If Andy Burnham is to have any hope of reversing the decline of the Labour Party he needs to have a fairly simple but compelling story. One good story would be inequality. He could say that he is going to reverse the inequality that has developed in the UK in the 47 years since Thatcher first came … Continue reading Burnham’s story should have been Inequality, not Devolution—Editorial
The Limits of Devolution—Editorial
In his speech in Manchester on 29th June, Andy Burnham made some interesting proposals. He wants all parts of the UK to be able to take greater public control of essential services like water, housing, energy and transport. He also pledges 10-year plans to bring down the cost of these essentials to individuals, families and … Continue reading The Limits of Devolution—Editorial
The origins of Rock
John ClaydenThe Skinheads one of the early youth cults in Britain still have memorial gatherings in Yarmouth on the east coast where they retain their affection for Ska music which is of Jamaican origin.The adoption of black music by working-class kids after the war is interesting. It seemed to be a country-wide phenomenon. Why did … Continue reading The origins of Rock
Fortress Football: The Debacle That Is the 2026 World Cup
Alexandros Schulman At the time of writing, it is just hours before the opening ceremony in Mexico City is due to commence. The flags are hung, the broadcast crews are in position, and we are about to go live. That moment should be one of celebration, but for any keen observer of the game, it … Continue reading Fortress Football: The Debacle That Is the 2026 World Cup
Burnham and growth through increased defence spending
By Eamon Dyas On Sunday 28 June the former Chief of the Defence Staff, Sir Tony Radakin, said in an interview with Laura Kuenssberg on BBC that whoever follows Keir Starmer as Prime Minister would have to operate “almost like a wartime Prime Minister” in the light of global threats. These comments were no doubt … Continue reading Burnham and growth through increased defence spending
Racist Incidents, Southampton and Belfast
Eamon Dyas As far as I see it the issue here isn’t about how racism or anti-racism explains these incidents. The issue is how European capitalism has come to rely on immigration both to feed its labour as well as its population needs in a situation where a sense of nationality continues to be the … Continue reading Racist Incidents, Southampton and Belfast
Trump and the JCPoA
On 14 July 2015, Iran signed a nuclear agreement with the US and five other states (China, France, Germany, Russia and the UK). The agreement, known as the JCPoA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action), was endorsed unanimously by the UN Security Council in resolution 2231 on 20 July 2015 and thereby became an international agreement to which all … Continue reading Trump and the JCPoA
PALESTINE LINKS
Israeli officials discuss renewed push to expel Palestinians from Gaza (Nadav Rapaport, Middle East Eye, 24 June 2026) Former Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett says he smuggled Starlink receptors into Iran (Middle East Eye, 24 June 2026) The Haredi draft revolt threatening to bring Israel to a standstill (Eli Bitan, +972, 23 June 2026) I am … Continue reading PALESTINE LINKS
Notes on the News
By Gwydion M. Williams Morally bankrupt, but the wages are great! Tories as Latter-Day Anti-Fascists ‘Money Makers’ are Chieftains and Money Takers Snippets Iran: Willingness to Suffer Poland and West Ukraine: Normal Hatreds Resumed Trump and Musk’s Anti-State Folly Losing the Moon? Or Losing Life on Mars? Children of Sixteen? Lowering the Cost of Motherhood Green … Continue reading Notes on the News
An Unknown Victory of Working class struggle
John ClaydenMy father Harry Clayden was born in 1905 his mother my grandmother was born in the poor house where her mother , who was a servant girl , was incarcerated. My grandmother later married dad's father who was a carter who died in a flu epidemic just before the first world war . At … Continue reading An Unknown Victory of Working class struggle
Gabriel Zucman We need to tax the billionaires 2025
Translated into English 2026 A summary Catherine Dunlop At 65 pages, this international bestseller is a long article or short manifesto. The general idea is that taxing billionaires is no more revolutionary than establishing income tax; income tax is accepted now as a matter of course, even if at the time it was created (end … Continue reading Gabriel Zucman We need to tax the billionaires 2025
Gary Stevenson—Tax the super-rich
Catherine Dunlop Gabriel Zucman is not as urgent, in his little book ‘We need to tax the Billionaires’ at least, as Gary Stevenson on his Channel ‘Gary’s Economics’. They agree on their one main point, and Stevenson has done an interview with Zucman recently on his channel. Gary Stevenson makes one point only on his channel, which … Continue reading Gary Stevenson—Tax the super-rich
New National Security (State Threats) Bill
OUR PARTY parliamentary leader Jeremy Corbyn pledged to oppose the government’s National Security (State Threats) Bill yesterday as ministers started to rush the measure through Parliament. He warned that the Bill “is an alarming expansion of state power, and an escalation of the government’s chilling assault on the right to protest. “This week more than 100 … Continue reading New National Security (State Threats) Bill
Sahra Wagenknecht Newsletters
4 June 2026 This is Sahra Wagenknecht’s newsletter. In it, I provide regular updates on my activities and current political issues. Germany is in danger of being relegated. This is mainly down to an incompetent head coach who loves the sponsors more than his own supporters and is unable to motivate his divided team … Continue reading Sahra Wagenknecht Newsletters
Whether Burnham wins or loses, the future of the Labour Party is not guaranteed—Editorial
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
Labour Affairs 