Novara Live: Johnson’s Address to the Nation
Michael Walker and Aaron Bastani react to Johnson’s address to the nation.
Tag: Aaron Bastani
Opinion: Marxism or Methodism? For Labour’s Centrist Vanguard, It Was Neither
Aaron Bastani
It’s often been said that the Labour party’s origins owe “more to Methodism than Marx”. Tom Watson and other ‘moderate’ former Labour MPs, however, are driven by nothing but egoism and self-promotion, argues Aaron Bastani.
Novara Live: Lockdown Reloaded
10 million people in the UK now live under local restrictions, and a nationwide lockdown looks to be incoming. Will the government come to regret bullying us into our offices, and giving us all discounts in pubs? Plus: why no-one understands government testing figures (including Matt Hancock); Priti Patel’s War on Cocaine; Joe Biden’s Beef […]
Novara Live: Incompetence in Overdrive
The government promised that by the time schools re-opened the UK would have a world beating test-and-trace system. However, just as our economy is re-opening, Britain’s testing system has collapsed. Does Britain’s testing chaos make a second wave inevitable?
The Bastani Factor: Left Out: The Inside Story of Labour Under Corbyn
After 2017 Labour stood on the brink of power. Yet by last December the party gained its lowest number of seats since 1935. How did that happen? Find out as Aaron Bastani is joined by authors of 'Left Out', Gabriel Pogrund and Patrick Maguire
The Bastani Factor: Left Out: The Inside Story of Labour Under Corbyn
After the 2017 general election Labour under Jeremy Corbyn seemingly stood on the brink of power. From nowhere they had enjoyed the biggest increase in vote share of any party since 1945, depriving the Tories of their majority. But from there it was a story of Glastonbury to catastrophe and, last December, Labour gained their […]
Novara Live: Apocalyptic Skies
The US West Coast is suffering from record breaking forest fires. Will the disaster jolt the country into climate action? Plus, Alan Sugar wants you back in the office, Labour Friends of Israel celebrates an influx of MPs, and thousands complain after ITV airs homage to Black Lives Matter. With Michael Walker and Aaron Bastani.
Novara Live: The Rule of Six
From Sunday it will be illegal to meet up with a group of more than 6 people, unless your boss has told you so. Does the need for a tightening of lockdown rules show the government has lost control of covid 19? Is it sustainable to tell people they’re morally obliged to traipse into packed […]
Opinion: Boris Johnson’s Plan to Ditch the Withdrawal Agreement Shows His Mandate is Built on Lies
Aaron Bastani
Boris Johnson won the 2019 election having secured, in his words, an ‘excellent’ withdrawal agreement for the UK. If he now undermines this agreement - potentially in favour of a no deal Brexit - his mandate will be built on lies, argues Aaron Bastani.
Novara Live: Bust-Up or Bluster?
Boris Johnson won last year’s general election promising to implement his oven ready deal. However, less than 12 months later he’s planning to break The Withdrawal Agreement. Are the government really willing to unilaterally break a legally binding international treaty? Or is this just typical bluster from the Prime Minister? Plus, Extinction Rebellion take on […]
Novara Live: Homophobe for Hire
Nothing says Global Britain more than hiring an ex-Australian PM to be a trade envoy. But what about if he’s a noted misogynist, homophobe and climate sceptic? Plus, Corbyn-Coyle WhatsApp leaks and Gary Lineker enrages xenophobes. We also remember and discuss the life and work of world-renowned anthropologist David Graeber. With Michael Walker, Dalia Gebrial […]
Novara Live: Socialism or Extinction
Extinction Rebellion are back on the streets protesting government inaction on the climate. But it’s leadership have angered left wingers by renouncing a banner members made in support of socialism. Is their anti-political stance a dead end? Plus, as schools open the government blackmail workers back into offices, Fox News comes to the UK, and […]
Opinion: Is Capitalism to Blame for Covid-19?
Aaron Bastani
Deforestation and climate change will increase the likelihood of future pandemics. Aaron Bastani asks: how many more outbreaks will it take before we realise our economic system is not only undermining the health of our planet, but our health as a species too?
The Bastani Factor: The World According to the Economist with Alexander Zevin
Since 1843, The Economist has been the single most devoted and influential champion of liberalism anywhere in the world. But what exactly is liberalism, and what does the output of the Economist tell us about it?
Opinion: Climate Change is Still Accelerating (Even If We Aren’t Talking About It)
Aaron Bastani
Last weekend California’s Death Valley hit 54.4°C - a potential new record for the hottest temperature anywhere on Earth. While the coronavirus crisis has grabbed the headlines in 2020, this has also been the year in which runaway climate change became normal, argues Aaron Bastani.
Novara Live: U Grades to U-Turn
The government have been forced into a screeching U-Turn on exam results. It’s a victory for students and teachers, and an embarrassment for Gavin Williamson. How did zoomers force the climbdown? Plus, Greece abandon migrants at sea after shipping them to Turkish border and record-breaking protests in Belarus threaten Lukashenko’s 26 year rule.
Novara Live: Classroom Warfare
Dishing out A-level results in the midst of a pandemic was always going to be hard. That doesn’t excuse a process which has turned into an unprecedented disaster, thrown up arbitrary grades, and dashed the hopes of thousands of young people. But with the poorest hit hardest, is this a case of government incompetence, or of […]
Opinion: It’s Not Just Brexiteers Who Deal in British Exceptionalism – Centrists Do Too
Aaron Bastani
Liberal centrists are quick to accuse right-wing Brexiteers of being prone to nostalgia and exceptionalism. But by appealing to a mythical past where Britain was an open, tolerant country, centrists show they're not actually all that different, argues Aaron Bastani.