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 […]
Posts under ‘Activism’
Democracy with a price tag is a dangerous precedent
Feb 11th, 2016 by Seema Chandwani.As a youth worker for over 17 years some of my best political conversations have been with young people. However, sadly many of those young people do not engage with the democratic systems and political parties in our country. So I was extremely proud to hear not one, but three [one as a delegate from […]
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Momentum builds foundations for a Labour victory, but you can’t please everyone
Feb 9th, 2016 by Jon Lansman.After months of working without a proper governance structure, it was a relief when on Saturday the first meeting of Momentum’s newly inaugurated National Committee, drawing delegates from across the country and trade unions, the Labour-supporting campaigning movement agreed on a governance structure. It also affirmed its determination to see Jeremy Corbyn elected Prime Minister […]
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The Beckett report, polls and the Left
Feb 8th, 2016 by Peter Rowlands.On two related issues, the Beckett Report and Labour’s overall level of support, there has not been a sufficiently robust response from the left. On Beckett there would appear to be general agreement that the failure to even attempt to dispel the myth that Labour was responsible for the 2008 crash because of over expenditure rather […]
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Pete Willsman’s Report for Labour’s January Executive
Jan 28th, 2016 by Peter Willsman.National Executive Committee 26 January 2016 The executive was faced with a very heavy agenda for the meeting because not only was there the much-heralded arrival of Margaret Beckett’s Learning the Lessons taskforce report, but we were to hear from Alan Johnson who is masterminding our Labour In For Britain referendum campaign, and Kezia Dugdale, the Leader […]
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Centralisation versus democracy: Labour’s national executive makes its choice
Jan 26th, 2016 by Jon Lansman.This afternoon, Labour’s national executive (NEC) will discuss under the rather dull heading “NEC Terms of Reference and Committees” an important matter: how much power should lie with its grassroots members. Most NEC members understand that what the rulebook says about the primary purpose of the NEC being to “provide a strategic direction for the party” […]
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Whatever happened to the workers? Is Labour now a middle class party?
Jan 26th, 2016 by Phil Burton-Cartledge.The key to “professional” success in the land of comment is to never let the facts get in the way of a good narrative. If hard numbers and social realities are inconvenient, one can safely shove them aside in the assured knowledge they won’t come back to haunt the writer. Especially if one is a […]
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What hope for Gaza?
Jan 25th, 2016 by David Pavett.In 1993 the Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Palestinian President Yasser Arafat shook hands on the lawn of the White House to seal the deal of the Oslo Accords (Oslo I). The terms of the accord were vague but gave rise to hope and received support from both Palestinians and Israelis. The accord envisaged […]
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The cynicism that lies behind the Socialist Party claim to want a merger with Labour
Jan 24th, 2016 by Phil Burton-Cartledge.I read with interest that the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) have decided to stand aside at a February council by-election in the Lower Stoke ward of Coventry. According to the Cov Telegraph, TUSC are seeking talks with Jeremy Corbyn about a merger between TUSC and Labour, and an alliance to fight the next […]
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What Labour now needs is informed debate
Jan 24th, 2016 by David Pavett.Everyone, even people who opposed him, understand that the election of Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader was a signal of a deep desire for change among Labour members and supporters. I have never agreed with all Jeremy Corbyn’s views but I was pleased to vote for him and, on reflection, I am glad that I […]
