The NEU kept children and teachers safe during the pandemic, yet we are disgracefully slandered by the politicians who have truly failed our children by not funding a proper education recovery programme — here’s what is needed, explains KEVIN COURTNEY
Joy Gardner: killed in police custody
Using an FOI request, SOLOMON HUGHES reveals the disgusting methods of the Met deportation squad, who routinely gagged victims by wrapping their heads with medical tape
Joy Gardner was killed in 1993 after Metropolitan Police officers wrapped her head in 13 feet of medical tape
The appalling bigotry and bias of London’s police force has been obvious for years – and the police leadership does not appear inclined to do anything about it, writes CLAUDIA WEBBE
As Holyrood elections approach, BRIAN LEISHMAN MP argues that Labour’s time has come — to open a new chapter which puts an end to the years of managed decline
ASSAF TALGAM talks to an Israeli Communist lawmaker about the need to use every tool of democratic and non-violent struggle; how Israeli society has changed since October 7 2023; and the persecution of the left in the parliamentary arena
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
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
NINE DAYS after the arrest of Joy Gardner, a Jamaican woman who died after being bound and gagged by a police “deportation” squad in north London in 1993, the Metropolitan Police had a detailed report giving full details of what they called the “uncivilised” and “defacto dangerous” police techniques.
It revealed gagging was against the police’s own legal advice, but was still routinely used. The Metropolitan Police delayed giving ministers the report for eight days, despite government demands. Both police and government failed to make the details in the report public, leaving journalists to piece together the grim details of Gardner’s death.
Gardner came from Jamaica in 1987 and was trying to get settled status in Britain: Gardner’s mother was already a UK citizen. Gardner’s son was born in Britain. Gardner was enrolled as a student at London Guildhall University and still in correspondence with the Home Office when the three-person squad from the Metropolitan Police’s Aliens Deportation Group raided her house on July 28, without warning, to deport her to Jamaica.
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