a Workers’ Internatio…

1
102. US: the storming of the Capitol 40:02

5y ago40:02

40:02

How should socialists respond to the dramatic crisis in the US?On Wednesday 6 January 2021, Trump supporters - some armed - invaded Congress. It was the culmination of the loose-cannon president’s desperate attempts to overturn the election result. But the US capitalist class is used to inflicting humiliations like this on the rest of the world – n…

1
101. Britain, 2021: a new era of capitalist crisis 48:20

5y ago48:20

48:20

What is the outlook for class struggle in Britain in 2021?The pandemic was a world-shattering turning point. All the weaknesses of capitalism were laid bare in 2020. But in few countries more so than Britain.The nightmare which began in 2020 has not been limited to public health, but has infected the already-ailing world economy – with British capi…