Analysis

Is Britain Ready for the Omicron Variant?

by Ell Folan

With impressive vaccination rates and a public willing to accept some new restrictions, the biggest stumbling block to tackling the Omicron variant is the government's lack of political will, writes Ell Folan.

Ecuador’s Left and Indigenous Movement Are in Conflict – And the Right Is Taking Advantage

by Andrea Guillem

For a decade, Ecuador was an exemplar of the progressive ‘pink tide’ in Latin America. Today, a split between the Indigenous movement and the electoral left has facilitated a rightwing comeback. Andrea Guillem explains.

Young British Filmmakers Are Throwing Out the Kitchen Sink

by Joel Blackledge

British cinema has used gritty realism to portray proletarian life. With Conservative education policy restricting access to the film establishment, young filmmakers are pushing past tradition with whatever they have available.

How to Navigate Britain’s Broken Trans Healthcare System

by OS Warren

You wait five years for a gender identity clinic appointment and once you’re in, it’s a nightmare. OS Warren offers strategies for navigating our punitive trans healthcare system.

The Hostile Environment is Making Migrants Vulnerable to HIV

by James Greig

Until the government ends the hostile environment, which deters migrants from accessing vital healthcare, its plan to end HIV transmission by 2030 is a pipedream. James Greig reports.

Venezuelan PM Nicolas Maduro stands at a lectern wearing a sweatsuit in the colours of his political party, flanked by crowds waving flags

Maduro Keeps Winning in Venezuela

by Ricardo Vaz

Maduro swept the votes at last week’s “mega-elections”. Yet until Biden lifts sanctions that have killed over 40,000 Venezuelans to date, he'll struggle to get the country back on track.

When It Comes to Drug Laws, Britain is a World Loser

by Kojo Koram

Britain likes to think of itself as a world leader on pretty much everything. But when it comes to drug policy, we couldn't be further behind, writes Kojo Koram.

The Latin American Left is Ready for 2022

by Pablo Navarrete

As Chile races towards an electoral showdown, Pablo Navarrete surveys the struggles of Latin America's resurgent left.

A red and lilac graphic showing a woman holding a balloon and various symbols

Autism Is Not a Disease

by Jodie Hare

Why is it still acceptable to treat autistic people as defective, forcing them to bend to society rather than changing society to be more inclusive? With misinformation rife, it’s time neurotypicals start making an effort, writes Jodie Hare.

Boris Johnson with hand on forehead, standing at a podium that reads 'Build Back Better'

Will the Tory Sleaze Scandal Finally Nix the Party’s Polling Lead?

by Ell Folan

The past month has been one of the worst for the Tories to date. Ell Folan examines the polls to ask whether this is another passing storm, or something more serious.

The Gas Crisis Is Exposing the Lie in Britain’s Decarbonisation Strategy

by Lauren Van Schaik

With fossil fuel dependence impacting both our wallets and our thermostats, more of us may start to see through the Tories’ counterfeit decarbonisation strategy, which has swapped out coal for natural gas, writes Lauren Van Schaik.

Cop26: Climate Justice Visions From the Global South

by Connor Woodman

As vaccine apartheid and the UK’s borders stop many from accessing Cop26, five thinkers and organisers from the Global South counter-pose their struggles for climate justice to the vacuous summit in Glasgow.

Will Climate Change Itself Derail Plans to Reduce Emissions?

by Nicholas Beuret

First problem: climate change itself is slowing down decarbonisation plans. Second problem: decarbonisation plans risk creating a hell of a lot of emissions. So where do we go from here?

Is China the World’s Worst Climate Culprit?

by Aaron Bastani

China is easily the world’s leading polluter. But when you take into account the country's size, population, investment in renewables and outsourced emissions things become a lot more complicated, writes Aaron Bastani.

Germany’s SPD Is About to Take Power. Can It Stick to Leftwing Principles?

by James Jackson

Germany’s social democratic party just won on a leftwing manifesto. As the party enters coalition talks with the right, will the left be hung out to dry?

Keir Starmer at Labour conference in Brighton.

Who’s More in Touch With Voters, Labour Members or Labour’s Leader?

Whether it’s energy nationalisation or a higher minimum wage, Keir Starmer consistently rejects policies that his party members support. His supporters say that Labour members are out of touch with the wider electorate – but polls suggest otherwise.

The SNP Won’t Deliver a Radical Independence for Scotland

by Jonathon Shafi

While a second Scottish independence referendum seems inevitable, it won’t be a re-run of the first, writes Jonathon Shafi. Thanks largely to the growing dominance of the SNP within the pro-independence movement, the stakes are higher than ever.

The Deindustrial Divide: Why Northern England is a Political Problem

by Craig Gent

Whether we like it or not, the ‘red wall’ narrative is likely to determine English politics for the decade to come. But understanding today’s ‘north-south divide’ has more to do with industrial legacies than culture, writes Craig Gent.