Keiro Tolerance
Does Keir Starmer keeping Steve Reed make a mockery of his ‘zero tolerance’ commitment? Does it show Rebecca Long-Bailey’s sacking was political all along? With Michael Walker and Aaron Bastani.
Tag: labour
Culture Wars, Cancelled?
On Black Lives Matter and GRA reform Keir Starmer wants to avoid a culture war. But by sidestepping such issues, is Labour just surrendering to the forces of reaction? With Michael Walker, Ash Sarkar and Aaron Bastani
Starmergeddon?
Starmer’s dumped RLB and has so far got away with it. Can the Labour left avoid Armageddon? Plus, Tories open up about cash for access and fights on the beaches in the post-lockdown heatwave. With Michael Walker and Aaron Bastani.
Opinion: Filth: Coronavirus Has Shown That Cleaners Are Essential, but Labelling Them ‘Low-Skilled’ Legitimises Exploitation
A crisis always reveals. While pandemic society has effortlessly withstood the temporary absence of hedge fund managers, cleaners have been billeted to the frontlines, their work suddenly and mysteriously ‘essential’. In part four of her series, Filth, Eleanor Penny explores how labelling work 'low-skilled' rubber-stamps a vicious cycle of low pay, precarious contracts and hyper-exploitation.
A Turning Point in Trust?
For the first time since this crisis began polls are showing the public dissatisfied with the government’s handling of Covid-19. Could this be a turning point in the politics of coronavirus?
For the Landlords, Not the Many?
Labour’s Shadow Housing Minister has called rent cancellation “un-Labour”. Are we back to the bad old days Blairism? Plus, why the Tory press have gone to war with teachers and how the government are ending the lockdown BEFORE they’ve introduced test-and-trace.
Opinion: Now Is the Time for Labour to Completely Reject Austerity
Despite Keir Starmer's Labour offering glimpses of the politics that led the party to commit to austerity after 2010, a repeat performance can be easily avoided if the left and the labour movement step up, writes Aaron Bastani.
Labour’s New Left: From Benn to 2024
For some the rise of Jeremy Corbyn was an expression of the ‘old left’. But Leo Panitch disagrees, saying its roots can be traced to a ‘new left’ that starts with Tony Benn. Aaron Bastani interviews the author of ‘Searching For Socialism’ asking about the past, and future, of the new left in Britain’s Labour […]
Opinion: The Left’s Approach to Keir Starmer Isn’t Working
Since becoming Labour leader, Keir Starmer has failed to put any real pressure on Boris Johnson over his handling of the coronavirus crisis. But the reason Johnson has had an easy ride from Starmer is in part because Starmer has had an easy ride from the left, argues David Wearing.
The Burner Episode #226: Labour Pains + Food Crisis
Aaron Bastani asks: where on earth is Labour going on economic policy? Can it avoid fighting the last war? Plus, James Butler asks: are we facing a food crisis? Why?
Opinion: While the Tories Remain in Power, Austerity Will Never Be Off the Agenda
With many on the left triumphantly declaring the end of austerity, its architect, George Osborne, is already preparing for the next round, writes Grace Blakeley.
John McDonnell on the #LabourLeaks and COVID-19
An exclusive interview with former Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell on COVID-19, the #LabourLeaks, and the future of the left under Keir Starmer.
Report: Labour Official Who Undermined Party and Mocked Staff Was in Running for General Secretary Under Starmer
Exclusive: Emilie Oldknow, a former senior official at Labour HQ and a union executive, who plotted to undermine Jeremy Corbyn and called colleagues 'pube head' and 'smelly cow', was in the running for Labour's top job. Aaron Bastani reports.
Report: Labour Staff Members Express Dismay With Union’s Response to Leaked Documents
Rank-and-file Labour staffers have told Novara Media they feel “stunned” at their branch executive’s choice to emphasise the fact of the leak over its extraordinary contents, writes Aaron Bastani.
Left Populism, Coronavirus and Crisis
James Butler is joined by Paolo Gerbaudo to discuss left populism, Italian politics, and the nature of the crisis over the pandemic in Italy, Europe and beyond.
Opinion: The 2020 Budget Shows the Tories Are Playing by New Rules
Did Rishi Sunak just end austerity? No. Is Britain adequately preparing for the panoply of crises set to define the coming decades? Also no. But make no mistake, writes Aaron Bastani, this was the first Tory budget since 2010 to abandon the neoliberal frame of ‘necessity', demonstrating how Labour under Corbyn won certain arguments.
Bernie Hits the Jackpot
Michael Walker, Aaron Bastani and Dalia Gebrial discuss Bernie’s big win in Nevada, ballots dropping in the Labour leadership race, and the start of Julian Assange’s extradition hearing.
Keir Starmer: Not the Safe Choice for Labour?
David Wearing argues that with only a few years left to prevent climate breakdown, Labour’s new leader has to both win the next general election, and then push through a major transformation of our economic model in a single parliament. So can Labour afford to go back to the politics of the centre left, which […]