In his first speech as Prime Minister to the September Labour Party conference, Andy Burnham announced that he intended to reverse the damage caused by 40 years of neoliberalism. One could be forgiven, therefore, for expecting that the first budget of his administration would contain some interesting proposals. But it did not. John Healey, Burnham’s chancellor, delivered a … Continue reading An uninspiring budget — Editorial
Russia
Student List victory in Serbia
A member of Student List who was interviewed in the World at One (26 October, 20 minutes in) Student List victory in Serbia A member of Student List interviewed in the World at One (26 October, 20 minutes in) https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0033dtz He spoke plainly and eloquently. Both realistic and idealistic, he was a breath of fresh air. Asked about Russia … Continue reading Student List victory in Serbia
Colonialism And Russia: A Correction
The last paragraph of my article in the October issue of Labour Affairs was somewhat garbled in the typing. It was about the idea that the Soviet Union became imperialist at the end of the Second World War, and that was a factor leading to its downfall. The point being made was that the authority … Continue reading Colonialism And Russia: A Correction
The United States and Europe’s energy needs
By Eamon Dyas Early European use of Russian oil and gas On 18 December 1958 a decision was taken at the 10th session of the Soviet Council of Mutual Economic Assistance (known as Comecon). The decision was that Soviet Russia and other members of the Soviet bloc construct what was to become one of the world’s longest oil … Continue reading The United States and Europe’s energy needs
How Europe is descending into war
Eamon Dyas Small states of the European Union are in a peculiar postion. The large more powerful states relate to the world differently and their interests manifest different priorities. That was not a problem for the EU when the more powerful states were tied to Russia through their manufacturing activities’ reliance on cheap energy. However, that … Continue reading How Europe is descending into war
Notes on the News
By Gwydion M. Williams Hard Right Peacemongers in Germany Appalling Danger of Donbass Majority Rule? 6% of Russians Can’t Be Wrong? Artificial Cleverness and Job Destruction SpaceX Starship Still Unready China Still Rising Hard Right Peacemongers in Germany From 2022 and the sabotage of a moderate peace that Zelensky almost accepted, the classic West German … Continue reading Notes on the News
The Ukraine War—an Update
Eamon Dyas The idea that Kiev is “in ashes” [report 2 July 2-26] or that a single night of a Russian attack of such intensity represents a change in Russian tactics is what I find difficult to believe. What Russia did the other night was retaliatory rather than the expression of a new tactical perspective. … Continue reading The Ukraine War—an Update
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
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
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
Lord Robert Skidelsky
To mark the passing of Lord Robert Skidelsky on 15th April 2026, we reproduce one of his reflections on the war in Ukraine. Four Years Later Robert Skidelsky reflects on the Ukraine War, February 2026 ‘War should be approached with much prudence, reverence, and calculation, and that includes the propaganda which is its messenger. ‘Our power … Continue reading Lord Robert Skidelsky
Was Fianna Fáil ‘slightly fascist’ in the 1930s?
James Connolly was the only Labour leader in the British state who was explicitly Marxist in his general framework of understanding and who engaged in revolutionary action against the State. He was killed for his revolutionary attempt by a Coalition Government which included the founder of the Labour Party, Arthur Henderson, who was in the process … Continue reading Was Fianna Fáil ‘slightly fascist’ in the 1930s?
Notes on the News
By Gwydion M. Williams Iran – Regime Still Standing False Belief as a Root of Evil Iran: Not My Sort of Regime China and Compromise Snippets Taxing the Rich Ukraine – Predictable Disaster Intelligence Is Many Different Things Iran – Regime Still Standing British pop singer Elton John can’t have many followers in Iran. But his … Continue reading Notes on the News
The Sahra Wagenknecht Newsletter
30 April 2026 This is Sahra Wagenknecht’s newsletter, where she provides regular updates on her activities and current political issues. The links take the reader to the original German source; one of those links (the essay on a dictionary of war softening) has been translated below. The federal government has approved the draft budget for … Continue reading The Sahra Wagenknecht Newsletter
Notes on the News
By Gwydion M. Williams The Wastrels of the Western World Envy? Elon Musk Praises England As It Never Did Exist Downgrade Motherhood, Be Astonished at a Lack of Babies Epstein and a Wider Malaise Snippets Sympathy for the 'Devil's Alternative’ From Russia With Self-Incrimination Venezuela – Trump Lawless But Not Dumb Guilty Hangovers from Puritanism … Continue reading Notes on the News
Nathan Gill—Victim of Double Standards
Dave Gardner Recently, an ex MEP ex Reform member, Nathan Gill, was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for the crime of taking a bribe and acting improperly on that basis. He pleaded guilty thus avoiding a maximum penalty of 14 years imprisonment. In this issue of ‘Labour Affairs’ we reprint two of the speeches that … Continue reading Nathan Gill—Victim of Double Standards
Your Party, Our Party, a Party for the Many
By Gwydion M. Williams A New Hope? The Road to the Liverpool Convention Incidentals in Liverpool What Sort of Party?’ ‘Not Invented Here’? Soft Leninism: an Argument of Trotskyists World-Changing Leninists, But Not Here Back to the Liverpool Convention Things I’d Have Liked To Say The Wider World A New Hope? The Road to the Liverpool Convention … Continue reading Your Party, Our Party, a Party for the Many
Should Europe Rearm?
Recent Letter and Speech on the War in Ukraine. Lord Robert Skidelsky Note: I’m posting two items today. The first is a letter I co-signed with others, which was submitted to The Guardian on the 15th of November. This was in response to an article on the same day by Pjotr Sauer and Shaun Walker attacking Russia’s anglophobia. … Continue reading Should Europe Rearm?
