Posted in Left Futures

Don’t do it Ed – it’s not that bad!

ed miliband thinking of a pistolWell, actually, it is that bad, but topping yourself won’t solve anything and it would leave us with the unedifying spectacle of Ed Balls/Yvette Cooper, Chuka Umunna, et al, trying to sound right-wing enough to get Progress’s support – something which I guess they won’t find all that difficult. Things are bad but they can certainly get a lot worse.

Okay, so Labour is chugging along in the low thirties in the polls. That’s not brilliant. In fact, to be honest, it’s bloody awful. The thing is that just scraping a majority with around a third of the votes on a modest turnout is not exactly a mandate for social change. That clearly suits some of your colleagues since they can always argue against radical policies by arguing that “the public won’t support it”. Continue reading →

The best of Left Futures in 2013

Thatcher & Union Jack PosterAnother 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 year, so we thought we’d share the most popular below:

Top of the list is Jilly Luke’s critique of media narratives on the deserving and undeserving poor. It prompted a fiery response from Jack Monroe, the popular food blogger who was mentioned in the article. Several days after, we published this follow-up piece from our editor, Jon Lansman. The debate continued to rage, with Richard Seymour at the Guardian arguing that ultimately, Jilly was “bang on the money”. Continue reading →

The six most popular stories this week

  1. The top sixIt’s hard to disagree with Left Unity about anything much, other than their existence – Jon Lansman takes issue not with Left Unity‘s programme but with their political strategy – arguing that the Labour Party was still the right place for left activists to campaign for socialism.
  2. Unite offers Miliband an olive branch, with clear red lines – Ed Miliband must now negotiate a deal with the trade unions or face defeat, argues Jon Lansman.
  3. Judges overturn ATOS work capability assessment – in the week the appeal court rejects the DWP appeal, Michael Meacher’s May article returns to the top six.
  4. For those who can’t love Obama – Jack Dunleavy’s enthusiastic review of Sergio de la Pava’s novel, Personae, wins readers.
  5. Mandela’s Contested Legacy – Mike Phipps collates the less mainstream assessments.
  6. The politics of envy – Phil Burton-Cartledge responds to Lisa Ansell’s claim that “The Left” are responsible for grinding down working class people.

The six most popular stories this week

  1. The top sixNow universities openly campaign against left-wing students – Keith Wright looks behind the recent headlines about police surveillance, evictions of occupations and the proposed abolition of the University of London Union (ULU).
  2. Labour Students no longer bothers to pretend it’s not just Progress’ youth wing – still getting lots of hits, here’s Michael Wood’s shocking account of the Labour Students political weekend from last week. “All throughout the weekend,” he writes, Progress official Ben Dilks and Chair of Scottish Labour Students, Stephen Donnelly, bullied activists to join Progress.” Incendiary stuff!
  3. Labour needs a strong union link with a more democratic Labour party – Jim Kelly, chair of Unite’s London and Eastern region, makes an important contribution to the current debates about the future of the party-union link.
  4. In the Belly of the Beast – our update on the new edition of Socialist Register, which marks 50 years of the publication’s history.
  5. Only an injection of politics can save the NHS – Geoff Ellis updates us on the critical situation of the health service, and the recently-established “People’s Enquiry”.
  6. Stupid empiricism and the Conservative party – Phil Burton-Cartledge gives us a thorough and compelling account of “Crosbyisation”.

 

The six most popular stories this week

  1. The top sixLabour Students no longer bothers to pretend it’s not just Progress’ youth wing. So far, almost 2,000 people have clicked onto Michael Wood’s astonishing article on the shenanigans at NOLS political weekend – and it’s counting! He tells of how Labour Students and Progress bigwigs “bullied” young members to join the shady party-within-a-party. A fascinating read.
  2. It‘s Labour’s executive being sidelined in party management shenanigans – Jon Lansman tells the worrying tale of the appointment of Spencer Livermore, and how the NEC and even the general secretary are being pushed aside.
  3. Prime Minister’s questions in now the pits and needs radical reform – Michael Meacher gives his considered response to being accused of being on “mind-altering substances” after asking a serious question to David Cameron.
  4. Watch: an idiot’s guide to free speech – a section of the Twitterati accused Owen Jones of “undermining free speech” for saying he’d withdraw from the Stop the War conference if Syrian nun Mother Agnes was on the platform. But they hadn’t counted on the shrewd demolition they’d take from vlogger Steve Doran! (@girlsteve on Twitter)
  5. Will the Labour right maintain its unholy alliance in internal elections? An insightful analysis from Jon Lansman on the upcoming elections for Labour’s executive, an election where Progress consistently fail to make headway.
  6. Ann Black’s report from Labour’s November executive – she never fails to report back to the members who elected her to the NEC.