The Strange Death of Labour England There was certainly no garden party for the Labour Party leadership when the result of the Leave voting North Shropshire by-election was announced. The seat had been a Conservative seat for over 100 years with the Liberal Democrats coming second until Blair’s 1997 election victory, when Labour took 2nd place. In 1997 … Continue reading The Strange Death of Labour England—Editorial 1
Month: February 2022
The need for Policies—Editorial 2
The S-Word – Editorial 2 Starmer used the “S” word [Socialism] in an article in the Guardian in 2020 and avoided it in an interview in December 2021. This is easily explained by the Labour leadership election that took place in the interim. He used the “S” word in 2020 when it served his leadership ambitions … Continue reading The need for Policies—Editorial 2
Assange by Craig Murray
How the Establishment functions From Craig Murray's blog: I suggested in my last post that the British Establishment may be looking for a way out of the terrible Assange debacle without raising difficult truths about the United States justice and penal system. The functioning of the Establishment, the way it forms a collective view and … Continue reading Assange by Craig Murray
“Time for a new Parliamentary Party of the Left?”
Diary of an ex-Corbyn foot soldier (February, 2022) Dictionary definition of “foot soldier”: “…a dedicated low level follower…” Michael Murray: murraymicha@gmail.com; Facebook: Michael Murray London On 25th January, the Labour Party National Executive Committee (NEC) voted 24 - 13 against a motion calling for the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) Whip … Continue reading “Time for a new Parliamentary Party of the Left?”
How to Pay For It — Q & A
How to Pay for it - 150,000 new council dwelling per year at social rents. By Michal Lerner To win the next general election, Labour must give bold answers to the question ‘How will you pay for it?’. Let us therefore imagine an interview between an interviewer (I) and a member of the Shadow Cabinet (L) and suggest … Continue reading How to Pay For It — Q & A
Labour and Housing
Labour and Housing – Part 6. The financial implications of the Right to Buy scheme By Eamon Dyas The Thatcher legacy that began as practical policies in 1979 and which continues to permeate British politics was based on a strategy consisting of three components. Firstly, the oft-repeated mantra of the need to roll back the … Continue reading Labour and Housing
What Shall I Do Next?
What Am I Going to do Next? Part 12 Where will the money come from? Dave Gardner Funding for universities through student loans: why this is a nonsense In a previous article I noted the inequality in funding between universities and vocational education. Universities get roughly five times as much money per student as do … Continue reading What Shall I Do Next?
Nordstream 2
Nordstream 2, Germany and the US Jack Coldrick I’m increasingly getting the feeling that the current security crisis in Ukraine is being fuelled by this issue. Ultimately, the final decision was in Germany’s hands and the agreement between Merkel and Biden was an acknowledgment of that fact. But the dynamics seem to have changed after the … Continue reading Nordstream 2
A Socialist Foreign Policy
Toward a socialist foreign policy: Introduction to helpful sources of geopolitical analysis (No.1, February, 2022) - Michael Murray December last the UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly (130 majority) for a motion condemning the glorification of Nazism, neo-nazism and all forms of racism - past and present. So what? You might ask. Ought not we expect that from … Continue reading A Socialist Foreign Policy
British Imperialism Forever
‘Global Britain’ Eamon Dyas 'But neither should a country, especially one with such a proud history as ours, slip gently into a lower league without a strenuous effort at least to prevent it,' said Tony Blair (20/1/22). That's Blair's programme since 1997 in a nutshell. He had come to power with a promise to make … Continue reading British Imperialism Forever
NHS Providers
Who are ‘NHS Providers’? Feargus ORaghallaigh I found the story at the link below remarkable ... https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/dec/13/hotels-being-used-as-care-facilities-to-relieve-pressure-on-nhs Here is a related story: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/dec/12/number-of-healthy-patients-stranded-in-english-hospital-wards-rises-by-80 I have long held the view that the current NHS is actually a system of hospital-led private provision of health care (much of it provided on a for-profit basis) funded by the … Continue reading NHS Providers
Italian Elections
Listening to Italy by Orecchiette Towards a new President? On 3rd February Italy's President Mattarella will have completed his 7 year term and a series of elections for his successor started on 24 January. The 1009 electors: “I Grandi Elettori” are the members of the elected upper and lower houses of parliament. Plus the five appointed Senators for … Continue reading Italian Elections
After the Bombs Fall
AFTER THE BOMBS FALL WE’LL BE ONE You make the world in your own image. The remorseless banks of piggery that snatch at your meagre savings, without interest while throwing millions to a shady property developer who build homes beyond the reach of those who build them. Organised crime will be much more sophisticated, in … Continue reading After the Bombs Fall
Notes on the News
Notes on the News By Gwydion M. Williams Disgusted With Capitalism, Terrified of Socialism Burning Bridges With China Ukraine – Arming the Useful Idiots “Let The World Suffer, Unless India and China Stay Low” Pay Less, Care Less Snippets A False Meritocracy Life, Liberty and the Avoidance of Happiness Communist Subversion in the 1950s Chinese … Continue reading Notes on the News
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan Our Caucasus expert Pat Walsh (https://drpatwalsh.com) writes: The situation in Kazakhstan I have been trying to read Russian and Azerbaijani accounts of what’s going on in Kazakhstan and it’s not consistent. What I have noticed most is the attempts to shoehorn the issues into the authors’ existing disposition. For instance, I have read that it … Continue reading Kazakhstan
Edward Leigh on Russia
Russia’s Grand Strategy — Parliament Notes Bernard Jenkin initiated this debate on ‘Russia’s Grand Strategy, 6th January 2022. MPs on all sides were unanimous that Putin’s Russia is the enemy and a danger to the West and the UK in particular, Labour MPs being particularly vociferous. The Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy lambasted the government for not spending enough on … Continue reading Edward Leigh on Russia
Heseltine on Privatisation
From Socialism to Popular Capitalism: ‘the revolution where everyone is a winner’. The destruction of both British industry and council housing was a deliberate policy to get away from what Thatcher and Heseltine saw as socialism, the excessive influence of the state on the economy. They saw this as their crowning achievement. Extracts from: Where there’s a Will, … Continue reading Heseltine on Privatisation
Julian Assange in His Own Words
Julian Assange in his own words, Book Review by Helen Mercer And A Ray of Hope: Julian Assange Given Leave to Appeal https://wiseupaction.info/2021/12/20/julian-assange-in-his-own-words-book-review-by-helen-mercer/ With the recent judgement handed down by the High Court judges supporting the US appeal in the case of Julian Assange we have truly entered an Alice in Wonderland world. Logic, not … Continue reading Julian Assange in His Own Words
Labour Affairs 