05.10.2011

Web of intrigue

Robbie Rix hopes there's light at the end of the tunnel

“What is happening about the CPGB website?” I was asked the other day. Well, comrade, although it is over two years since our site was subject to a vicious cyber attack, there is still no firm date for our promised relaunch.

This is an ongoing handicap that the Weekly Worker has to endure. Although our online archive going back to 2000 has been available for some considerable time, it is still riddled with errors. However, there is light at the end of the tunnel. After all the other ‘firm dates’ for a relaunch I don’t want to be too specific, but …

A couple of years back we were regularly attracting 20,000 or more internet readers every week. But nowadays we are down in the teens - in fact last week we fell below 12,000 (11,982, to be exact). Nevertheless, it has to be said we now have a firmer hard core of supporters who are prepared to put their hands in their pockets and back us financially.

That was admirably illustrated by the success of our standing orders appeal, which ended in August with pledges for an extra £313 a month. The last few of those are still being realised - in this week’s post there was a completed form from comrade CF, who doubled his quarterly payment from £10 to £20 (that translates into an extra £3 a month).

Largely because of this new regular income, our fighting fund is looking better than ever. For example the last two days of September brought in an additional £25, taking our final total to £1,326 - in other words, we exceeded our £1,250 target by £101.

I am hopeful of doing even better in October if the evidence of the first few days are anything to go by. Standing orders landing in the Weekly Worker account at the beginning of the month amounted to £250 - thanks to all 15 comrades, whose contributions included four of £30 and one each of £25 and £20. I also received three cheques in the post - thanks to comrade RI, who added a magnificent £50 to his subscription, and FJ, who doubled his six-month sub by adding £25. Then there was another £25 from RG, who was too modest even to send us a covering note.

Thank you all! After just five days our October fund stands at exactly £350. The question that intrigues me is, by how much will we exceed our target this month? That’s almost as intriguing as “When will the website be relaunched?”