{"id":263853,"date":"2026-04-28T16:38:29","date_gmt":"2026-04-28T15:38:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.worldsocialism.org\/spgb\/?page_id=263853"},"modified":"2026-04-28T16:38:29","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T15:38:29","slug":"may-2026","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.worldsocialism.org\/spgb\/","title":{"rendered":"May 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Billionaire Beckhams<\/h3>May 20, 2026<\/small>

The Sunday Times Rich List reports that David and Victoria Beckman doubled their wealth<\/a> in the past year and have a combined fortune of \u00a31.185bn. In a similar category are James Dyson, Christopher Harborne (who recently gifted \u00a35m to Nigel Farage) and Jim Ratcliffe, part owner of Manchester United.<\/p>\n

In comparison, the vast majority of people own close to nothing and have to find an employer to sell their energies to. Yet if that majority simply said enough is enough and decided to get together and use the earth\u2019s vast resources to provide the means of life for all, we could have a society of production for use with free access to all goods and services for all.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

Starmer\u2019s \u201con the side of working people\u201d<\/h3>May 13, 2026<\/small>

… and he\u2019s \u201cfighting\u201d for the millions of people on low pay and insecure jobs<\/a>. \u201cMillions of people who don\u2019t get the dignity. The respect. The chance that they deserve, to go as far as their talent and effort should take them. Millions of people held back because the status quo in this country does not work for them.\u201d <\/p>\n

Yeah, but your figures and your scope are wrong, Starmer. Billions of people around the world are ensnared for life in wage labour, all being held back because capital must, and will, keep them permanently on the edge of destitution. How else could they be forced to provide the profits on which the capitalists depend?<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

Tough times ahead<\/h3>May 6, 2026<\/small>

The 2026 Global Report on Food Crises<\/a> presents an alarming picture. 226 million people experienced \u2018acute food insecurity\u2019 in 2025, and there were two famines, in Gaza and Sudan, the first time that two famines had been declared in the same year. Over 35 million children were acutely malnourished in countries with nutrition crises.<\/p>\n

For 2026 there is a risk of famine in South Sudan as well. And the conflict in the Middle East may well increase disruptions to global food markets.<\/p>\n

The main reasons given for food insecurity were conflicts, insecurity and weather extremes. Behind this is a world based on profits, wars and environmental damage, where producing enough food for all is in reality perfectly feasible.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

Not socialism<\/h3>April 29, 2026<\/small>

The so-called Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) is putting up candidates in the forthcoming elections for local councils and for the Senedd (Wales Government). Their watchword is \u2018Join the Socialists!\u2019. But their agenda is to \u2018fight for the day-to-day issues, like pay, benefits, rights, and an end to oppression and war\u2019. In other words they are campaigning for improvements to capitalism and not, despite their name, for socialism \u2013 a society of worldwide cooperation in production and distribution and free access to all goods and services.<\/p>\n

Given this, the reference in their literature to \u2018a society democratically run by working-class people\u2019 means nothing, since their focus on reforms of capitalism can only mean relegating socialism to a dim, unthought-out, far distant future.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

Money down the drain<\/h3>April 22, 2026<\/small>

People often defend the capitalist market system on the grounds that the ‘price mechanism’ is the most effective and realistic way to regulate production and consumption. But because price only reflects paying potential, not actual need, this often leads to bonkers outcomes, like milk being poured down drains<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Right now there’s a global energy crisis, due to the Iran war. But UK electricity providers are telling consumers to use more power, not less. Why? Because the government expects a glut of renewable power this summer, and will have to shut down solar and wind plants, and reimburse providers for lost revenue via expensive ‘constraint payments’ (Guardian<\/em><\/a>, 14 April).<\/p>\n

Socialism, where everything is free, would be so much simpler!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\tNext<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\"\"First time? WATCH THIS<\/strong><\/a> or START HERE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Socialism – it may not be what you think…<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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MAY LIVE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Meeting on now? Zoom link here<\/a>
\nLoads of talks, debates, other audio stuff here<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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WORLD SOCIALIST RADIO<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n