Transparency records reveal senior trade officials held dinners and strategy meetings with the notorious lobbying firm even as controversy over its Epstein links deepened, says SOLOMON HUGHES
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Not balancing the books
Public libraries are facing massive cutbacks by councils looking to make ‘easy’ savings – with Birmingham and Nottingham in the front line. But these are community services that should not be for sale, argues JOHN PATEMAN
Starmer promised a reset after Labour’s dire electoral performance, but the government’s programme still falls far short of the bold action needed, says ANDY McDONALD MP
ANDREW DRAPER reports on the deliberate targeting and torture of Palestinian journalists by the Israeli state
Author Michael Rosen asked people how we confront a takeover by Reform. The Labour Party would do well to listen to the answers rather than shuffle more deckchairs on the Titanic, writes LINDA PENTZ GUNTER
What began as a purported ‘anti-drugs mission’ has evolved into a permanent regional military operation, write ROGER D HARRIS and JOHN PERRY
KEITH FLETT looks at a post-election London
PUBLIC libraries have existed in Britain since the mid-19th century and have survived many existential threats, including Thatcherism. Today their future has never been so uncertain. Since the financial crisis in 2008 hundreds of libraries have closed and thousands of library workers have been made redundant.
Public libraries are low-hanging fruit for cash-strapped local councils. In recent weeks there have been announcements of large-scale library closures by a number of councils, most notably Birmingham City Council and Nottingham City Council, which face huge budget deficits.
Birmingham
The city’s network of 36 community libraries is at risk after Birmingham City Council unveiled proposals to cut the library budget as part of an overall £200 million budget reduction this year and £100m next year to balance the council books.
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Liverpool Trades Council has unveiled a ‘People’s Budget’ to fight £56m cuts and council tax rises. DEAN YOUNG reports
LOTTE COLLETT welcomes the arrival of a new party for the left, a vehicle for councils to finally fight for progressive policies on housing, green spaces and public facilities, rather than administering cuts and misery from central government
The work done by Glasgow’s local campaigners and volunteers is truly inspiring, but it cannot stop at picking up the pieces of an irresponsible government, writes MAYA McGOWAN