As Colombia approaches presidential elections next year, the US decision to decertify the country in the war on drugs plays into the hands of its allies on the political right, writes NICK MacWILLIAM

ON May 3, we could have a socialist metro mayor for Newcastle and the North of Tyne.
This is one of the metro mayor deals. It’s not about running the bin collections or managing social services. It’s a new role: economic development.
It doesn’t have much money — £20 million a year. This was a Tory deal, after all. Local councils have suffered six times that amount in cuts.
![Majority members out campaigning in Newcastle [Pic: Majority]]( https://msd11.gn.apc.org/sites/default/files/styles/low_resolution/public/2025-07/20majority.jpg.webp?itok=oAYoJu53)
JAMIE DRISCOLL explains how his group, Majority, plans to empower working people to empower themselves

We’ll be developing a people’s manifesto for the 2026 local elections. We’ll network, learn, inspire and support each other and chart a future path for socialist politics, writes JAMIE DRISCOLL

