Preferable to Starmer he may be, but there is scant sign of a sharp political break in Burnham’s policies so far — while left challenges aren’t making much of a running either, finds ANDREW MURRAY. How can socialism be put back on the map?
JEREMY CORBYN told some uncomfortable truths to Europe’s social-democratic parties in Lisbon last Friday.
He urged the congress of the Party of European Socialists to “work together to help build a real social Europe, a people’s Europe, a Europe that will strengthen solidarity across borders, resist the race to the bottom in rights and protections and work together to extend them for all workers, consumers and our environment.”
So far, so good. Even the “free market” fanatics of the European Commission might happily pay lip service to that.
But the Labour leader continued:
“We have to recognise that European Union support for austerity and failed neoliberal economics have caused serious hardship for working people across Europe. In my own country there’s been effectively a wage freeze for 10 years. It’s damaged the credibility of the European social model and social-democratic parties and played a significant role in the vote for Brexit in Britain.”
While Italy’s communist tradition remains fragmented and politically marginal, France’s party is attempting to re-establish itself as an independent force rooted in working-class organisation, says NICK WRIGHT
Italians reject controversial judiciary reforms in a referendum that boosts the left, reports NICK WRIGHT
Starmer sabotaged Labour with his second referendum campaign, mobilising a liberal backlash that sincerely felt progressive ideals were at stake — but the EU was then and is now an entity Britain should have nothing to do with, explains NICK WRIGHT



