Preferable to Starmer he may be, but there is scant sign of a sharp political break in Burnham’s policies so far — while left challenges aren’t making much of a running either, finds ANDREW MURRAY. How can socialism be put back on the map?
THE Iraq War confirmed that Britain’s ruling establishment is utterly ruthless, dishonest and corrupt. There are also times when it can be divided.
Ruthless, because from “shock and awe” in March 2003 until their main withdrawal from Iraq in 2009, Britain’s armed forces helped obliterate targets across the country in a merciless display of military might.
This was the most extensive deployment of British troops (46,000) since WWII, bigger even than the wars in Malaya (1948-60), Korea (1950-53), Suez (1956), the Falklands (1982), the Gulf (1990-91) and Afghanistan (2001-21).
DIANE ABBOTT exposes Keir Starmer's doublespeak on Britain’s involvement in the Iran war but takes heart from the growing organisation of the opposition to it
Trump threatens war and punitive tariffs to recapture Iranian resources – just as in 1953, when the CIA overthrew Mossadegh and US corporations immediately seized 40% of the oil, says SEVIM DAGDELEN
GUILLERMO THOMAS enjoys a survey of the current state of the CIA (aka Langley) from an expert and insider of sorts
ANDREW MURRAY looks back on the ignominious career of the former US vice-president, who died earlier this week



