Labour’s Manifesto
Old school Social Democracy. (Remember that?)
International
uk politics
Dog’s Breakfast.
If politicians are meant to represent people, then shouldn’t they explore ways to ensure that the people they represent get represented in government?
May seeks UK snap election
Theresa May is seeking a snap election on 8 June.
Brexit begins
Here we are then. Article 50 has been invoked, and the 2 year countdown to Brexit begins.
The 60th Anniversary of the European Union
Last week the main heads of the European Union governments got together to celebrate 60 years since the first declaration in Rome. This is a good time to review if it is still fulfilling its original goals.
London attack
A person has carried out an attack on Parliament in London. Guardian: “Four people have died, including a police officer and one man believed to be the attacker, police said.”
Cat Among the Pigeons
Nicolas Sturgeon to seek the authority of the Scottish Parliament to agree the details of a Section 30 Order that will allow the Scottish Parliament to legislate for an independence referendum.
Slightly smug about MMP
2017 will be New Zealand’s eighth election under MMP, over 22 years. With very strong democratically elected governments appearing right across the world digging in for the long term, it’s useful to take a moment for MMP.
Where to now for the left?
With the right in ascendancy throughout the Western World what does the left do to change this?
Jonathan Pie – A Socialist agenda
Jonathan Pie on why being a socialist is actually a good thing.
Key gives up on us, keeps International Democratic Union.
The Herald informs us that Key is going on the speaking circuit and will go back into finance (not that he ever left). Like John Howard before him, he also intends to carry on chairing the International Democratic Union of right-wing parties. Not a surprise.
Special Relationship 2
The Bush Blair “special relationship” was a geopolitical disaster of epic proportions. Get ready for Round 2, Trump May.
Hard Brexit
Theresa May has finally set out some guidelines on the shape of Brexit. Out of the single market, rejecting the European court, full border control.
English in England
The usual media suspects are digging pretty deep to try and find anything supportive to say about English’s UK visit. English himself sounds like he has been put in his place.
This pattern of Kiwi’s exploiting migrants is shameful
A depressing feature in The Herald this morning explores the exploitation of migrant workers. The same pattern as the private sector’s treatment of foreign students. This paints a shameful picture of New Zealand. Greed has made us forget who we were.
What skills do we need in the age of fake news?
Revelations surrounding the role of fake news in the American election have been stunning. And the critical thinking skills that democracy needs to survive this trend are under attack in our education system.
As politicians go…(II)
Two paths. One choice.
Through the Looking Glass.
The culture being addressed will be familiar enough to many here in NZ who deal with Work and Income. Government strategies to address that culture? Well, that’s another story. This isn’t just happening half a world away. It might as well be happening in another universe – back on the sane side of some looking glass NZ has fallen through.
“Itching Scratches” on Nine to Noon
Matthew Hooton got carried away on Nine to Noon dissing Andrew Little’s views on political strategy and the centre ground that appeared to differ from Helen Clark’s. Stephen Mills piled in too on Jeremy Corbyn and the “missing millions.” All Little said was that he wants to connect with different groups of voters on issues important to them. Can’t argue with that.
Corbyn wins! Now what?
Jeremy Corbyn has won a resounding victory in the UK Labour Leadership campaign. But what happens now?
Labour Organising
From the UK. Organising 101.
Optimism, determination and, above all, unity
At the Guardian, UK Labour MP Rebecca Long-Bailey reflects on the first year of Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership.
‘Living Rent’ and other UK stories
A Tory think tank proposes a massive house-building plan, with a ‘Living Rent’ to make it affordable; and Nick Clegg lifts the lid on the Tories in the last government.
Assange is a hero: Jill Stein US Greens Presidential Candidate
Julian Assange is a true hero, says Jill Stein unequivocally, along with other whistleblowers who have had the audacity to challenge the status quo establishment.
The Canary – UK independent news featured on RT’s Sputnik
The Canary: independent UK news media successfully using a democratic, socialist model. And succeeding within the highly commercial world of the MSM.
A UK Labour Split
The options for UK Labour appear to be limited. Split or die or do both.
Refining an existing capacity to make the rubble bounce and bounce
UK Labour continues to embarrass progressives throughout the world after a majority of MPs voted to support renewal of the Trident program.
Anti-Corbyn media bias
“When a democracy cannot rely on its press to provide its citizens with information about political parties that meets the basic standards of fairness, then we can expect a political process that is equally unbalanced.”
London School of Economics study.
Shinbone Star: Bloody Hell
Reprinted with permission from John Palethorpe’s blog Shinbone Star where he analyses the current situation of the British Labour Party and analyses what happens if Jeremy Corbyn wins, and what happens if he loses.
BREXIT Sitrep
BREXIT has brought into sharp relief the cleavages in British politics. The ordinary members of the UK Labour Party are consolidating their take back of Labour from entitlement minded Blairite Third Way careerists.
Democracy vs efficiency
Events in England really highlight the different processes of the two main parties. The Conservatives have completed their leadership transition, Labour’s contest has barely begun. Which model is best?
Corbyn is in
With a rush of sanity to the head, the UK Labour Party has ruled that Jeremy Corbyn is automatically on the leadership ballot, as a straightforward reading of the rules suggests.
Farewell Cameron – doo, doo, doo, doo!
Of some politicians it can be said that nothing in his career became him like the leaving it. We won’t even manage that for David Cameron.
Eagle vs Window Pane
So Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership has been openly challenged.
Helen Clark on Iraq
Thirteen years ago Helen Clark said despite intense pressure that the threshold for the use of force against Iraq had not been met. How right she was.
Jeremy Corbyn apologises for Blair and Bush’s Iraq War
Jeremy Corbyn’s full response to the Chilcot response. Corbyn says that the Iraq war “was an act of military aggression launched on a false pretext” and that he apologises for it on behalf of Labour, who was in Government at the time.