In his fortnightly column MARK SEDDON reflects on the death of Major Oak and why such ancient trees matter to us
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Labour might lead in the polls, but who will fight for it on the doorstep?
Labour maintains a lead over the Tories in the polls — but if an election happened now, who would be willing to work the doors for an agenda devoid of socialism and openly wedded to 'deep Atlanticist' warmongering, asks NICK WRIGHT
The two things which propelled Labour’s most recent renaissance were its radical programme — which Starmer has abandoned — and its ability to win the electoral ground war. This was with a massive army of enthusiasts and a cutting-edge social media operation that reached many people, young and working class, who saw something worth voting for. This is now a thing of the past.
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
IN THE voters’ popularity stakes Boris Johnson’s standing has vacillated wildly over the past year. The only point at which more voters had a positive rather than negative view of the Prime Minister was at the height of the NHS success in rolling out the vaccination programme.
The Ukraine crisis has given him some respite — Labour’s slim lead has lessened and Tory support is up by two points, as is the Greens’, but the Owen Paterson affair made a big dent and the unending series of revelations about Number 10 parties deepened distrust to the point where — as the Ukraine crisis began to worsen — only 35 per cent approved of him.
On the eve of the Russian invasion two thirds of voters disapproved of his performance and his positive rating was down to 21 per cent.
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This by-election could plausibly see both Reform and Labour defeated — but splitting the left insurgent vote would put that at risk, argues CHRIS WILLIAMSON
Starmer sabotaged Labour with his second referendum campaign, mobilising a liberal backlash that sincerely felt progressive ideals were at stake — but the EU was then and is now an entity Britain should have nothing to do with, explains 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
