Newly revealed documents reveal that MI5 taught Brazilian secret police the techniques deployed by the 1964-85 military dictatorship in horrific prisons like Rio de Janeiro’s House of Death. SARA VIVACQUA reports
THE struggle over the level of public-sector pay rises for 2025 has already begun. Because of its impact on general pay increases, the outcome will be of direct interest to all workers.
In addition, because of the multiple crises in public services, wider society has an interest in a level of pay that improves the deteriorating record in recruitment and retention in key parts of the public sector.
As a result, the outcome of this struggle will have serious consequences for the entire working class and the poor. There is also the possibility, or even the likelihood, that this will be a multi-year struggle as the government’s own budget suggests that ministers’ aim will be continuous belt-tightening over the lifetime of this parliament.
The 2025 Budget shores up the PM’s political position with headline-grabbing welfare U-turns, but with no improvements on offer to declining public services or living standards, writes MICHAEL BURKE
Exempting military expenditure from austerity while slashing welfare represents a fundamental misallocation of resources that guarantees continued decline, argues MICHAEL BURKE
Unions slam use of review bodies and long-term decline in value of wages



