The Makerfield by-election is the most important by-election in recent years. It is almost a pre-run of the 2029 general election which may well determine whether the Labour Party survives. Makerfield has been represented by Labour MPs since its creation in 1983. Labour would typically get between 50% and 60% percent of the vote. It was a ‘Leave’ voting … Continue reading Whether Burnham wins or loses, the future of the Labour Party is not guaranteed—Editorial
Four-day international security forum in Russia
Hundreds of participants from 120 countries will spend four days discussing various aspects of security, the protection of traditional values, and countering neo-colonialism and neo-Nazism May 26-29 [Three-fifths of the world is attending because there is deep alarm at the trajectory of Western politics — and a widespread determination in the global South to build … Continue reading Four-day international security forum in Russia
How could the labour movement control inflation without increasing unemployment?
Dave Gardner This article takes, as a starting point, the article by Martin Seale on how the Bank of England (BoE) manages inflation through manipulating interest rates with the byproduct being unemployment. Currently, the BoE manages inflation through the setting of an interest rate that keeps the inflation rate stable. The mechanism used is the … Continue reading How could the labour movement control inflation without increasing unemployment?
PALESTINE LINKS
Why Jordan cannot be stripped of Al-Aqsa custodianship (Mustafa Abu Sway, Middle East Eye, 28 May 2026) Israel’s Gaza offshore gas plans condemned as illegal resource grab (Nadav Rapaport, Middle East Eye, 28 May 2026) Israel 'added to UN blacklist' for sexual violence in conflict zones (Middle East Eye, 28 May 2026) In first since … Continue reading PALESTINE LINKS
Notes on the News
By Gwydion M. Williams The Money Illusions China’s Solid Politics Snippets Magic Thinking Spreads Ebola Godless and Safe French Guilt A Holy Land for Jews Only? Real Historic Anti-Semitism Surfacing IMF Defending Money Nigeria Refines Its Own Oil 25% To Rule Them All? Visit the Isle of New Orleans? The Money Illusions In a modern … Continue reading Notes on the News
Russia and Iran under attack
Can we compare the stance of Russia and Iran faced with attack from the US? Some suggest that Iran is acting with more firmness and earning more respect as a result. Members of the Labour Affairs group discuss the issue: Eamon I don’t think you can make this comparison between the Iranian and Russian situations for the following … Continue reading Russia and Iran under attack
God and Evolution: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
By Gwydion M. Williams Being a Post-Leninist Born 1950, I grew up in an Age of Hippies. But I never quite was one. I was a committed Leninist, Maoist in fact. And I never smoked pot. I watched things come apart in the 1970s. Workers Control was briefly a real possibility, but pro-Moscow Leninists were against it as a … Continue reading God and Evolution: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Is the EU already showing signs of disintegration?
Eamon Dyas Germany began sacrificing its future prosperity in 2008 when it was convinced by the EU Commission to agree to the Commission's proposal to "unbundle" its energy sector - a move that effectively ceded national control over its energy sector and one which the Commission went on to use (via its trade competencies under … Continue reading Is the EU already showing signs of disintegration?
Sahra Wagenknecht Newsletter
This is Sahra Wagenknecht’s newsletter. In it, I provide regular updates on my activities and current political issues. Merz is the most unpopular Chancellor of all time! According to a recent poll, 87 per cent of citizens are dissatisfied with the work of the federal government. A majority would like to see an early end … Continue reading Sahra Wagenknecht Newsletter
How Employment Law is enforced in the UK
Report by the Institute of Employment Rights (IER) An IER briefing that analyses the Government’s Fair Work Agency. It warns that the Government’s new workplace watchdog risks failing to deliver meaningful protections for workers unless urgent changes are made. The briefing, authored by Prof David Whyte, Queen Mary University of London and Prof Ruth Dukes, University of … Continue reading How Employment Law is enforced in the UK
Local elections—Editorial
It is a week away from the local elections that will take place in much of the England on 7thMay. Almost two years ago, the Labour Party won a landslide 411 seats in the July 2024 general election. The polls for the forthcoming local elections suggest that Labour will be in third place in many wards and … Continue reading Local elections—Editorial
Vote for the Workers Party in the May elections
Here is the Workers Party of Britain's 10 Point Programme, as adopted at its founding in 2019, followed by the manifesto. Workers Party of Britain – Ten Point Programme An end to imperialist wars and financial domination, starting with withdrawal from Nato. Rebuild British industry and abolish the anti-worker ‘rationalisation’ that puts profits ahead of people to … Continue reading Vote for the Workers Party in the May elections
Lord Robert Skidelsky
To mark the passing of Lord Robert Skidelsky on 15th April 2026, we reproduce one of his reflections on the war in Ukraine. Four Years Later Robert Skidelsky reflects on the Ukraine War, February 2026 ‘War should be approached with much prudence, reverence, and calculation, and that includes the propaganda which is its messenger. ‘Our power … Continue reading Lord Robert Skidelsky
Was Fianna Fáil ‘slightly fascist’ in the 1930s?
James Connolly was the only Labour leader in the British state who was explicitly Marxist in his general framework of understanding and who engaged in revolutionary action against the State. He was killed for his revolutionary attempt by a Coalition Government which included the founder of the Labour Party, Arthur Henderson, who was in the process … Continue reading Was Fianna Fáil ‘slightly fascist’ in the 1930s?
Notes on the News
By Gwydion M. Williams Iran – Regime Still Standing False Belief as a Root of Evil Iran: Not My Sort of Regime China and Compromise Snippets Taxing the Rich Ukraine – Predictable Disaster Intelligence Is Many Different Things Iran – Regime Still Standing British pop singer Elton John can’t have many followers in Iran. But his … Continue reading Notes on the News
Palestine Links
In Gaza, life flickers as power cuts shatter livelihoods and healthcare (Nada Nabil in Gaza City, Middle East Eye, 29 April 2026) ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan describes threats from David Cameron and Lindsay Graham in new interview (Imran Mulla, Middle East Eye, 29 April 2026) New petition seeks 'accountability' from UK over role in Israel-Palestine … Continue reading Palestine Links
Competitive Parliamentarianism Isn’t Essential for Democracy
By Gwydion M. Williams Parliaments of the rich, for a rich minority Elections as a path to Civil War Humans are not natural democrats or natural sharers Parliaments of the rich, for a rich minority England has been parliamentary since the 14th century. But only in 1688 was it settled that the monarch could not rule without … Continue reading Competitive Parliamentarianism Isn’t Essential for Democracy
New police powers “to protect communities from disruption caused by protests”
[This is another effort to deny people the right to demonstrate against the genocide taking place against the Palestinian people, by banning ‘repeat demos’, as if the demonstrations had to stop even if the situation has not changed.] From https://www.gov.uk see link below Police forces will be authorised to consider the ‘cumulative impact’ of protests, … Continue reading New police powers “to protect communities from disruption caused by protests”
Labour Affairs 