This talk was given by John McDonnell on Wednesday 29 June at a Stand Up for Labour event in the George IV pub in Chiswick, West London. The transcript has been lightly edited to account for the difference between spoken and written language but the content is unchanged. Let me just tell you where we’re […]
Posts under ‘Social Affairs’
Political Violence and Mental Health
Jun 22nd, 2016 by Andy Newman.Given the fact that the alleged murderer of Jo Cox has been charged, it is important that any discussion of the surrounding issues is contextualized by the requirements of the criminal justice system. There is guidance on reporting restrictions and contempt of court provided by the Crown Prosecution Service here. But if we step outside […]
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Staring into the abyss
Jun 17th, 2016 by Andy Newman.Sometimes the rush of the commenentariat to express opinions about contemporary events can seem cynical and ill considered. But I was impressed by two articles which must have been written as almost instant reactions to the tragic murder of Jo Cox, one by Alex Massie in the Spectator and one by Polly Toynbee in the […]
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Remembering Mohammed Ali: boxer, philosopher and poet
Jun 8th, 2016 by Ann Pettifor.Ann Pettifor remembers Mohammed Ali with whom she worked in the Jubilee 2000 campaign for cancellation of third world debt Mohammed Ali – ‘The Greatest’ – died this weekend, at the age of 74. With his loss, the world is deprived of the terrific energy of a principled, devout and committed man. A boxer, a philosopher […]
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Why Andy Burnham should oppose the snoopers charter come what May does
May 25th, 2016 by Jon Lansman.Today, the Guardian reports that “Labour has edged closer to supporting the ‘snooper’s charter’“, referring to the Investigatory Powers Bill carried forward from the last session of Parliament. Andy Burnham, Labour’s shadow Home Secretary, said “Her commitment to an independent review of the case for bulk powers is a major concession but the right thing […]
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The symbolic politics of England football: an imagined community of eleven people
May 15th, 2016 by Mark Perryman.Mark Perryman of Philosophy Football explores what Monday’s announcement of the England Euro 2016 squad tells us about modern Englishness I was six at the time of England winning the World Cup in ’66. Despite it remaining somewhat of an obsession of mine – to declare an interest I’ve just edited the collection 1966 and […]
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A frenzied witch-hunt is not the way to combat antisemitism or any form of racism
May 9th, 2016 by Jon Lansman.Last week Jackie Walker, Vice-chair of Momentum‘s national steering group (of which I am chair) was suspended by the Labour Party pending investigation of remarks she made in a Facebook conversation. These were brought to the party’s attention by the Jewish Chronicle whose coverage does not describe them as antisemitic though it does claim in a […]
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Education, the National Policy Forum and Labour policy
May 9th, 2016 by David Pavett.Meanwhile, back at the policy making process … There is very little informed debate in the Labour party about education. There is very little informed debate in the Labour party about anything. It is a Party with various groups and individuals pushing for their particular viewpoint but organising informed discussion in which all of these […]
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A letter to the Chief Constable
May 6th, 2016 by Andy Newman.6th May 2016 Mr Mike Veale Chief Constable, Wiltshire Police Possible Illegal Practice in Chippenham, contrary to the Representation of the People Act 1983. Dear Mr Veale I am addressing this personally to you, due to the sensitivity of the matter. As you are no doubt aware, in May 2016, the current MP for […]
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Antisemitism and Zionism: a reply to Jon Lansman
May 5th, 2016 by John Rees.John Rees, co-founder of the Stop the War Coalition, responds to Jon Lansman’s post, Why the Left must stop talking about ‘Zionism’ My previous relationship with Jon Lansman has been perfectly comradely. So it’s a little surprising that he should choose to attack me as part of an article devoted to trying to convince the left […]
