Seems like an opportune time to channel my inner Nostradamus. “Serious” political commentators as a rule fight shy of making hard and fast predictions because one’s liable to get shown up, especially as the 2015 election will be a close-run affair with all kinds of political insurgents set to skew the result this way that […]
Posts under ‘Outside Left’
Greek elections: support the popular struggle against austerity
Dec 29th, 2014 by Newsdesk.The following is a statement by the Greece Solidarity Campaign issued this afternoon Greece stands on the brink of momentous change. The forthcoming general election presents huge, transformative opportunities to the people of Greece – and to Europe more widely. The anti-austerity party SYRIZA – and the movement and people as a whole – has […]
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Russell Brand v the Sun: long may the war continue
Dec 6th, 2014 by Phil Burton-Cartledge.When I was poor and I complained about inequality, people said I was bitter. Now I’m rich and I complain about inequality, they say I’m a hypocrite. I’m beginning to think they just don’t want inequality on the agenda because it is a real problem that needs to be addressed.” Normally something to pin on […]
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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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“We are the vote for hope”: Interview with Pablo Iglesias of Podemos
Nov 27th, 2014 by Tom Gill.He’s MEP of the European Left in the GUE-NGL grouping “that defends the dignity of the people and democracy”. He’s also leader of Spain’s Podemos movement, which to general surprise won 8% in the Continent-wide elections in May and is accredited in opinion polls today as the leading political force in the country with a […]
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Why haven’t there been riots about endless austerity? That may be about to happen
Nov 19th, 2014 by Michael Meacher.One of the most remarkable facts about the British public’s attitude to prolonged austerity is the lack of the kind of open revolt which has been seen in so many other countries. In Greece it has led to the dramatic rise of Syriza under the dynamic leadership of the radical Tsipras who now has a […]
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Left Unity one year on
Nov 18th, 2014 by Phil Burton-Cartledge.This weekend saw Left Unity hold its first national conference. Well, not really. It was preceded by its foundation back in November last year, and a further national gathering in Manchester last March, but who’s counting right? So 12 months down the line, where do things stand with Britain’s newest leftist unity initiatives? Should Labour be worried another potential […]
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The rise and rise of Podemos: a movement for popular empowerment
Nov 16th, 2014 by Mike Phipps.One of the highlights of the recent AGM of the Labour Representation Committee was the address from Leticia Bernues Caudillo from Podemos which took 8% of the vote in the European elections and won five MEPs just three months after being founded. Podemos (“We can!”) was inspired by the radical left force in Greece, Syriza. It grew […]
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On the SWP and “uniting the Left”
Oct 29th, 2014 by Phil Burton-Cartledge.I was looking at my watch the other day and I remember thinking “it’s been a while since the Socialist Workers Party issued a ‘unite the left’ call.” And whaddya know, they’d already done it. My lefty trainspotting isn’t what it used to be.* From time to time the SWP like to go on unity […]
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Jerry Hicks complaint against Unite thrown out
Oct 28th, 2014 by Jon Lansman.Far left challenger to Len McCluskey in last year’s election for Unite general Secretary, Jerry Hicks, has lost his formal legal challenge to the Government’s Certification Officer. Having lost by144,570 votes to 79,819 in spite of backing from sections of the Right and every disgruntled member, his objection has finally been thrown out after a year […]
