Once the bustling heart of Christian pilgrimage, Bethlehem now faces shuttered hotels, empty streets and a shrinking Christian community, while Israel’s assault on Gaza and the tightening grip of occupation destroy hopes of peace at the birthplace of Christ, writes Father GEOFF BOTTOMS
ANYONE watching the Tory Party conference could only conclude that this is a government on its last legs.
Instead of offering a plan to deal with the huge crises facing our communities, it felt more like a Tory leadership hustings as ministers jockeyed for position in anticipation of losing the next election.
Lacklustre ministerial speeches in a near-empty hall offered no answers to any of the deep problems that scar our country.
Since 2010, one in five firefighter jobs has disappeared alongside 30% funding cuts — all while climate breakdown brings record blazes and flooding. It’s time to fund our fire service properly, writes FBU general secretary STEVE WRIGHT
RICHARD BURGON MP points to the recent relative success of widespread opposition to the Labour leadership’s regressive policies as the blueprint for exacting the changes required to build a fairer society
In his May Day message for the Morning Star, RICHARD BURGON says the call for peace, equality and socialism has never been more relevant



