Robinson successfully defended his school from closure, fought for the unification of the teaching unions, mentored future trade union leaders and transformed teaching at the Marx Memorial Library, writes JOHN FOSTER

THE Prison Officers Association (POA) has long warned it’s impossible for the government to build its way out of the prison capacity crisis.
Instead we believe the billions of pounds earmarked for new jails should be invested in the ones we already have and in community support to reduce offending.
It’s therefore disappointing that the new Labour government is continuing the Tories’ programme of building a new generation of mega-prisons, each holding up to 2,000 inmates and run by the private sector for profit, when we know smaller units run by the public sector for public good are far more effective in supporting rehabilitation.

After one year of a Labour government attacking winter fuel allowance and disabled people, the trade union movement must step up regardless of who holds power, writes STEVE GILLAN


