It’s official: Young Labour can debate policy for two hours every two years

by Conrad Landin.

Who could possibly enjoy the feeling of I-told-you-so when the mess you’re faced with offends you as much as anyone, if not most of all? Certainly not me at the last Young Labour national committee meeting. Along with a minority of committee members, I had spent the previous two meetings warning that giving up any […]

Smith’s reforms didn’t “change perception”, so why should Ed’s?

by Conrad Landin.

Do you remember the last time you knocked on someone’s door and they said the problem with the Labour party was that union members must opt-out of affiliation, rather than opt-in? I didn’t think so. At least, in five years of knocking on doors, it’s never happened to me. I’ve had lots of people talk […]

Cause for concern: Darcus Howe and the struggle to expose police racism

by Conrad Landin.

One of the most exciting books on the shelves at the moment is the new “political biography” of Darcus Howe, the activist and journalist. Howe has steadfastly refused, unlike so many others, to join the ranks of the establishment. We’ll be publishing a review soon, but in the meantime, you can read an extract at […]

The best of Left Futures in 2013

by Conrad Landin.

Another year, another decent conference speech from Ed Miliband, an entirely needless battle with the unions, a false recovery from Gideon, and the deaths of two of history’s most significant figures. Left Futures has also once again gone from strength to strength to strength. 2013 in fact saw over 100,000 more visits than the previous […]

Memories of childhood, poker and “First World healthcare”

by Conrad Landin.

“I have a tendency when reading biographies and autobiographies about elderly or dead people of great accomplishment to want to skip through the early part, especially the childhood.” So wrote Jenny Diski, who now contributes an essay to Meeting the Devil, a collection of short pieces of memoir originally published in the London Review of […]

Ofsted chief exposes grammar school myths, but most are happy with nostalgia

by Conrad Landin.

I cried yes, I would like to see all private schools and grammar schools closed down, and then told the man that sorry, the conversation would have to end, as I wanted to dance to Dusty Springfield. We had been arguing for what felt like half an hour. It had started off on another topic, […]

Time for Amazon to pay the living wage

by Conrad Landin.

As you might expect in the run-up to Christmas, Amazon has been back in the headlines. Not only do they avoid tax, but a BBC investigation found their workplace conditions were so bad that their employees ‘face increased risk of mental illness’. This was shortly followed by Carole Cadwalladr’s report from the coal-face in The […]

Justice for the Farthing Five: end the victimisation of students

by Conrad Landin.

If you’ve been following recent events in the student movement, you may have heard of yet another worrying development at the University of Sussex. The Brighton campus has held a legendary place in the protest movement this year, as students have repeatedly occupied administration buildings in protest at privatisation and weakening of staff terms and […]

Watch: Tracy Chapman at the 1988 Mandela concert

by Conrad Landin.

Listen, watch, and just feel the atmosphere. Think about what David Cameron was up to – the following year, no less, after these crowds filled Wembley. And even just appreciate the greatest political songwriter of recent times. Over at Consequence of Sound, they contend that it was Chapman’s second appearance, in which she performed Fast Car, […]

The British state is rapidly alienating a whole new generation

by Conrad Landin.

Seven days ago, the Guardian revealed that Cambridgeshire Constabulary had attempted to infiltrate activist and student groups through the recruitment of informers. The news prompted outcry from students, academics and campaigners alike. If you haven’t yet seen the videos secretly recorded by the Guardian’s mole, they provide a fascinating insight into the inner workings of […]

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