DIANE ABBOTT looks at how a declining US has resorted to globalised violence to salvage any vestiges of political and economic hegemony
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?”
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
RMT’s former president ALEX GORDON explains why his union supports defence diversification and a just transition for workers in regions dependent on military contracts, and calls on readers to join CND’s demo against nuclear-armed submarines on June 7



