Democracy & State
Overcoming the enemies within
17 May 2012
The left must unite in order to change the relationship of forces both within and outside the Labour Party, argues Mike Macnair
North of the border
25 Jun 2026
Labour trailed far behind in Scotland’s two by-elections. The trade union movement commits to bone-headed sectionalism. As for the left nationalists, they merely serve petty bourgeois nationalism. Tam Dean Burn comments
Makerfield was historic
25 Jun 2026
Andy Burnham gained a sweeping victory, but it would be foolish to project the results onto the national picture. People were not only voting against Reform, but to get rid of a widely despised prime minister, writes Eddie Ford
Two letters for Andy
25 Jun 2026
Can he halt long-term British decline with his Manchesterism magic? Within the confines of the present political system, can anyone? Paul Demarty examines the prospects for the ‘king of the north’
Meet the new boss, same as the old boss
25 Jun 2026
Sir Keir was not a total failure. He did a ‘good job’ in thoroughly marginalising the Labour left. But will Andy Burnham be any different? Unlikely, given the objective conditions, says Carla Roberts
Labour’s toxic arms race
18 Jun 2026
British imperialism is weak economically and yet feels obliged to commit to bigger and bigger arms budgets. However, we need to do more than oppose increases in so-called defence spending, argues Carl Collins
Small-nation crook
04 Jun 2026
Peter Murrell’s bizarre shopping habits have badly damaged the SNP. But the national question is still very much on the agenda, argues Paul Demarty. Around half of voters remain committed to separation
Under siege and still resisting
28 May 2026
Attempting to replicate its success in Venezuela, the White House seems intent on leaving the existing regime intact, but transforming the country into a pliant neo-colony, writes Eddie Ford
Sectarianism spawns liberalism
21 May 2026
We do not advocate an ecumenical party, nor non-aggression pacts. On the contrary, political debates and political struggles are vital. As a sort of addendum, Mike Macnair replies to Red Ant Collective’s ‘anti-factionalism’
Further swing to right
21 May 2026
Narendra Modi’s far-right BJP has made further gains at state elections and has almost totally marginalised the left. Given the country’s extremes of wealth and poverty this might seem paradoxical. Michael Roberts investigates the politics and economics of the world’s most populous country
A perfect spy
21 May 2026
BBC bosses and the securocracy continue with their campaign to denigrate Michael Bettaney and therefore hide the murderous criminality of the British state in the Six Counties and the sheer incompetence of MI5. Jack Conrad puts the record straight
Burnham rolls the dice
21 May 2026
Can the ‘king of the north’ complete his royal progress towards Westminster? And, if he does, what then? Paul Demarty explains the limits of Manchesterism
More than street numbers
21 May 2026
Far more were on the Palestine march than Tommy Robinson’s Unite the Kingdom. But, what with Reform UK, it would be a profound mistake to dismiss the far right as just a marginal force, argues Eddie Ford
Toxic nationalist recipes
14 May 2026
With the rise of Reform UK, the SNP and Plaid as the biggest parties in Scotland and Wales, our demand for a federal republic has become even more relevant, argues Eddie Ford
How much longer?
14 May 2026
Though Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership hangs in the balance, his failure is less due to incompetence than to Britain’s objective situation, argues Paul Demarty
He who pays the piper
07 May 2026
Nigel Farage likes to present himself as one of your mates down the pub, but in reality, writes Eddie Ford, his friends are filthy rich. Then there is Christopher Harborne, the crypto billionaire and Reform mega‑donor