I grew so rich that I was sent By a pocket borough into Parliament. I always voted at my Party’s call, And I never thought of thinking for myself at all. — Gilbert and Sullivan Identifying which election hustings is the most boring you’ve ever attended is a bit like being asked whom you’d prefer … Continue reading The Very Model of a Modern Parliamentarian
Tactical Voting: A Socialist Option
One of the primary reasons the Labour Party gives for voting for it in a General Election is its perennial claim that: ‘A vote for any other party is a vote for the Tories!’ Leaving aside the fact that the Tory Party was dissolved in 1834, this attempt to reduce Parliamentary politics in this country … Continue reading Tactical Voting: A Socialist Option
The Brexit Election: A Working-class Perspective
The orthodox view of Brexit among the so-called Left in this country — which is to say, the view propagated by pro-capitalist liberal papers like The Guardian — is that it was a cunning plan dreamed up by Tory rebels to play on the inherent racism of the British working class and divide the Labour … Continue reading The Brexit Election: A Working-class Perspective
The Labour Party Manifesto on Housing 2019
This is my first reading of the content relating to housing in the Labour Party Manifesto 2019, which was published today following Jeremy Corbyn’s speech at the launch of the manifesto in Birmingham. Well, it’s not a good start. Although, on the contents page for the manifesto, the National Health Service, Education, Police and Security Services, … Continue reading The Labour Party Manifesto on Housing 2019
ASH Housing Manifesto 2019
For a Socialist Model of Housing Provision 1. All new housing must be social housing Every time a new residential development applies for planning permission in London there’s a debate about whether 15 per cent, or 30 per cent, or 45 per cent is an acceptable or sufficient share of so-called ‘affordable housing’ — without … Continue reading ASH Housing Manifesto 2019
Running Man: The Johnson-Corbyn ‘Debate’
I got through about 30 seconds of the Johnson-Corbyn ‘debate’ last night before I had to turn it off. In actuality, my computer turned itself off, as if the GCHQ camera hidden in its screen responded to the look on my face. My first reaction was one of shame, like watching two naked old men … Continue reading Running Man: The Johnson-Corbyn ‘Debate’
Saving West Kensington and Gibbs Green Estates: An Open Letter to Labour Activists
Yesterday it was announced that the West Kensington and Gibbs Green estates, whose residents have been living under the threat of the demolition of their homes since 2012, will be sold back to Hammersmith and Fulham council at the price they sold it. Since the estates were sold to Capital & Counties Properties PLC — … Continue reading Saving West Kensington and Gibbs Green Estates: An Open Letter to Labour Activists
‘Middle-class Socialism’: A Warning from History
171 years ago The Communist Manifesto was published in Bishopsgate, London. Everyone has heard its famous phrases about a ‘spectre’ haunting Europe; about the history of all hitherto existing society being ‘the history of class struggle’; about capitalism being like a ‘sorcerer’ who can no longer control the power called up by his spells; and … Continue reading ‘Middle-class Socialism’: A Warning from History
A Vote for Labour is a Vote for . . . Emma Dent Coad
‘Feel free to check your facts, timelines and who made decisions when.’ — Emma Dent Coad Yesterday Emma Dent Coad, the Labour candidate for North Kensington in the forthcoming General Election, issued a formal statement refuting the claims made in 2017 by the constituency’s former Conservative MP, Victoria Borwick — and repeated this week by … Continue reading A Vote for Labour is a Vote for . . . Emma Dent Coad
Another General Election . . .
The first and most important thing you do when you vote in a General Election is consent to handing power over yourself and everyone else in this country — as well as over other countries in which the UK has colonial and financial interests — to a ruling class, which then has the entire apparatus … Continue reading Another General Election . . .