Austerity

The movement outside of Parliament is critical. This government can – and will – be defeated. But it will need all of us to work for it

Slashed budgets, stressed workers and young people in desperate need across England and Wales. Something’s got to give

Vulnerable young people suffering from mental illness are not getting the help that they need. Kesia’s story

A satisfying, hopeful and successful week ruining the Tory Conference recorded by Cameron Panting

Protests in Manchester over several days created a sense of a Tory conference under permanent siege writes Chris Nineham

Corbyn's election represents a decisive rejection of Blairism, a vote against austerity and against war, and a vote for peace and justice. The possibilities opened up now are immense

Spanish anti-austerity party Podemos have issue the following statement backing Jeremy Corbyn for Labour leader

Jeremy Corbyn tells John Rees why his campaign aims to be a social movement and urges everyone who opposes austerity to demonstrate at Tory Conference in October

Camden Town Hall and the streets outside were packed with people eager to hear Jeremy Corbyn's radical message of hope as he continues his hugely popular speaking tour

The Westminster bubble was wrong about Corbyn’s candidacy, and it’s wrong about how the left might win the next general election writes James Meadway

This is an austerity-led consultation, obsessed (much like the BBC itself) by the pursuit of ‘efficiency’ and ‘value for money’

The chances of the deal agreed between Greece and the 'Institutions' actually being enforced seem low - this is, by no means, over writes James Meadway

If we want to fight TTIP we need to confront the undemocratic and unaccountable European Union argues Reuben Bard-Rosenberg

The EU have struck at Syriza to warn the rest of Europe of the folly of electing anti-austerity representatives writes Brian Heron

We need a broad, progressive campaign against EU membership, based on internationalism and solidarity and in opposition to the British establishment. We cannot leave the anti-EU argument to the racist right

The capitulation of the Syriza government is complete. The only way a disaster can be averted is for the left and the movements to take mass action quickly and decisively argues James Meadway

Look at what could be done with the £37 billion Britain spends annually on its military and foreign wars

The very lack of democracy at the heart of the European Union together with the way it has treated the people of Greece are reasons enough as to why the radical left should oppose the EU writes Chris Bambery

Filmed at the People's Assembly protest in Parliament Square against George Osborne's Austerity Budget, 8 July

Bristol’s #AusterityKills Protests against Osborne's budget brought together hundreds from across the city and beyond reports Jack Hazeldine

The Greek vote heralds the last few years of neoliberalism in Europe - the Left can win this time says James Meadway

John Rees speaking at Saturday's London protest in support of Greece

A selection of Kevin Ovenden’s live posts from the massive No protest in Athens, 3 July 2015

The forces which want to bury January's election outcome are regrouping through the Yes campaign. They may be using a democratic mechanism, but their methods go beyond it. Kevin Ovenden reports from Athens

The following is a letter to the Turkish and Kurdish organisation Day Mer by Kevin Ovenden regarding the situation in Greece and the lessons for the Left

There is a stark choice facing us all: allow the elites to ruin the lives of millions, or build mass resistance across the continent writes Lindsey German

Even IMF research now warns against imposing austerity on the UK, yet our political mainstream and the media agree it is necessary. Why is this?

A mass campaign with meetings up and down the country, drawing on the whole of the left, could seriously shake up politics in Britain

Saturday's march demonstrated that the People's Assembly is now a genuine mass movement, now we have to take it to a higher stage writes Lindsey German

Counterfire's new free sheet edition 002, June 2015

The massive End Austerity Now demonstration must be a springboard for more activity, locally and nationally

Rolling coverage from the build up and the day - submit your reports, images and videos using the hashtag #EndAusterityNow on Facebook and Twitter

The bigger the turnout the better, as people who may otherwise feel disillusioned and powerless suddenly feel significant – they have agency

A Diet of Austerityargues that to fight climate change, we need system change, and the blame must not be shifted onto individuals, finds Orlando Hill

With the focus of hatred aimed at migrants the elite culprits of society's problems hide behind racism

The Tories know they lack legitimacy and risk soon becoming a lame-duck administration. We must work to create an immense political crisis

Counterfire's new free sheet edition 001, May 2015

Protest isn’t a spectator sport. It is an example of grassroots political organising that should strengthen and embolden those who turn out on the day argues Lindsey German

With both main parties retrenching their commitment to austerity, the crisis of representation will be met, for now, outside of Parliament argues James Meadway

Seven Bristol A-Level students called a demonstration against austerity that turned into one of the largest in the city’s history. Counterfire spoke to four of them about how and why they did it

New People's Assembly volunteer, Michael Gilbert, reports on his experience at the protest of the Queen's Speech

'A to B' marches are vital if we want to bolster the Left, bring people in and give strength to other tactics argues Shelly Asquith

Manchester became the latest city to join the wave of anti-austerity action as thousands joined a protest initiated by two local residents. Report by Penny Hicks

The UK has gone into deflation for the first time since records began in 1996. James Meadway explains the implications for the economy, wages and the working class

After a march called by seven students drew thousands of people, a huge People's Assembly meeting took place on Monday reports Tom Whittaker

Change comes from mass action by working people - and as the movement grows, socialist organisation in the movement needs to grow too writes Chris Nineham

More reasons to join the national End Austerity Now demonstration on June 20 by People's Assembly organising committee member John Rees

Stop the War Coalition presents seven reasons to join the 20 June national demonstration against austerity

A London People's Assembly activist on how to make June 20 a seismic event

Just days after the general election around 100 people showed up to Newcastle's People's Assembly meeting determined to build mass opposition to cuts

The post-election anti austerity surge came to Manchester as over 350 turned up to the monthly meeting of the city's People's Assembly group reports Penny Hicks

It will be up to the radicals and revolutionaries to make the case for an effective, modern reformism - a minimum set of demands, as a prelude to further radicalization - argues James Meadway

The Tories don't have the support to carry through unpopular policies - we have to build a huge movement against them argues Lindsey German

The Tory election victory has lobbed Osborne a number of economic hand-grenades argues James Meadway

John Rees looks at what can rise from the ashes of the election

After caring for his elderly mother 50-year-old builder Simon faces eviction from a council flat. The second of a three part series by Rebecca Omonira-Oyekanmi

The Tory war on welfare is implicated in the growing numbers of evictions finds Rebecca Omonira-Oyekanmi in the third part of her investigation into housing in Coalition Britain

In this statement from her election blog Rabina Khan explains why she is standing for Mayor of Tower Hamlets in the forthcoming election on June 11

How the working class is blamed for the world’s ills: The final extract from Elaine Graham-Leigh's new book, A Diet of Austerity: Class Food and Climate Change

Casting food choices as a major cause of climate change may provide another justification for cuts explains Elaine Graham-Leigh in this extract from A Diet of Austerity

In this extract from her new book Elaine Graham-Leigh argues that food production and consumption is now a mainstream explanation for climate change - and part of shifting blame onto the poor

Syriza's leadership is walking a tightrope between the demands of the troika and the express will of its base and of the majority of the Greek electorate

Video of York Peope's Assembly Question Time with Owen Jones, Mark Steel, Kate Pickett and others

Kevin Ovenden takes stock after Syriza's first two months in office

Bailiffs are currently attempting to evict the residents of 60 Sweets Way, N20 following a Barnet county court ruling in favour of corporation Annington Homes

A series of student occupations against university cuts is underway and look set to escalate. Dan Poulton went along to Central St Martin's college where free foundation courses face the axe

In this letter to the Guardianprominent people back the People’s Assembly Against Austerity national demonstration and festival against austerity on Saturday 20 June

Kevin Ovenden on the roles of nationalism and internationalism in Greece's struggle with European imposed austerity

The government is failing to address any of the British economy's deep-rooted economic issues, instead it's following the same path that led to the last financial crash writes James Meadway

Two big announcements on economic policy are due this week - one from New York and one from Whitehall. James Meadway looks at how they will shape the future of this country

The political symbolism behind Alexis Tsipras' speech on reparations is explored by  Kevin Ovenden in his latest dispatch from Athens

Jail, hunger strikes and mass protest: this is the face of the struggle in Ireland reports Ramona McCartney

Establishment politics is fracturing, but the General Election outcome won't represent the anger with the elite. Chris Nineham outlines a strategy for popular opposition and generating a new left

Cal Corkery reports from a protest against cuts in Brighton

Costas Lapavitsas was professor of economics at SOAS before his election as Syriza MP. Here he poses five urgent questions for the Syriza leadership following Friday's deal with the Eurogroup

Greek Resistance hero and Syriza MEP has issued a statement urging opposition to the deal done by the party's leadership on Friday

Greece's Syriza government must decide whether to surrender to the Troika’s demands or exit the Euro.The Nazi Golden Dawn are waiting in the wings should they fail. Joshua Tartakovsky reports from Athens

Protesters took to the streets of Gateshead to oppose plans for another £46m worth of cuts over the next two years. Report by Tony Dowling

Protesters from Sunderland trade unions, the People's Assembly and supportive members of the public turned out in their hundreds to protest closure

The European Central Bank's decision to cut support to Greek banks may force the Syriza-led government to default and exit rather than abandon its anti-austerity programme writes James Meadway

With the German government's austerity mania losing them friends, it's looking increasingly likely that the new Syriza government will get a deal on Greece’s debt

An 'Election Petition' - a legal challenge to Lutfur Rahman's mayoral election victory - begins this week. Sean Rillo Raczka explains why it's an attack on democracy

A short documentary on Syriza's 22 day election campaign directed by Theopi Skarlatos and produced with funding from Unite the Union

Campaigners back Charlotte Munro - a trade unionist sacked for highlighting cuts to hospital services at Whipps Cross hospital in comments to the Waltham Forest health scrutiny committee

With Syriza's victory comes the potential to shake off the dead years of neoliberalism - years where the left had been ruled out of existence, which are now coming to an end

Syriza should internationalise its struggle to deprive the European elite the power to manoeuvre. John Rees on a stunning victory

What initiatives can the European Left take to deliver practical solidarity to the people of Greece? Kevin Ovenden provides some suggestions

In central Athens the Syriza organising hub is packed with activists, campaigners and journalists. Jonathan Shafi spoke to some of the people who have been campaigning hard for a Syriza victory

Rolling coverage of the Greek General Election on 25th January by journalist Kevin Ovenden. Practical solidarity funded by Philosophy Football

Kevin Ovenden speaks to three members of Syriza who are associated with the AnalyzeGreece! website

The surge in membership of the Green party shows that British politics is not marching to the right - James Meadway looks at the implications for the Left

The Coalition insists the government deficit is the UK's biggest economic problem, but it's our current account deficit they should be concerned about argues James Meadway

Kevin Ovenden makes a foray into the economic labyrinth in his ninth dispatch from Greece

Kevin Ovenden's 7th dispatch from Greece turns to debates about how electoral defeat for the parties of austerity might become a chance to end austerity itself

Protests will converge on London Mayor Boris Johnson's HQ on 31^st January in a rapidly growing campaign demanding action on the housing crisis writes Sarah Hatch

Kevin Ovenden looks at the party election broadcasts and what they say about the parties in his sixth dispatch from Greece

Kevin Ovenden looks at street culture in this, his fifth dispatch from Greece, and argues that our survival in this crisis decade cannot be through bread alone – we need roses too

Despite Chancellor George Osborne's claims, improvements in most people’s standards of living require sustained increases wages not price reductions argues James Meadway

The fight is on for an alternative to neoliberalism. In the first of a regular series of reports from Greece, Kevin Ovenden explains the significance of this month's Greek general election

Europe's neoliberal elite are alarmed at the prospect of a Syriza government - the left needs to be equally clear about the possibilities and limitations writes Sean Ledwith

2015 could be the year of huge resistance and change in Britain. We just need to work hard to convince people that if they fight back they can win writes Sam Fairbairn

The whole of Europe's pro-austerity elite will try and scare and intimidate the Greek people into not voting the left wing Syriza into office. We have been here before writes Chris Bambery

Greece could be about to elect the most radical government of the left in Europe since the 1930s - the outcome could shape European society for decades to come

System change not climate change: ultimately revolutionary change is needed. This is the message of Naomi Klein’s This Changes Everything, argues Elaine Graham-Leigh

Private rented accommodation holds no answers, the New Era Tenants are right, we need council housing argues homeless worker Norbert Lawrie

James Meadway gets behind the spin with five insights about Osborne's Autumn statement

The parallels between the politics of the invasion of Iraq and the dismantling of the NHS could not be more blatant writes Iain Wilson

George Osborne is considering introducing reduction of the budget deficit into law - constraining the ability of a future government to break with a failed policy

Alex Snowdon looks at what's wrong with the Guardian article about Nick Forbes and Newcastle's council cuts

The Guardian has revealed that Boris Johnson is planning on cutting 90% of funding for schemes targeted at some of London most deprived and vulnerable young people. The Student Assembly Against Austeritycalls upon Boris Johnson to scrap these plans.

A report from the picket lines in Sunderland as NHS workers strike against a four-year long public sector pay freeze

Clare Sambrook reports on the devastating impact of the coalition government's ideological pursuit of ‘proper punishment’

Thousands attended today's Radical Independence Campaign conference and launched a 'People's Vow' for Scotland

Against the odds, regardless of the absent NUS and a bullying police force, the student movement has announced a triumphant return to the UK’s political scene writes Jack Brindelli

Chris Nineham makes five observations about the anti-establishment mood in austerity Britain

The enthusiasm for Saturday’s Radical Independence Campaign event reflects the deep and profound political awakening that has taken place thanks to the referendum process says Jonathon Shafi

The community turned out to defend Lutfur Rahman and democracy at a packed multilingual meeting in the borough of Tower Hamlets on Wednesday night

Thousands of students, teachers, and parents have been taking part in a national student demonstration reports Marina Prentoulis

Following the British establishment's undemocratic attempt to undermine the twice-elected mayor of Tower Hamlets it's clear whose side we should be on argues Reuben Bard-Rosenberg

Ireland is facing mounting anger over controversial moves to introduce water charges, with widespread street protests reports Rob Winkel

Demonstrators from across Italy filled the streets of Rome last Saturday to protest against labour market reforms and austerity policies of Prime Minister Matteo Renzi

James Meadway: you can’t have consistently rising debts, and consistently falling incomes. The two must collide at some point. That means a crisis

Video, tweets and images from the TUC demonstration against austerity

Chris Nineham on why we need to lead the fight against inequality and for democracy

David Cameron's 'middle-class tax giveaway' in reality means giving huge amounts of cash to the very richest argues James Meadway

Chris Bambery argues that, despite the No vote in the referendum last month, the British state remains mired in a deep crisis with no obvious way out

There is a deep political crisis going on in Britain. New politics, institutions and forms of organisation are required to defeat austerity and secure its alternative writes Brian Heron

Based on David Cameron's speeches, this video by Cassetteboy accurately sums up Conservative policy - contains swearing

Ofsted head Sir Michael Wilshaw’s ideas about ‘discipline’ have much in common with Victorian methods and little to do with real education writes John Westmoreland

James Doran, a socialist activist in north-east England, considers some repercussions of the Scottish referendum for the anti-austerity movement

Despite the ceasefire the crisis in Ukraine is far from resolved. Feyzi Ismail talks to Russian Marxist and dissident Boris Kagarlitsky about the background to the current situation

The People's Assembly Against Austerity will be mobilising to support the TUC protest against on 18 October

Conan Doyle on why we need a radical reform of the entire housing market

Mark Tyers speaks to Rehana Azam, co-founder and organiser of the People's March for the NHS at the march stopping point outside The Church Mouse pub on Chester Moor

The Scottish Parliament is defenceless against Westminster cuts - remaining in the UK would condemn Scots to low wages, falling living standards and humiliating welfare cuts argues Adam Frew

James Meadway looks at a new book that argues that the Scottish independence referendum has the potential to transform politics, both North and South of the border

Stewart Halforty reports from Nottingham, where a picket stopped a bailiff sent by a state-owned zombie bank to repossess a family home

Mary O’Hara’s Austerity Bites brings us first-hand accounts of the damage done by austerity measures to people across Britain. It is an invaluable resource for activists, argues Ellen Graubart

700 mothers will join forces on the 16th August and march from Jarrow to London in protest at the destruction of the NHS. Ellen Graubart reports

Gove may have gone but the covert privatisation of schools he initiated continues writes Clare Sambrook

Despite being one of the richest in the world, ours is a country where 1 in 6 children and 1 in 3 disabled people live in poverty writes Marienna Pope-Weidemann

James Meadway writes on the growing danger of a new crash facing the debt laden British economy

Thousands of public sector workers and supporters descended on Trafalgar Square in a protest over pay, pensions and living standards. Reuben Bard-Rosenberg reports

The largest strike in years rocks the Tories - rolling coverage from around the country in pictures, videos, tweets and reports

As millions strike and march together, we need to develop the alliance between unions and the majority who are under attack argues Chris Nineham

Breaking the London bias of the UK economy requires a decisive break with the trickle-down economics that has accompanied London-centred growth writes James Meadway

Photographs, videos and tweets from the People's Assembly protest in central London on 21 June 2014

This Saturday the People's Assembly will be taking over Parliament Square. Merlin Fulcher writes of the need to democratise this symbolic public space

Norfolk People's Assembly protested in Norwich against tax dodging Vodafone as part of UK Uncut's national day of action

No more Austerity National demonstration and free festival - demand the alternative: Saturday 21 June

On their sixth strike day, the staff at Ritzy cinema staged a lively protest, which attracted the support of the local community, reports Peter Stäuber

In just a few weeks the People’s Assembly against Austerity gathers for its first national demonstration in London. David Peel offers some practical tips for building the protest

The People's Assembly is organising a national demonstration and free festival on Saturday 21 June. Help make it massive!

The People's Assembly will be handing in the first set of signatures to Downing Street on Budget Day - Wednesday 19 March 2014. Join us from 6pm. Protests are taking place across the country

Saturday's People's Assembly Recall Conference showed indisputably that a unified national anti-austerity movement has emerged

Latest images, video and reports from the People's Assembly recall conference

Ahead of the People's Assembly conference this Saturday, Sam Fairbairn looks at how we create a movement powerful enough turn the tide on austerity

The key job for activists now is to get campaign groups, union branches, student groups, and community and faith groups to send delegates to the People's Assembly recall conference

‘It is not the pay it is a matter of principle’

This is the largest anti-cuts meeting ever held in King’s Lynn, and what is more it was the most determined

The scale of the protest at the Tory party conference demonstrates that the movement against austerity is growing in strength - Reuben Bard-Rosenberg reports from Manchester

Since the People’s Assembly met on 22 June a new organisation has been born and is growing across the country

The North East People's Assembly on Saturday 14 September was a remarkable success. Alex Snowdon reports

The government's vicious attacks on the poorest are continuing, and there's little opposition from Labour. It's time to get on the streets, argues Chris Nineham

Peter Stauber reports from the protest against rail fare rises at King's Cross this morning, one of many such protests across the country today

James Meadway explains the need for the People's Assembly in the context of the failures of neoliberal politics

Local People's Assemblies are popping up everywhere - here’s some guidance for setting one up in your area - based on the experience of local assemblies so far

A short film about the People's Assembly - shot from a participant's perspective

Interviews with a few of the 4,000 people who came to the People's Assembly Against Austerity in Westminster on 22nd June to form a united coalition against the cuts

Photographs of the audience and speakers at the People's Assembly Against Austerity, taken by Counterfire supporters

Alex Snowdon's account of the People's Assembly and how to take it forward after the hugely successful London event

Hundreds of delegates at the People’s Assembly gathered at the Welfare not Warfare session to discuss the connection between the anti-war movement and the struggle against austerity

Reuben Bard-Rosenberg reports on the opening session of the People's Assembly - where the leader of the TUC called for united action

John Rees: We will need every tactic at our disposal to defeat austerity, lets hit them with everything we’ve got

Counterfire's rolling coverage of the People's Assembly Against Austerity

The first People's Assembly is the start of a process of mobilisation, it will need the commitment of every activist to make its early promise a political reality that can shape our future

This is a moment of hope for the labour movement - at last the unions, the left and the anti-austerity movement are getting it together, writes John Rees in the Morning Star

Chris Nineham reports on a week of electric anti-austerity events backing the People's Assembly Against Austerity

The crucial next step to radical unity at the moment is to pull together all those who want to fight the government, whether they are inside or outside Labour argues Chris Nineham

In just two weeks, support for the People’s Assembly has been overwhelming - Sam Fairbairn reports on the most recent developments

The People’s Assembly Against Austerity has been launched with a letter to the Guardian - add your name to the signatories

Len McCluskey is standing for re-election as the leader of Unite. He deserves the full support of all who want to see a serious fightback against the Coalition regime

How can socialists mobilise the type of mass action required for social change? The Counterfire steering committee presents the following article for discussion at our annual conference

The Europe-wide strikes and protests of November 14 point the way forward for our movement argue Chris Nineham and Dan Poulton

Barcelona based writer Sofia Tipaldou on how the European day of action went in Spain

European trade unions and movements are taking the fight against austerity to a new level on November 14 reports Chris Nineham from Florence

The Coalition of Resistance has launched a People's Petition Against Austerity in a letter to the Guardian - add your name to the growing list of backers

The battle against austerity will come to the streets of London this Saturday as thousands march against cuts and privatisation

The parcels carrier has sacked a leading activist. Support the solidarity campaign

The 20th October demonstration in London is a unique chance to join the global fight against austerity, writes Isabelle Cullen

The TUC Congress has shown it's prepared to fight against the Coalition's austerity policies, now we need a strategy to make it happen argues Lindsey German

Mark Tyers explains what Tyne and Wear’s Coalition of Resistance group is doing to help make the TUC anti-austerity demonstration on the 20 October massive

Sofia Tipaldou reports from a decisive turning point in the Spanish workers’ fight against austerity

No money and no rights, that’s the Tories plan for the working poor says Marienna Pope-Weidemann

Tony Benn joined hundreds of activists to launch the build-up to October’s TUC demonstration

Danielle Obono, leading member of France's Left Front tells Chris Nineham about the situation in France as the next round of elections approaches, and analyses the left’s progress in Europe

A Unison activist calls for coordinated strike action after the union's members in the NHS reject the government's 'final offer'

Staff and Students at Gateshead college protest against plans to cut pay by a whopping 25-33%

A national demonstration against austerity will be a new opportunity to mobilise from every sector of society, say activists at the CoR national steering committee meeting