Following a fratricidal period for the left with Morales and Arce at loggerheads, right-wing, anti-MAS candidates obtained over 85 per cent of the votes cast in the latest general election, writes FRANCISCO DOMINGUEZ

STOP the War Coalition vice-chair Chris Nineham was violently arrested a fortnight ago at a national march for Palestine.
Huge mobilisations in solidarity with the Palestinians have been taking place for 15 months, since Israel’s invasion of Gaza began. Early on, there were efforts to ban them from then home secretary Suella Braverman, but these backfired — she was forced to resign after summoning a far-right mob that attacked the Cenotaph on Armistice Day. Why the sudden crackdown now?
“From the very start of this cycle of protest, there have been unprecedented restrictions put in our way,” Nineham says.

Morning Star editor Ben Chacko speaks to JON FARLEY – the retired headteacher whose arrest in Leeds exposes the grim absurdity of the Palestine Action ban