OPINION I’d like to thank Sunny, for saying that the campaign for Labour to support an EU referendum is “cool”. However, on the main crux of his article, that our campaign is “Dead on Arrival”, we would have to, somewhat controversially, disagree. I was running my own campaign calling for Labour to offer an EU Referendum before it became cool. But now, given all the renewed focus on this question, a group of Labour folks have set up a Labour for a referendum campaign. Unfortunately, it is Dead on Arrival. You would normally expect an MP who has only just had their party whip reinstated after a six month suspension to lie low for a while but not Nadine Dorries. She wants an alliance with UKIP. But thy is Dorries even talking about the possibility of running on a joint Tory/UKIP ticket? What function do, or should, left-wing parties serve? I ask this old question because of a paper which Jon has drawn my attention to. Peter Taylor-Gooby points out that, as inequality has risen, attitudes towards the poor and benefit recipients have hardened…. The Oxford gang of men who abused, raped and exploited young girls were finally convicted today, and the issue of race has raised its head again. Reading through the details of what the girls were subjected to is enough to make anyone physically sick, and feel angry at how this was allowed to happen for so long. Anger also makes people want to reach for easy answers so they can deal with it. The past two weeks have provided some good and some bad news on the UK economy. On the one hand GDP data for Q1 2013 was better than expected. Whilst on the other GDP per capita figures suggested that the hole we are currently in is much bigger than previously thought. The Alan Turing Statutory Pardon Bill has been published on the Houses of Parliament website. Nevertheless, the idea of such a narrow pardon worries me a little. What does it say about others? The Hall case shows more than ever just how vital it is that we continue to name men accused of rape and sexual assault. Because it is this naming that can give survivors and victims the confidence to come forward. Ever since the disaster at the Rana Plaza textile factory in Dhaka, Bangladesh, some commentators have been trying to guilt-trip cash-strapped western consumers for the terrible conditions of workers in Bangladesh’s Ready-Made Garment (RMG) sector, where wages are as low as £27 a month. We’ve been told that our insatiable desire for cheap clothing is [...] My colleagues and I on Brighton and Hove Council have led this country’s first Green local authority since May 2011, although as a minority administration we can (and do) get over-ruled by Labour and the Tories when they choose to work together. This is why we’re consulting on a proposal that will bring in fair pay and allowances for all who work for the council. |
NEWS News Articles Archive |
ELSEWHERE COMMENTS
» DtP posted on Cameron's gambit over the EU Referendum backfires anyway » Onbe posted on Why doesn't the left think more about how to shift public opinion? » Dan posted on The Stuart Hall case ends the debate on anonymity for rape defendants » Bob B posted on Cameron's gambit over the EU Referendum backfires anyway » John Reid posted on Met plans for water cannons for protests "worrying" » A response: why the ‘Labour for an EU Referendum’ campaign is crucial now | BirchIndigo posted on The 'Labour 4 for an EU Referendum' campaign is finished. Dead on Arrival. » DtP posted on Cameron's gambit over the EU Referendum backfires anyway » john77 posted on How the US condemned an innocent mother to death » Finola Moss posted on Coalition on 'street grooming' launches » steveb posted on Oxford gang-rape case: were the girls exploited because they were white? CONSPIRATORS
» Adam Bienkov » Adam Ramsay » Anthony Barnett » Beau Bo D'Or » BenSix » Carl Packman » Cath Elliott » Chris Dillow » Claude Carpentieri » Daily Quail » Dave Osler » Dave Semple » Don Paskini » DonaldS » Duncan Weldon » Ellie Mae » Huma Munshi » Jamie K » Jennifer O'Mahony » John B » Kate Belgrave » Laurie Penny » Lee Griffin » Left Outside » Leo Barasi » Mat GB » Neil Robertson » Obsolete » Owen Jones » Padraig Reidy » Paul Cotterill » Paul Hilder » Paul Sagar » Robert Sharp » Sarah Ditum » Shiraz Socialist » Soho Politico » Sue Marsh » Sunder Katwala » Sunny Hundal » Tim Fenton » Tygerland » Unity (MoT) |
















