ROGER McKENZIE highlights how health workers in DRC are struggling to contain a deadly Ebola outbreak in a region already suffering conflict, aid cuts and a legacy of imperialist degradation
LABOUR’S 136-page general election manifesto contains almost as many pictures of Keir Starmer as it does concrete policy commitments.
There are 191 mentions of the word “change,” plenty of platitudes and very few details. The document contains lots of colour but, appropriately, the section outlining “Labour’s fiscal plan” and shackling Keir Starmer to the prevailing economic orthodoxy is entirely grey.
The message is clear: Labour will be sensible managers and responsible custodians of the status quo. Adorning this otherwise bland electoral offer are an array of intentionally vague promises to which Labour MPs can point when asked the inevitable question, “what will actually change?”
Years of underfunding are eroding Scotland’s local services and deepening inequality in communities, says VINCE MILLS
Our political sphere, stripped of its popular component by decades of neoliberalism, sits apart from the public, writes COLL MCCAIL citing a telling parallel with the writings of French revolutionary Abbe Sieyes
If we can tackle the big issues, like delivering decent public services and affordable state-built and owned housing by making the richest pay a fair amount of tax, Labour can win back the trust and support of the electorate, argues ANDY McDONALD MP
Under current policy, welfare cuts are just a small downpayment on future austerity, argues MICHAEL BURKE


