Zoom session on 29th May 2023. Watch the video here. Read Nick Wrack’s article here. Nick Wrack introduced this session, looking at what sort of public ownership socialists should call for. Socialists often talk about nationalisation, and about the need for state ownership. Nick argues that at root we should Continue Reading
Socialism
Capitalist Environmental Crises: A Socialist Response
In ‘Revenge of Nature: did the Rain Spoil your Grand Prix?’[1], Will McMahon paints a stark picture of the choices facing humanity under capitalism in the face of environmental catastrophe, but also throws down a gauntlet to socialists regarding our responsibilities in response to the crisis. What are we, and should Continue Reading
What sort of new party of the left?
A call has been put out by a number of small left-wing groups and individuals for a new party. Left Unity, the Breakthrough Party, the People’s Alliance of the Left, and three Liverpool Community Independents councillors, together with other individuals have put out a call for a new party of Continue Reading
Acemoglu, AI and automation
There is a new burst of techno-optimism emerging over the application of ChatGPT and LLMs. One analyst reckons that AI “has huge potential to boost economy-wide productivity” and cited a recent MIT study that showed a massive improvement in productivity while using ChatGPT. Also, much of the productivity gains were seen Continue Reading
In defence of Ken Loach: History is for all of us to discuss
I wrote this short article just over a year ago, before I was myself expelled from the Labour Party. It explores how right-wing Zionists in the Party had somehow succeeded in smearing and vilifying Ken Loach, even amongst broad layers of progressive activists in the Party who you’d have expected Continue Reading
Why do we have a Labour Party instead of a socialist Party?
This article originally appeared in Prometheus. It was also used to facilitate a discussion in a meeting of Talking About Socialism on 12th June 2023 – watch the video here. What sort of an organisation is the Labour Party? Its dominance of the left in Britain for over a century Continue Reading
What sort of public ownership?
Water is essential for life. Provided by nature, it should be accessible and free for all. A functioning system for treating sewage is also one of the most basic requirements for any society; without it we face disease and contagion. Yet, in the UK, one of the richest countries in Continue Reading
Revenge of nature: did the rain spoil your grand prix?
The irony of the Imola Grand Prix being cancelled last weekend because of the huge inundation in the west of Emilia-Romagna cannot have been lost on many. After six-months rain fall fell in 36 hours, over 20 rivers burst their banks, producing 280 landslides, killing at least 13 people and Continue Reading
Abbott’s own goal
Diane Abbott’s letter to the Observer was offensive, historically illiterate, and an unbelievable gift to her opponents inside and outside of the Labour Party. However, Diane Abbott should not have been suspended by Labour leader Keir Starmer. Her letter was not antisemitic, and I don’t believe that Starmer or any Continue Reading
No one is illegal
Every couple of years we campaign against some new draconian anti-migrant/refugee legislation and procedures and we think ‘this is outrageous, it can’t get any worse.’ Then, a couple of years on, it does get worse, a new set of laws is proposed. Now we are faced with legislation which says Continue Reading