After a year of left leadership the word “socialist” is in vogue again. Not so long ago even the word “equality” had become suspect. Few now would be “intensely relaxed” about people getting “filthy rich so long as they pay their taxes” (Peter Mandelson, 1998). Nearly everyone agrees that massive inequality reveals a deep social fault […]
Posts Tagged ‘Socialism’
The growth of movements for real change have been a long time coming
Mar 7th, 2016 by Steve Turner.Last week Tony Blair professed bafflement at the rise – on both sides of the Atlantic – of popular movements by people who in Blair’s view choose to “rattle the cage”. I think this is a mischaracterisation. Those who have been energised into supporting Sanders, Corbyn and movements such as Podemos and Syriza want to […]
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Proud to be a Socialist?
Feb 7th, 2016 by Bryan Gould.An amazing thing is happening in the primary elections for the American presidency – and it’s not Donald Trump. Mr Trump, in any case, “doesn’t like losers” and, having lost in Iowa, should presumably now be “re-considering his position”. The amazing thing is happening on the other side of the political divide. The Iowa primary […]
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A Lab-Lib Dem merger? A very, very bad idea
Jun 12th, 2015 by Phil Burton-Cartledge.One question that comes up time and again from punters on the doorstep to far left activists is “why can’t you all just unite?” (although, ironically, Left Unity has ruled out unity with the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition for next year’s London Assembly elections). Of course, there are Very Important Reasons why myriad groups in the revolutionary […]
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Labour is at a crossroads – socialism or austerity?
May 27th, 2015 by Peter Rowlands.Labour must understand why it did so badly in the election, as it is unlikely to be able to mount a successful campaign in the future if it doesn’t. Much has been written already, although we await a full analysis in terms of voting patterns and movement by age, class, gender etc., but from what […]
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Dear Liz Kendall, about the differences between socialism and liberalism…
May 24th, 2015 by Phil Burton-Cartledge.Dear Liz, Re: Leadership of the Labour Party I noted the other day that leadership contests are that rare occasion when MPs and ordinary members are frank about the personalities and policies at the top of the party. Some also over egg the pudding and go for outright abuse. I’m thinking mainly, this time around, […]
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Voting Labour is a necessary act in helping our movement get its act together
May 7th, 2015 by Phil Burton-Cartledge.Of course I’m voting Labour. I am an active party member of five years standing. I’ve spent the bulk of my activism this year working in marginal seats (mainly Stafford). And there’s the small matter of 261 posts on this here blog that have obsessed over the party’s twists and turns since back before I […]
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Do we want predatory capitalism or an economy geared to the common good?
Mar 29th, 2015 by Michael Meacher.Despite the predictable whines of some FTSE-100 bosses reported yesterday about a post-election Labour-SNP pact, Ed M should flesh out more about his vision to replace ‘predatory capitalism’ both because that is what a majority of people want and also to put paid to the ignorant mantra that self-interested executives like to propagate that anyone […]
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Is Scotland’s Radical Independence movement a Class act?
Nov 27th, 2014 by Cailean Gallagher.There was a touch of class about last weekend’s Radical Independence conference (RIC): slick presentation, businesslike suits, and bold stage-lighting that shone a pinkish tint on the pale faces that packed the Clyde Auditorium one bright November day. If the job was to give RIC a new sheen, the organisers can be pleased with the result. There […]
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Do we lack ideology within the Labour Party?
Sep 2nd, 2014 by Scott Nicholson.I recently heard about a working paper that Eliane Glaser had written for the New Economics Foundation. In this Glaser writes about neoliberalism, how she feels politicians and the media reject political ideology as no longer relevant to our pragmatic political culture and about grassroots political alternatives. What interests me, is what this means for […]
