Who is doing vital work during the pandemic?

by | Apr 9, 2020

UK key workers – including those who have died caring for others during the COVID-19 pandemic – are disproportionately likely to be women, ethnic mino UK key workers – including those who have died caring for others during the COVID-19 pandemic – are...

Amidst a pandemic, people first or market forces?

by | Mar 20, 2020

The spread of COVID-19 has highlighted the value of human solidarity and society-wide and global action, rather than relying on ‘market forces’. The spread of COVID-19 has highlighted the value of human solidarity and society-wide and global action, rather than...

Social security and the hostile environment for disabled people

by | Mar 10, 2020

Some time ago I went to the birthday party of a woman I’ll call Ellen. Some time ago I went to the birthday party of a woman I’ll call Ellen. Ellen spent much of her working life at what is now known as the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), but which had various...

Eton Rifles and political education

by | Feb 29, 2020

Richard Burgon has said that if elected deputy lea Richard Burgon has said that if elected deputy leader of the Labour Party he would establish a ‘Tony Benn University of Political Education’, which could include free online courses in progressive history and...

Lent: looking beyond 40 days

by | Feb 26, 2020

On the doorstep of Lent, I stand uncertain. On the doorstep of Lent, I stand uncertain. That this age old period of practising some form of self-denial may be at best transformative and at the least, a little chastening, makes sense. But unless it can also become a...