MBDA’s Alabama factory makes components for Boeing’s GBU-39 bombs used to kill civilians in Gaza. Its profits flow through Stevenage to Paris — and it is one of the British government’s favourite firms, reveals SOLOMON HUGHES

NEW elections in Italy are scheduled for September 25. The “stabilisation” government of former European Central Bank boss Mario Draghi finally fell apart.
Its notional “national unity” character did not survive the departure of the populist Movimento Cinque Stelle (M5S) and the right-wing Lega and Forza Italia formations.
With its fragile parliamentary majority gone and with only the Partito Democratico (PD) and its right-wing breakaway Italia Viva and left-wing split Articolo Uno still standing and with M5S split with one faction remaining aligned with Draghi’s austerity economic regime, the game was up.

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

From Gaza complicity to welfare cuts chaos, Starmer’s baggage accumulates, and voters will indeed find ‘somewhere else’ to go — to the Greens, nationalists, Lib Dems, Reform UK or a new, working-class left party, writes NICK WRIGHT