Durham Miners’ Association chair STEPHEN GUY speaks to Ben Chacko about the Reform threat, what’s needed from Labour and why the Big Meeting will never lose its politics
IT HAS become a widespread reaction to label anti-hate activists and those who stand against prejudice “politically correct.” Given the examples of racism paraded with sensationalist headline-grabbing horror by the press, this is perhaps not surprising.
Only last week we watched mainstream media tie itself up in knots wondering if Marks and Spencer’s bra colours are making a covert racial statement while Tesco shoppers vowed to boycott the supermarket in retaliation for sales of a child’s T shirt depicting a pretty black mermaid whose hair was apparently “too fluffy.”
Headlines like this do nothing to tackle the growing problem of racism and hate in our country. If anything they actually turn people away from tackling genuine issues of inequality and prejudice. While the focus is on this nonsense the real racists are busy spewing their bile to the young and the vulnerable in an attempt to recruit and radicalise more people to their extremist way of thinking.
As fossil fuels have had their day, JOSIE MIZEN makes it clear that it is now the government’s responsibility to initiate the transition to alternative employment in a manner that is organised, efficient and effective
Making sure this Labour government delivers on decent jobs, strong workplace rights and well-funded public services will defeat the easy answers to real frustrations peddled by the far right, writes JOANNE THOMAS
In his second round-up, EWAN CAMERON picks excellent solo shows that deal with Scottishness, Englishness and race as highlights
While Spode quit politics after inheriting an earldom, Farage combines MP duties with selling columns, gin, and even video messages — proving reality produces more shameless characters than PG Wodehouse imagined, writes STEPHEN ARNELL


