Latest editorial
John Pilger
THE days of a “free press” are over and support for alternative titles like the Morning Star is more important than ever, veteran journalist John Pilger said in a message marking 80 years since a ban was lifted on our predecessor, the Daily Worker.
A 18-month ban by edict of wartime home secretary Herbert Morrison — grandfather of Blairite guru Peter Mandelson — was formally lifted on August 26 1942, 80 years ago today, though the first post-ban edition did not issue until September 7.
It was the longest ban of a newspaper by government fiat in British history and prompted the formation of numerous local Daily Worker Defence Leagues to raise funds and campaign for its end, which finally came during the battle of Stalingrad as Morrison, a Labour minister in Winston Churchill’s national government, feared a humiliating vote against it at that autumn’s TUC.
On January 2 2014, PJ Harvey used her turn as guest editor of the Today programme to expose the realities of war, arms dealing and media complicity. The fury that followed showed how rare – and how threatening – such honesty is within Britain’s most Establishment broadcaster, says IAN SINCLAIR
A chance find when clearing out our old office led us to renew a friendship across 5,000 miles and almost nine decades of history, explains ROGER McKENZIE
BERNADETTE KEAVENEY announces a simplified and streamlined way to get your paper delivered daily, and a big push for new readers that we can all help make into a success
Our roving AGM from this Thursday through Sunday and our upcoming Morning Star Conference 2025 on June 14 in London are great opportunities to meet the team and help plan the way forward, says editor BEN CHACKO