“The Utility Regulator is supposedly independent. In reality, its chairman is appointed by the Minister for Finance and Personnel on behalf of the Assembly Executive, which is standing idly by. Minister Conor Murphy has over-ruled the Regulator in the past. We demand that the Assembly Executive steps in to overturn this price hike.”
“The price rise by Phoenix Gas is naked profiteering. It’s clear that other companies will follow suit. This shows that private ownership of the utilities cannot deliver for ordinary people. All the major utility companies should be taken into public ownership and run democratically in the interests of customers, not profit.”
Picket against gas price hike
1pm, Thurs 28th Apr, Queen’s House, Queen Street
The Socialist Party is to hold a picket of the Utility Regulator in Belfast tomorrow (28/04/11) at 1pm, over its approval of a 39% price increase by Phoenix Gas. The Socialist Party is calling for the Assembly Executive to use its powers to overturn this price rise. Tommy Black, the Socialist Party’s East Belfast candidate, said:“The huge price rise by Phoenix Gas – approved by the Regulator – is a slap in the face for ordinary people. Fuel poverty is already endemic here. The Utility Regulator is allowing a company which has made over £20 million pre-tax profit in the last 2 years to rob ordinary people.”
David Cameron's comments on abortion last week underlined the danger of increased attacks on women's rights if the Tories win the general election.
Repression and criminalisation of struggle is not socialism!
Small farmers and peasants to suffer the most
The movement of May 15 in Spain has shaken the political elite to its core. Leaders and candidates of the main capitalist parties, PSOE and the PP are at a loss as to what to say. The media at first patronised the young people who occupied Puerta de Sol last week, labelling them the usual anti-capitalist suspects. Even as late as last Wednesday the Spanish press was in denial about the unfolding situation. Matías Prats, a leading newsreader raised his eyebrows when he read out the headlines on the ’Spanish Revolution’ from the foreign press as if to say, ’what do they know?’