As the third anniversary of the coalition government’s formation approaches, it has become clear that the foundations of ‘cuts consensus’ it was based upon are shakier than ever. Opinion polls leading up to last month’s budget suggested that 58% of the British electorate believed that austerity had been ‘harmful to the economy’, compared to only 20% [...]
Posts under ‘Outside Left’
The paradox of George Galloway
Apr 26th, 2013 by Andy Newman.It is fair to say that George Galloway is not universally popular. It is therefore unsurprising that his attendance at a meeting with Ed Miliband was used by the increasingly desperate Blairites as ammunition to undermine the Labour leader. They claimed that Ed Miliband was preparing to welcome Galloway back into the Labour Party. An [...]
Now’s no time to ditch Labour
Apr 4th, 2013 by Conrad Landin.“Responsible capitalism.” It’s a phrase that rolls off the tongue with great ease nowadays. Claimed by Ed Miliband as he attacked “predator” energy companies, media groups and banks, it was seen as a huge Labour success when the term spread across the political spectrum. At least Labour is no longer “intensely relaxed” about people getting [...]
Bedroom tax: Labour should follow SNP lead
Mar 25th, 2013 by David Osler.Britain is about to witness the first co-ordinated attempt by multiple local authorities to obstruct a Westminster edict in almost three decades. Good news, but don’t dust off those ‘defiance not compliance’ badges just yet. Sassenachs who haven’t been keeping up may need to be told that eight Scottish National Party councils are to follow [...]
Join the protests against the ‘Bedroom Tax’
Mar 12th, 2013 by Jon Lansman.This weekend, Saturday 16 March, over 50 protests are taking place (mostly at 1pm) throughout Britain against the Bedroom Tax, to send a clear and unequivocal message to David Cameron that we’re united in opposition to this cruel, unworkable and counter-productive attack on poor and vulnerable people. The majority of the protests have been organised [...]
Left Unity and presenting a clear Left alternative
Feb 27th, 2013 by Kate Hudson.Britain faces two more years of disastrous coalition policies, but no coherent left political alternative is being presented. This has led a number of people from disparate parts of the left to come together to found a new website www.leftunity.org, to discuss what is necessary and possible for a left alternative, and to learn from [...]
No platform for Israelis?
Feb 21st, 2013 by Phil Burton-Cartledge.No Platform for Israelis. So says George Galloway in the video above. Oh dear. Galloway’s career has seen alternating cycles of popular acclaim and public self-immolation. As Galloway is an intelligent man and a seasoned political bruiser, none of this is entirely accidental. Bookmarks Hide Sites
We need a Socialist Campaign for Labour Victory
Jan 22nd, 2013 by Andy Newman.There is no doubt that Owen Jones’s column in the Independent is an asset for the left, reaching a wide audience. His latest proposal is modest but correctly calibrated I think. After reflecting on the seemingly terminal crisis in the far left group, the SWP, Owen suggests that the era of the Leninist sects is [...]
Over 40 UK Uncut actions target Starbucks over tax avoidance & cuts impact on women
Dec 9th, 2012 by Newsdesk.Growing public anger at Starbucks was clear yesterday as over 40 of their shops across the UK- including in Liverpool, Cardiff, Bristol and Shrewsbury- were targeted by the anti-cuts direct action network, UK Uncut. In central London a creche and women’s refuge were set up in Starbuck’s flagship stores, and in Birmingham people slept in [...]
Respect & UKIP after Rotherham & Croydon: Part 1 – Respect’s last gasp
Dec 3rd, 2012 by Jon Lansman.Last week, Labour, under Iain McNicol’s effective management, mounted an impressive campaign to defeat the perceived threat in Croydon and Rotherham by-elections from Respect. Though Labour’s continuing failure to develop an anti-austerity strategy and thoroughly reconnect with working class voters still leaves it exposed to some future threat from the left, it won’t come from [...]
