It is not known whether Boris Johnson is an enthusiast for Louis Althusser’s critique of Antonio Gramsci’s idea of cultural hegemony, but it looks as if he might be. The prospect of Paul Dacre, the former editor of the Daily Mail and editor-in-chief of Associated Newspapers, becoming the next chair …
Read More »The Covid-19 crisis and the virtues of an active state
In 2014, as the pharmaceutical giant Pfizer sought to take over AstraZeneca, the UK’s second largest pharmaceutical company, the British government insisted it would not intervene. David Cameron and George Osborne suggested that the bid was purely a commercial matter for shareholders and refused to apply a “public interest test”. …
Read More »Platforms as publishers, UK Covid deaths and the radical history of Essex
It is all very well for Twitter to ban Donald Trump after years of profiting from the millions of eyes drawn towards his frequently incendiary tweets. But the argument for making Twitter and other social media sites accountable for their content is compelling. They contend they are platforms or channels …
Read More »Letter of the week: The sovereignty sham
Philip Collins writes that “sovereignty-obsessives” are “the sponsors of Brexit” (The Public Square, 4 December). One day after 1 January 2021, once we have left a trading partnership with the EU, they will wake up and look around. Hoping to find a free, unfettered England, they will see that Royal …
Read More »Coronavirus UK: Sir Keir Starmer says lockdown should start NOW, not on Thursday
Sir Keir Starmer tonight called for a second national lockdown to start immediately as the Labour Party claimed vindication for calling for a ‘circuit-breaker’ two weeks ago. The Labour leader also indicated that his Party will back the Government in a vote on a new England-wide lockdown due to take place in …
Read More »The coronavirus crisis has shown why we need a universal basic food service
As panic sweeps the UK, supermarkets are consistently running out of … the Royal Mail, which already has the necessary logistical infrastructure, … Source link
Read More »Coronavirus: Rebecca Long-Bailey calls for National Food Service to help people in isolation
Rebecca Long-Bailey has called for the government to establish “National Food Service” to help people isolating due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Labour leadership candidate said a “comprehensive and coordinated” service should allow households in need to receive weekly packages of free essentials, delivered through Royal Mail. Under the shadow’ …
Read More »Labour doesn’t need to shift right – it needs to get creative | Tom Kibasi | UK news
The Labour leadership contest has been largely bereft of debate about the party’s future policy platform. Recognising the shift to the left during Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership, the main contenders have mostly promised to adopt the major planks of his programme, especially in economic policy. In the wake of a severe …
Read More »Labour leadership contest and public ownership
Link to this page: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/1072/30202 From The Socialist newspaper, 5 February 2020 photo CCO/CC (Click to enlarge) Sarah Sachs-Eldridge, Socialist Party executive committee A debate, of sorts, is opening up on nationalisation in the Labour leadership election. Support for public ownership – or not – is an indication of which …
Read More »Long Bailey backed for Labour leadership by Communication Workers Union
THE Communication Workers Union (CWU) backed Rebecca Long Bailey today in the Labour leadership contest. The Star understands that the 500 delegates present at a CWU forum overwhelmingly backed Ms Long Bailey for leader and Angela Rayner for deputy leader. Speaking after the meeting, CWU general secretary Dave Ward said: …
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