Head of education, campaigns and organising for the General Federation of Trade Unions HENRY FOWLER explains why it is launching a fund to support trades councils and give them access to a new range of courses and resources

INSTEAD of increasing public funding or promoting public ownership of key industries or identifying responsible investors, that prioritise peace and people over war and violence, Prime Minister Keir Starmer recently put out a gushing post on X about his meeting with Larry Fink, the chief executive of asset management firm BlackRock, and an even more gushing post on career firm Linkedin.
“I’m determined to deliver growth, create wealth and put more money in people’s pockets. This can only be achieved by working in partnership with leading businesses, like BlackRock, to capitalise on the UK’s position as a world leading hub for investment,” Starmer wrote.
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said that Labour looks forward to working with BlackRock to “change the face of our UK.”

While claiming to target fraud, Labour’s snooping Bill strips benefit recipients of privacy rights and presumption of innocence, writes CLAUDIA WEBBE, warning that algorithms with up to 25 per cent error rates could wrongfully investigate and harass millions of vulnerable people

With Reform UK surging and Labour determined not to offer anything different from the status quo, a clear opportunity opens for the left, argues CLAUDIA WEBBE

Keir Starmer’s £120 million to Sudan cannot cover the government’s complicity in the RSF genocide or atone for the long shadow of British colonialism and imperialism, writes CLAUDIA WEBBE
