VIJAY PRASHAD looks at the web of militias and drug-trafficking gangs that emerged in the Sweida region through the Syrian civil war, and how they relate to recent clashes and Israel’s intervention

I am standing as an independent in Derby North, on a policy platform that will be the most Corbyn-friendly of any candidate in the country. We have a strong campaign team and hundreds of volunteers, locally and from around the country. We have experience, local credibility and local knowledge on our side.
The Labour Party should stand aside in Derby North and allow its members to campaign for me. Imposing a new candidate at this stage is unfair on CLP members and constituents alike. If the party fields a candidate against me, it could split the left vote and potentially thrust a Conservative on the people of Derby North. This would be disastrous for our fight against austerity and our bid to transform the country.
I would be the only MP in the next parliament with a fearless track record of challenging state-funded operations like the Integrity Initiative, which used taxpayers’ money and military intelligence officers to subvert democracy by smearing Jeremy Corbyn under Foreign Office direction.



