The TUC have called for a large demonstration in London on June 18th in the face of the cost of living crisis. “Working people have had enough. Everything’s going up but our wages. Join the trade union movement in London to tell this government: we DEMAND better!” reads the TUC blurb. They are right and a massive … Continue reading Let’s Avoid a 1970s Rerun
Coming of Age at the End of History
Review of “Free: Coming of Age at the End of History,” by Lia Ypi. Diary of an ex-Corbyn foot soldier (June, 2022) By Michael Murray Dictionary definition of foot soldier: “…a dedicated low level follower." In this issue: Review of “Free: Coming of Age at the End of History,” by Lia Ypi. … Continue reading Coming of Age at the End of History
Ukraine and the World
The Ukraine War for the World by Pat Walsh https://drpatwalsh.com The current war in Ukraine has now been formally recognised as a Western proxy war against Russia by no less than the current British Foreign Secretary, Elizabeth Truss. And there are strong indications in her statement of intent last week that it is only the … Continue reading Ukraine and the World
Ukraine
Ukraine: how we got to where we are today. Brendan Clifford. Since its foundation, the Republic of Ireland has been a neutral state. It is a sign of the success of Anglo-American propaganda against Russia that Ireland now wishes to enter the lists against the ‘unwarranted aggression’ of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. Most of the … Continue reading Ukraine
Buses
Is Labour on the Buses? Dave Gardner Good public transport is key to economic success and social well-being. Compared with northern Europe, the United Kingdom, with the exception of London, is poorly served. Throughout the UK, bus services are the key to the ability to travel to work, to study, to see family and to … Continue reading Buses
Leaks
Brief note: Leaks to the press a corrosive effect on politics When it comes to the timing of leaks to the press I immediately think, internal politics. Coming as it has in the immediate aftermath of the local government election results, the email leak that provoked the Durham police to re-open the Investigation into Starmer … Continue reading Leaks
Don’t Extradite Assange
Revealing war crimes is not a crime. Statement from https://dontextraditeassange.com WikiLeaks editor and publisher Julian Assange is facing a 175 year sentence for publishing truthful information in the public interest. Julian Assange is being sought by the current US administration for publishing US government documents which exposed war crimes and human rights abuses. The politically … Continue reading Don’t Extradite Assange
On Interest Rates and Mini-Budgets
Interest Rates and Mini-Budgets Martina Seale On May 4th the Bank of England (BoE) decided to raise the Bank interest rate by 0.25% to 1%. The stated purpose of the increase is to help fight inflation. The logic that the BoE is following is really quite simple. Inflation is caused by demand for products being greater that the … Continue reading On Interest Rates and Mini-Budgets
An American Faces the Facts
Kissinger at Davos, 2022 Kissinger is aware of the possible catastrophe looming as a result of American action in Ukraine Transcript Henry Kissinger: [00:02:59] Let me thank you for letting me return to Davos, because it is such a crucial forum for the exchange of ideas all over the world. But the outcome of this turning … Continue reading An American Faces the Facts
Notes on the News
Notes on the News By Gwydion M. Williams Biden’s Failed Anti-Russia Crusade Covid – Another US Failure Climate Chaos and Lost Butter Mountains Philippines – better Rough Justice than No Justice No Privacy for Some Murderers Snippets The Radical Young in Britain The Failing Young in the USA Killing Journalists OK in Israel? Armenia – … Continue reading Notes on the News
Cost of Living
The cost of living — Parliament Notes What Labour MPs are saying in Parliament to address the cost of living crisis. Early day motion on the cost of living Motion text (presented by John Trickett; supported by John Cruddas, Diane Abbott, Kim Johnson, Bell Ribeiro-Addy; also Tony Lloyd, plus one Independent and one Green MP) 24th May … Continue reading Cost of Living
Insulation Rebellion — Editorial
Why making good policy requires careful thinking and plenty of time. Britain has just begun to face what will prove to be a long drawn-out cost of living crisis. In part this is caused by labour and supply chain shortages resulting from the Covid pandemic, but a more fundamental issue is the cost of energy, … Continue reading Insulation Rebellion — Editorial
Sanctions and Rubles
Martin Seale The members of NATO have imposed sanctions on Russia following its Special Military Operation in Ukraine which began on 24th February. NATO would clearly like these sanctions to severely damage Russia. It is unlikely that they will for two main reasons. Firstly, Russia is a currency creating state and does not therefore have financial constraints. Secondly, Russia is … Continue reading Sanctions and Rubles
The Persecution of Julian Assange Part 3
The persecution of Julian Assange — part 3 By Peter Brooke A brief history of Wikileaks[1] followed by ‘Assange Extradition, on to the Next Hurdle’ from Craig Murray’s website. As a teenager in Australia in the 1980s, Julian Assange had explored the possibilities of hacking with a couple of friends calling themselves the 'International Subversives'. This … Continue reading The Persecution of Julian Assange Part 3
Skills v Knowledge
Skills v Knowledge, or the balance between university education and vocational education. The Tory head of the Education Committee has the right ideas, as seen in his exchanges with Nadhim Zahawi, the Secretary of State for education, during the debate on the Schools White Paper, Monday 28th March 2022 — Commons Chamber Robert Halfon: The White Paper … Continue reading Skills v Knowledge
Austrian Chamber of Labour
The Austrian Chamber of Labour as an instrument of workers' interests Eamon Dyas [Below is a brief account of the history and purpose of the Austrian Chambers of Labour. It was stimulated by a conversation I had with Florian Wenninger, of the Institut für Historische Sozialforschung at the headquarters of the Arbeiterkammer in Vienna on … Continue reading Austrian Chamber of Labour
A Poem
GET THEE BEHIND ME SATAN II “As one day it might happen that a victim must be found I’ve got a little list – I’ve got a little list.” So sang Gilbert and Sullivan: “Of society’s offenders who might well be underground And would never be missed - who would never be missed" But I … Continue reading A Poem
Manus O’Riordan and Ernest Bevin
Manus O’Riordan and Ernest Bevin By Dave Alvey A Note on Manus O’Riordan Manus O’Riordan was an Irish trade unionist and socialist who had many friends in the British labour movement. Following his sudden death on 26 September 2021, and reflecting his popularity across the multivarious strands of the political and trade union worlds, his … Continue reading Manus O’Riordan and Ernest Bevin
Labour Affairs 