£1.20 Weekend edition Saturday/Sunday December 2-3 2017 Morning Star Incorporating the Daily Worker For peace and socialism www.morningstaronline.co.uk DIRTY SECRETS OF THE P10 As Tories cut benefi ts across Britain for festive season, people are protesting for the ending of Theresa May’s disastrous universal credit mess UNITE RALLIES TO STOP GRINCH RUINING XMAS by Peter Lazenby benefi t cuts and delayed payments have been driven to using foodbanks to survive. CHRISTMAS has been cancelled for The government has admitted that hundreds of thousands of families the universal credit claimants’ hel- claiming universal credit, but dem- pline will be closed for most of the onstrators up and down the country Christmas period, making life even will take to the streets today to more diffi cult for those needing demand action. advice and emergency help. Trade unionists and campaigners Many activists will run town-cen- will turn out in more than 70 towns tre stalls today to provide some of and cities across Britain, accusing the current half a million victims of the government of “abolishing Christ- the scheme with help and advice. mas” for victims of its benefi ts fi asco. Unite Community head Liane The day of action, organised by Groves said: “Despite knowing that Unite Community — part of Britain’s universal credit causes serious prob- biggest trade union — is aimed at lems for those claiming it, the gov- putting pressure on the government ernment is ploughing ahead regard- to “stop and fi x” universal credit less while claimants are descending before even more families are forced into debt, relying on foodbanks and to turn to foodbanks and cut back on getting into rent arrears and, in many heating their homes this Christmas. cases, are being evicted from their Dr PAUL MURDIN Cities targeted today will include homes. Leeds, Oxford, Bristol, Belfast, Liv- “In order to claim universal credit, introduces his erpool, Manchester, Cardiff, Newcas- claimants need an internet connec- tle and London. tion, which many simply can’t afford. spectacular This year, one million victims of Turn to page 2 new book on humanity’s quest to understand the RICHARD BURGON LEARN TO BE A UNION HERO universe Labour’s a threat to be proud of: p12 Bringing together youth organisers: p13 CULTURE: p17 Morning Star 2 NEWS HOME Saturday/Sunday December 2-3 2017 PORN AT WORK COURTS Green allies rush to defend Compensation him from blue images claim due for data leak by Lamiat Sabin Morrisons staff Parliamentary Reporter ALLIES of Cabinet minister by Felicity Collier found guilty of fraud, after Damian Green rushed to his securing unauthorised defence yesterday after a access to computer retired Scotland Yard detec- THOUSANDS of employ- material and disclosing tive said thousands of porno- ees at Morrisons are due personal data, and was graphic images were found on compensation for the jailed for eight years. the Tory MP’s work computer. “upset and distress” His motive appeared to Neil Lewis told the BBC that caused by a huge data have been a grudge he was “shocked” at the vol- breach after a landmark following accusations he ume of material found during High Court ruling yester- had been dealing legal a raid on Mr Green’s Westmin- day. highs at work. ster office in 2008. The supermarket chain Judge Mr Justice He stressed that none of the had denied liability in the Langstaff ruled that images was “extreme,” but case brought by current Morrisons was vicariously analysis of the computer sug- and former staff. liable, as primary liability gested that they had been Disgruntled ex- had not been established. viewed “extensively” over employee Andrew Skelton JMW solicitor Nick three months, sometimes for stole data which included McAleenan, acting for the hours at a time. the salary and bank details 5,518 former and current “The computer was in Mr HANDS WHERE WE CAN SEE THEM: Damian Green leaving his house in Kent yesterday of nearly 100,000 staff. staff, said: “The High Green’s office, on his desk, The security breach Court has ruled that logged in, his account, his he had decided to back up alle- Brexit Secretary David “blacken the name of a serving occurred in 2014 when Morrisons was legally name,” said Mr Lewis. gations made by his former Davis has accused former Cabinet minister.” senior internal auditor Mr responsible for the data “In between browsing por- boss, then Met assistant com- police officers of seeking to Mr Green, who was shadow Skelton leaked the payroll leak. nography, he was sending missioner Bob Quick, after Mr besmirch the First Secretary immigration minister, was data. “We welcome the emails from his account, his Green, who is effectively of State’s name. arrested in 2008 after obtaining He posted names, judgement and believe that personal account, reading Prime Minister Theresa May’s The Evening Standard leaked Whitehall documents addresses, bank account it is a landmark decision, documents … it was ridiculous deputy, accused him of carry- reported that Mr Davis, who while Labour was in govern- details and salaries online being the first data leak to suggest anybody else could ing out a “character assassina- was shadow home secretary ment. Police searched his fam- and sent it to newspapers. class action in the UK.” have done it.” tion” in order to cause political and therefore Mr Green’s boss ily home, his constituency office Over 5,500 workers Jonathan Barnes, Mr Lewis rejected any sug- damage. at the time of the raid, had and his Commons office. brought the claim against counsel for the claimants, gestion that the material might Mr Green, who is the sub- threatened to quit if his col- The Metropolitan Police said the company, while the told Mr Justice Langstaff have been placed on the ject of a Cabinet Office inquiry league was forced out. in a statement that, as is routine ruling could open the door in October that Morrisons machine by a hacker as “very into alleged inappropriate Tory MP Andrew Mitchell in such cases, its directorate of for the other 94,000 people had already been awarded bizarre,” pointing out that behaviour towards writer Kate said it was “highly question- professional standards would affected to bring a compen- £170,000 compensation similar images had also been Maltby, has denied looking at able” and “wrong” for the investigate how the information sation claim, lawyers said. against Mr Skelton. found on Mr Green’s laptop. or downloading porn on the former police officer to use the came to be made public. In 2015, Mr Skelton was [email protected] The retired detective said work computer. material nine years later to [email protected] FRONT PAGE UNITE RALLIES TO STOP GRINCH FROM RUINING CHRISTMAS FROM P1: The union said that already been imposed has there are currently 505,549 soared by an average of 30 per households in Britain affected cent and landlords report a by the switch to universal massive increase in rent credit, but the number will arrears. increase by 1,513,970 this win- Universal credit is replacing ter. The figure is expected to six benefits — child tax credit, reach 5,915,290 by March housing benefit, income sup- 2022. port, income-based jobseeker’s Over 1.2 million low-paid allowance, income-related part-time workers will also be employment and support affected by the change. For the allowance, and working tax first time ever, people in work credit — and will eventually could have their benefits affect seven million of the stopped if they fail to prove to country’s worst-off house- the jobcentre that they’re holds. searching for better-paid work For details of today’s or more hours. actions, visit unitetheunion. The Trussell Trust, Brit- org/campaigning/events/stop- ain’s biggest foodbank pro- and-fix-universal-credit-day- vider, says demand in areas of-action. EMERGENCY SERVICES where universal credit has [email protected] Fallen firefighters honoured with red plaque TWO firefighters killed in the in the basement of a three- died in the line of duty that their line of duty in east London storey building on Bethnal sacrifices are not forgotten.” were honoured with a red Green Road. The union’s good causes lot- JOHN GIBSON memorial plaque yesterday. The red plaque — the tery will fund a number of Billy Faust, 36, and Adam union’s take on the English other memorial plaques across (Liverpool) Meere, 27, who died in 2004, Heritage blue plaque — was the country in the coming 2 December 1920 – 3 September 2003 are the first firefighters to be unveiled on a plinth at Museum months. Communist, fighter for peace and dedicated honoured under the Red Gardens, a short distance The Firefighters 100 Lottery Plaque Scheme, funded by the from the scene of the fire. has also raised £120,000 to supporter of the Morning Star Fire Brigades Union’s Fire- Dave Faust, Billy’s father, date for victims of the Gren- Remembering him today and always. fighters 100 Lottery. who attended the ceremony, fell Tower disaster. Mr Faust and Mr Meere lost said: “It means a lot to the fam- Tickets can be bought at Jane, John, Paul, Ralph and families their lives while tackling a fire ilies of firefighters who have firefighters100lottery.co.uk. Morning Star Saturday/Sunday December 2-3 2017 HOME NEWS 3 NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE Activists join hands to save beloved HRI Hundreds expected to circle round threatened local hospital by Peter Lazenby tary Jeremy Hunt and running helps run the twice-weekly given written assurances by Northern Reporter regular stalls in Huddersfi eld stall, warned: “The trust is the trust that the closures are town centre.