MBDA’s Alabama factory makes components for Boeing’s GBU-39 bombs used to kill civilians in Gaza. Its profits flow through Stevenage to Paris — and it is one of the British government’s favourite firms, reveals SOLOMON HUGHES

WE ARE in a bizarre situation where the leaders of the two parties of government — for the moment let’s forget the Tory’s “first reserves” gathered in the ranks of the Lib Dems — are barely trusted by the electorate.
Rishi Sunak has an unfavourable rating of 49 per cent while 38 per cent are unfavourably disposed towards Keir Starmer.
In a YouGov poll carried out in July, Jeremy Corbyn — despite years of vilification by the media and the New Labour restoration regime — emerged as the most popular living Labour leader.

Starmer sabotaged Labour with his second referendum campaign, mobilising a liberal backlash that sincerely felt progressive ideals were at stake — but the EU was then and is now an entity Britain should have nothing to do with, explains NICK WRIGHT

Deep disillusionment with the Westminster cross-party consensus means rupture with the status quo is on the cards – bringing not only opportunities but also dangers, says NICK WRIGHT

Holding office in local government is a poisoned chalice for a party that bases its electoral appeal around issues where it has no power whatsoever, argues NICK WRIGHT

From Gaza complicity to welfare cuts chaos, Starmer’s baggage accumulates, and voters will indeed find ‘somewhere else’ to go — to the Greens, nationalists, Lib Dems, Reform UK or a new, working-class left party, writes NICK WRIGHT