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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Putting the ‘con’ into consultation
EMMA DENT COAD shines a light on attempts by the notorious Kensington and Chelsea Council to railroad through a development plan that no-one locally wants or needs, while slandering opponents as ‘Nimbys’
Trellick Tower, designed by Erno Goldfinger
[SomeDriftwood/Creative Commons]
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
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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
WE WERE delighted to host a Claim the Future event earlier this month with John McDonnell, looking at issues that affect our borough.
I chose to speak on a subject I’m all too familiar with, which affects everyone’s daily lives, which can utterly destroy or joyfully re-energise communities, but which immediately sends people off to sleep: the planning system.
Bear with me.
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YVETTE WILLIAMS and JOE DELANEY dissect the institutional dawdling that rubbed salt into the Grenfell open wounds prolonging the agony of survivors
As we approach the half-anniversary of the Grenfell tragedy, the community gathers to remember loved ones while grappling with mixed emotions surrounding the ongoing deconstruction of the tower and the hopeful plans for a memorial, writes EMMA DENT COAD
CAROL WILCOX argues for the proper implementation of the land value tax, which could see unused plots sold off and landlords priced out of landlordism, potentially resolving the housing and planning crises
DAVID MATTHEWS looks at what a collective future for welfare might have in store for us