Zarah Sultana’s recent brave criticisms of Labour from 2015 to 2020, including Brexit triangulation, IHRA capitulation and insufficient fighting spirit, have ruffled feathers but started an essential discussion, writes ANDREW MURRAY

WE are all Africans. If this comes as a nasty shock to any pure-bred Brits you know, break it to them gently. Their DNA is almost exactly the same as everybody else throughout the world.
And, in as far as there are differences, they are as likely to vary as much between near neighbours in any part of the world as they are to be different from anyone on the other side of the world. And not by a very significant amount.
Of course, for our pure-bred Brit inclined to vote for Reform UK, the Tories or Keir Starmer’s Labour, where the policy differences are hardly more differentiated than the DNA of British voters, such facts, even when acknowledged, don’t change much in their mode of thought.

US tariffs have had Von der Leyen bowing in submission, while comments from the former European Central Bank leader call for more European political integration and less individual state sovereignty. All this adds up to more pain and austerity ahead, argues NICK WRIGHT

Starmer sabotaged Labour with his second referendum campaign, mobilising a liberal backlash that sincerely felt progressive ideals were at stake — but the EU was then and is now an entity Britain should have nothing to do with, explains NICK WRIGHT

Deep disillusionment with the Westminster cross-party consensus means rupture with the status quo is on the cards – bringing not only opportunities but also dangers, says NICK WRIGHT

Holding office in local government is a poisoned chalice for a party that bases its electoral appeal around issues where it has no power whatsoever, argues NICK WRIGHT