Brexit offered a real opportunity for the working class. With Corbyn, while not exactly in control of the ship (as we’ve subsequently realised), at least being somewhere on the Bridge, there was the prospect that the opportunity might have been taken advantage of. Alas and alack, such was the incoherent basis of his support (incapable … Continue reading Starmer, Sunak’s Unwitting Ally — Editorial 2
Running the Rule over the Labour Party Conference
Diary of an ex-Corbyn foot soldier (October, 2021) Dictionary definition of “foot soldier”: “…a dedicated low level follower…” Running the rule over the Labour Party Conference Contents: (1) Back to College - the Electoral College (2) The main changes to the Party Rule Book: 2021 (3) Rule changes and the direction of the Party (1) … Continue reading Running the Rule over the Labour Party Conference
Labour and the Housing Crisis – Part 5
Council House Sales – the Financial Dilemma By Eamon Dyas It is generally accepted that the 1980 Housing Act represented the greatest shift in public housing policy since the Second World War. Michael Heseltine, the environment minister in the Conservative Government at the time, described it as a social revolution. In the sense that it … Continue reading Labour and the Housing Crisis – Part 5
Where’s Sid?
Privatisations: The aftermath. by Feargus ORaghallaigh At a time when even rightwing newspapers like ‘The Times’ and ‘The Daily Telegraph’ are lamenting the failures of the privatisation of public services and the Labour leadership is afraid to talk of returning them to public ownership, it is a good idea to remind ourselves of how this … Continue reading Where’s Sid?
What Shall I do next? – Part 9
T levels: Reform and Disaster. The Bourbons of Vocational Education strike again. Dave Gardner. This month I was going to continue my discussion of the pros and cons of university education as a possible route to work for young people. That will have to wait until November because it is becoming apparent that a new … Continue reading What Shall I do next? – Part 9
BBC Sharpening its Anti-China Propaganda
Editorial group One of the main components of media propaganda is the reporting of events with a false context. That false context can be set either by a blatant lie or simply not providing the actual context. Not providing the actual context is a more subtle means of delivering the lie without being held responsible … Continue reading BBC Sharpening its Anti-China Propaganda
Multi-Millionaires — Who are they?
By Gwydion M. Williams Do millionaires earn their money through skill and hard work? Millionaires certainly think so. Likewise their right-wing boosters. But just look at the sums involved: it is hard to believe that they deserve that much. Could anyone be hundreds of times better than the rest of us? A Briton making £100,000 a year might indeed have earned … Continue reading Multi-Millionaires — Who are they?
Notes on the News
Notes on the News By Gwydion M. Williams Notes on the News Afghanistan – Taliban and Nothingists Hurrey for Huawei Internet – Not Being Free Our Way Snippets Russia is Red Again Anyone For Tennis? Morocco Congratulated On Thwarting Democracy Cold Wars – Not In Our Backyard Wealth Rules in the USA Anti-State Fears Out … Continue reading Notes on the News
An End to Bogus Self-employed Status – Parliament Notes 2
We have mentioned before in this magazine the work of the Institute of Employment Rights (IER). The Labour Party Green Paper: New Deal for Working People, is the outcome of discussions with the Power in the Workforce Taskforce chaired by Andy McDonald MP, with legal assistance of John Hendy QC and Prof Keith Ewing, both of … Continue reading An End to Bogus Self-employed Status – Parliament Notes 2
Aukus – Parliament Notes 1
There is NATO, there is Five Eyes (the Anglo-Saxon English speaking alliance between Canada, New Zealand, Australia, the UK and the US); there is the Quadrilateral Security Dialog—the so-called "Quad"—a strategic engagement between Australia, India, Japan, and the United States, there is the 1971 Five Powers Defence Arrangements, (Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore and the UK). Now … Continue reading Aukus – Parliament Notes 1
Rail in Public Ownership
RMT Press Office: RMT says damning new financial investigation shows Govia should be stripped of remaining GTR franchise after government nationalises Southeastern. RAIL UNION RMT has called on the government to strip Govia of its Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise and nationalise it after the union published research today raising further questions about the … Continue reading Rail in Public Ownership
Public Ownership is popular
Public ownership is popularThe text below—a slightly abridged Facebook post by the group We Own It—makes you realise how extraordinary it is that Starmer and Reeves explicitly refused to make nationalisation a key policy for a future labour government, when public opinion and influential right wingers are for it. “People are waking up to the … Continue reading Public Ownership is popular
Ditch Blair’s Legacy
Ditch Blair’s legacy — Editorial Starmer became leader of the Labour Party in May 2020 on the basis of a 10 point program that Jeremy Corbyn would have had little problem supporting. Since becoming leader he has had little to say about his 10 point program and has, instead, concentrated his energy on attacking the left wing … Continue reading Ditch Blair’s Legacy
Why isn’t the British left excited by what’s happening in China?
Diary of an ex-Corbyn foot soldier (September, 2021) Dictionary definition of “foot soldier”: “…a dedicated low level follower…” Michael Murray: murraymicha@gmail.com; FaceBook: Michael Murray London Contents: (1) “Why isn’t the British left excited by what’s happening in China?” (2) “The Uyghurs and China” (1) “Why isn’t the British left excited by what’s happening in China?” Introduction “Okay. … Continue reading Why isn’t the British left excited by what’s happening in China?
Debate: Northern Ireland and Brexit
NORTHERN IRELAND AFTER BREXIT WHERE SHOULD THE BORDER(S) BE? One curious thing about the sea border that has now been established within the UK between Great Britain and Northern Ireland is that no equivalent sea border has been established between the Republic of Ireland and mainland Europe. One might have thought that if the European … Continue reading Debate: Northern Ireland and Brexit
What shall I do next?
Part 8 What shall I do next? University or Bust? Problems with mass university education. Dave Gardner Why attending a university is not necessarily a good thing for every young person and why society needs to limit it. Roughly 50% of all 18 to 25 year olds go to university. There is a clear path, encouraged … Continue reading What shall I do next?
Scorpions
Pitiful The British parliament was recalled early on the 18th of August, 2021 to discuss what they saw as the crisis in Afghanistan, when it was more of a British crisis. This mother-of-parliaments practised its democracy as a colonial/imperialist pit—full of stinging scorpions and a hissing snakes who have missed their target. Dreary Kier anaconda Starmer arose from his log-like sleep, … Continue reading Scorpions
‘Auto-expulsions’ from the Labour Party
News in brief: the so-called “auto-expulsions” from the Labour Party We reprint a statement from the Bakers Union regarding the possible ‘auto-expulsion’ from the Labour Party of their president. BFAWU to recall Conference Sarah Woolley Tuesday, August 24th, 2021 Today the Labour Party has made a clear statement of intent in its aspiration to repair its … Continue reading ‘Auto-expulsions’ from the Labour Party
Labour Affairs 