SOLOMON HUGHES uncovers government documents showing hidden dinners and meetings between Labour figures and disgraced Peter Mandelson’s lobbying firm, which collapsed after links to Epstein and sleazy influence operations came to light
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Recognising that art and culture are of benefit to all
Artists are frequently first in line when it comes to cuts, but society as a whole is left all the poorer – it’s time they were properly valued, says ZITA HOLBOURNE of Artists Union England
In the second of a series of interviews with leaders of progressive parties in Wales ahead of the May 7 Senedd election DAVID NICHOLSON talks to Welsh Green Party leader Anthony Slaughter
Oil and gas prices are rising due to the illegal war against Iran, but new nuclear power plants will only make things worse as their costs also escalate, writes LINDA PENTZ GUNTER
As women dominate public services yet face pay gaps, unsafe workloads and rising misogyny, this International Women’s Day and TUC Women’s Conference must be a rallying point, says ANDREA EGAN
As the government quietly begins reviewing the BBC’s Royal Charter, the moment should be seized to refound the corporation as a truly democratic, regionally rooted public service, writes PAUL W FLEMING
Like the president in Wag the Dog, Donald Trump faces scandal at home and turns to conflict abroad. But the conflict with Iran risks igniting a regional inferno with global consequences, warns ROGER McKENZIE
ARTISTS Union England (AUE) has tabled a motion on the value of arts for this year’s TUC Congress. Creative arts benefit society every day, whether bringing joy, exploring history, promoting social justice, equality, healing and well-being, lifting spirits or providing education and therapy. But all too often these things are taken for granted and that includes the artist workers who create art and deliver art programmes.
Artists experience low pay, unequal pay and as most are freelance, a lack of terms, conditions and benefits that other workers have.
When cuts occur, funding for public arts programmes are the first to disappear, with governments disregarding the benefit to society, communities and the economy, (the creative industries contributed £109 billion to the UK economy in 2021, according to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport) as well as the livelihoods of artists.
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