The Tories introduced the 50% strike ballot threshold to make industrial action harder. MATT WRACK argues that a Labour government has no justification for leaving it on the statute book
Last week shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna - tipped as a possible future leader by some - announced that Labour would keep Royal Mail in private ownership if, as is likely, the Tory-led government pushes through privatisation before 2015.
Writing for the Huffington Post, Umunna argued: "I have been very clear that we are not in a position to pledge to renationalise the Royal Mail if we get into government in 2015.
"I do not know how much Royal Mail shares will be trading at in May 2015, so I do not know how much it would cost to renationalise. No credible future business secretary would therefore make such a pledge."
Only an ambitious programme of state-led investment can restore growth and improve living standards, argues MICHAEL BURKE
Years of underfunding are eroding Scotland’s local services and deepening inequality in communities, says VINCE MILLS
While politicians fixate on defence budgets, the real answers lie in peace-building and economic justice, says ALAN SIMPSON


