In a wide-ranging interview, JEREMY CORBYN talks to Ben Chacko about the difficulties the new Prime Minister faces and why he sees no future in Labour
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Labour’s plan to make work pay
Professor Keith Ewing and Lord John Hendy KC examine the new deal for workers outlined in the King's Speech and what should follow it
LABOUR'S TO DO LIST: Sort out strike rights and collectice bargaining
A sharp rise in public-sector investment is required to kick-start the economy, argues MICHAEL BURKE
Burnham’s billions for defence while councils and local services struggle will not deliver the change that Britain’s working-class communities need, says MICAELA TRACEY-RAMOS
Millions of elms were wiped out by Dutch elm disease in the 20th century, transforming the landscape forever – yet pockets of hope are keeping this beloved tree alive. MARK SEDDON explains
CARLOS MARTINEZ looks at the facts behind US persecution of Fergie Chambers
While Italy’s communist tradition remains fragmented and politically marginal, France’s party is attempting to re-establish itself as an independent force rooted in working-class organisation, says NICK WRIGHT
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THE new government is to be congratulated for the commitment in the King’s Speech that it will honour its manifesto commitment to implement the proposals made in Labour’s Plan to Make Work Pay, the latest version of its New Deal for Working People.
The government’s proposals include major changes: employment rights from day one, doing away with zero-hours contracts, banning “fire and rehire,” easing the conditions for statutory sick pay, allowing workers to take carers’ leave and bereavement leave, ensuring workers have the right to switch off, extending full employment rights to all workers other than those truly in business on their own account, and much else besides.
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But although most welcome, even if fully implemented these changes to individual rights will not address the real problem faced by the overwhelming majority of our 31 million working people. That problem is lack of power at the workplace, with the vast majority of workers having no control over — indeed, no input into — the terms and conditions on which they work.
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