With the death of Pope Francis, the world loses not only a church leader but also a moral compass that spoke out against inequality, discrimination, war, and climate destruction, writes MARC VANDEPITTE
Can a left base be built after the election? The future depends on it
An election campaign marked by racism and a willingness for the ‘mainstream’ to enable it gives a strong indication of what politics will look like later on down the line. Can a socialist and anti-imperialist network be forged to counter this dangerous prospect, asks ANDREW MURRAY

IT BEGAN amid inanity and racism. And it ends amid apathy — and racism.
It began with Rishi Sunak mislaying his umbrella for the big announcement and Keir Starmer trying to end the parliamentary career of one black woman, Diane Abbott, while trying to stop that of another, Faiza Shaheen, from even starting.
It ends with a disengaged electorate disliking the options before it — and with Keir Starmer urging more deportations of Bangladeshis alongside the dominant personality appearing to be Nigel Farage, who sets the agenda without having done a day’s shift as an MP.
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