Apart from a bright spark of hope in the victory of the Gaza motion, this year’s conference lacked vision and purpose — we need to urgently reconnect Labour with its roots rather than weakly aping the flag-waving right, argues KIM JOHNSON MP
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Two jobs or not two jobs? That is the question
Keir Starmer seemed to be hammering the Tories for once over the Owen Paterson scandal — but on closer inspection his limited proposals would have little effect on moonlighting MPs, explains SOLOMON HUGHES
Owen Paterson, who has now resigned after the government's bid to shield him from the consequences of paid lobbying failed
In the face of funding cuts, closures and a shift into women’s centres providing criminal justice-only services rather than a holistic approach, RUTH HUNT urges women to protect existing resources, volunteer and build new networks of support
The CPB's congress aims to build the united front against monopoly capitalism, utilising the YCL’s promising new generation of militants — but our party remains far from the strength history requires of it, despite recent progress, writes JOHNNIE HUNTER
From Palestine, to racism, to fiscal rules and migrant rights, DIANE ABBOTT surveys some of the main themes of Labour conference this week
We must remember how the CPGB led anti-fascist movement defeated Mosley’s BUF in September 1936 and apply the lessons of mass mobilisation and open, unapologetic confrontation to the rise of the far right today, writes DYLAN MURPHY
On the anniversary of the Battle of Cable Street, DAVID ROSENBERG reflects on his encounters with those who were there that day in 1936 – and suggests two urgent tasks for the anti-fascists of today
EVERYBODY is happier seeing Labour being much more muscular than usual when challenging Tory attempts to tear up anti-corruption rules to protect Owen Paterson and give more Tory MPs the chance to take £100,000 salaries to moonlight as corporate lobbyists.
Actually opposing the Tories on a popular point of principle might even help Labour recover in the polls. But there is one weakness.
Labour’s 2019 manifesto policy was simple and firm: “We will stop MPs from taking paid second jobs.” This would stop Paterson-style corruption in its tracks. It’s easily understood: MPs should not be moonlighting for corporations, they should work for their voters — not for their £100,000 employers on the side.
More from this author
The new angle from private firms shmoozing their way into public contracts was the much-trumpeted arrival of ‘artificial intelligence’ — and no-one seemed to have heard the numerous criticisms of this unproven miracle cure, reports SOLOMON HUGHES
It is rather strange that Labour continues to give prestigious roles to inappropriate, controversy-mired businessmen who are also major Tory donors. What could Labour possibly be hoping to get out of it, asks SOLOMON HUGHES
Keir Starmer’s hiring Tim Allan from Tory-led Strand Partners is another illustration of Labour’s corporate-influence world where party differences matter less than business connections, writes SOLOMON HUGHES
MBDA’s Alabama factory makes components for Boeing’s GBU-39 bombs used to kill civilians in Gaza. Its profits flow through Stevenage to Paris — and it is one of the British government’s favourite firms, reveals SOLOMON HUGHES
