THIS weekend, local demonstrations for Palestine will take place up and down the country.

At many of them you may see a supporter handing out Morning Stars. That tells you two things about our newspaper: that it is an agitational activist’s tool, providing those fighting for peace and socialism with the information and arguments to take to the movement; and that its promotion rests very heavily on its readers, who through readers’ and supporters’ groups nationwide help to sell, distribute and raise funds to keep the Daily Miracle going.

Other papers are handed out at demos — but the Morning Star is the only daily socialist newspaper in the English-speaking world. We will often do a free distribution at major events, but our survival relies on regular paying readers, both in print through shops (any newsagent will order it in for you if you ask, while home news delivery is increasingly available across Britain) and through online subscription. And we need more of them.