Fownhope’s Heart of Oak Society traces its roots to the age of friendly societies, when communities provided their own safety net. Its anniversary celebrations reveal a tradition still very much alive, says MARK SEDDON
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Is it worth voting Labour?
From more austerity to perpetual war, the party will not fight our battles or defend our most vulnerable, argues EMMA DENT COAD
ANGUS REID explains the significance of Cuba’s egalitarian in letter and spirit Family Code and the pertinent lessons it holds for democracies anywhere in the world
Special report by PEOPLE’S WORLD
NICK WRIGHT considers how the isolation of Israel and a new film on the controversial Italian communist leader are creating new reference points for Italy’s left
CARLOS MARTINEZ says Cuba’s achievements in the face of a criminal blockade are startling, but the island’s future if the United States succeeds in crushing it looks bleak
AMNON BROWNFIELD STEIN reports that far-right MPs who mobbed the event organised by Hadash may have helped raise awareness of the brutality of the Israeli right
ON MARCH 25 I spoke at a debate organised by Kensal and Kilburn Better, alongside Kevin Courtney former NEU general secretary, and journalist and aspiring MP Paul Mason. Melissa Benn was chair and there was a large and engaged audience of about 100 people.
My opening speech dealt with the subject of the debate, “Is it worth voting Labour?” I discussed the pyramid of power, with us lot at the bottom, summary below.
1. The prospects of our young people are all narrowing. If they want to improve their prospects they are likely to end up in debt, possibly with a job that in real terms has lost its value so they may never be able to pay it off, but be destined for low-paid jobs and the struggles that entails.
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