In his fortnightly column MARK SEDDON reflects on the death of Major Oak and why such ancient trees matter to us
Latest editorial
Proportional representation, power and class
Unsurprisingly, Keir Starmer has rejected reforming the first-past-the-post system out of hand. It is time to give up our lingering prejudices and recognise a step that would aid the left inside and outside of Labour, argues NICK WRIGHT
The world’s largest communist party marked its 105th birthday this week — and remains true to its principles and firm in its course, says OLIVER VARGAS
The left has become too reliant on persuasion and too detached from the workplaces and communities it seeks to represent, argues NICK TROY
RAMZY BAROUD highlights how Israel’s ambassador sought to shut down UN officials documenting sexual violence and abuses against Palestinians
The US-Israeli conflict with Iran has had far-reaching consequences, including a boost to Pakistan’s regional standing, argues ROGER McKENZIE
The recent heatwaves revealed how ill-prepared Britain remains for a hotter future – and how unequal the ability to cope with it has become, write ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and MIRIAM GAUNTLETT
The drive to strengthen European defence is reshaping relations between France, Germany, Italy and Britain, says NICK WRIGHT
LAST week, opinion polls suggested that Labour would win 48 per cent of the vote and finish with 424 seats in the Commons in a general election. The Tories, on 21 per cent, would get 121 seats; the Lib Dems, on 10 per cent, 33 seats; the SNP, on 5 per cent, 49 seats and the Greens, on 7 per cent, just one seat.
This is even higher than the 40 per cent actually won in 2017 with Jeremy Corbyn’s radical manifesto.
Labour’s lead is the result when, in a first-past-the-post (FPTP) election regime, the Tories have become terminally unpopular. On this score, under proportional representation (PR), Labour should have 100 fewer seats; the Tories a handful more; the Lib Dems more than double and the Greens 44 new seats.
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Italians reject controversial judiciary reforms in a referendum that boosts the left, reports NICK WRIGHT
Every Starmer boast about removing asylum-seekers probably wins Reform another seat while Labour loses more voters to Lib Dems, Greens and nationalists than to the far right — the disaster facing Labour is the leadership’s fault, writes DIANE ABBOTT MP
Deep disillusionment with the Westminster cross-party consensus means rupture with the status quo is on the cards – bringing not only opportunities but also dangers, says NICK WRIGHT
In the run-up to the Communist Party congress in November ROB GRIFFITHS outlines a few ideas regarding its participation in the elections of May 2026