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
economics
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
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
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
The Mixed Economy and Dogmatic Individualism
Ordinary Britons have been victims of a fraud that began in the 1980s. Started before many of today’s voters were even born. Thanks to tight control of the popular media by the very rich, a reversion to 19th century capitalism was sold as the only option. Liberal critics speak vaguely of a Western failure after the … Continue reading The Mixed Economy and Dogmatic Individualism
Equality and Socialism
By Christopher Winch Author’s Note. This article was first published in July 2003. It is a mark of the lack of progress that the left has made since then, that in preparing it for Labour Affairs in 2024 I have had to make minimal changes, like substituting ‘Starmer’ for ‘Blair’. It is often said by … Continue reading Equality and Socialism
Sustainability of National Debt
The House of Lords has an Economic Affairs Committee (EAC) which has regular inquiries into economic matters that they think will be important for members of the House of Lords to understand. The structure of these inquiries is that the committee will hold a series of meetings to which it calls expert witnesses and asks them … Continue reading Sustainability of National Debt
Labour Affairs 