TUC president and POA leader STEVE GILLAN speaks to Ben Chacko on the eve of Congress 2026
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On writing as a leftist
From intellectual heavyweights of the academy to organisers like me who have come to the role via a life on the shop floor, writing by leftists must centre communication — and if capable of it, even fun, writes ROGER McKENZIE
RED WRITINGS: Lenin at Work, Igor Reznik, 1970
DOUG NICHOLLS welcomes a turning point at this year’s Congress, where many motions call for a co-ordinated plan to revive British industry, a perspective outlined in his new book
HOPE VIRGO of campaign Dump the Scales warns MPs voting today they should be alert to the threat legalised assisted death poses to people with eating disorders
The Together Alliance is hosting two summits, North and South, to build power and plan action against the scourge of racism peddled by the right. DANIEL KEBEDE urges mass participation
The drift toward militarisation in Europe is not inevitable, left-wing and peace movements can preserve sovereignty and prevent war, says DÁIRE HUGHES MP
Whatever differences exist among international sympathisers of the Bolivarian revolution about its current trajectory, they should unite against the imperialist power that is the source of an enforced retreat, argues ROGER D HARRIS
Trade unions need to step up and force a turn in the policies of the labour movement to effectively confront the far-right threat, argues NICK WRIGHT
RECENTLY I have found myself wondering why socialists or communists write as journalists, authors or poets — or any other kinds of writing I’ve missed off the list.
Sometimes I think it has more to do with demonstrating a superior grasp of Marxist-Leninist theory than anyone else. Good for you if it floats your boat to fill page after page with a demonstration of your superior intellect — particularly in non-theoretical publications.
Just let me know in advance so I can put some John Coltrane on to get me through. Coltrane’s Love Supreme possibly accurately describes a love that many of these writers or critics appear to have for themselves.
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