KEN CURRAN introduces a new political education initiative set to launch in Sheffield this autumn Socialism as an idea and as a movement has a long history. But as a consequence of Thatcher’s election in 1979, the triumph of neo-liberalism and the collapse of Communism after 1989, socialism became unpopular. Key figures in Labour...
Articles
Socialism in the Valley
To mark its 120th anniversary this July, local member PAUL SALVESON celebrates the roots, birth and history of the Colne Valley Labour Party and examines its impact on the distinctive culture of the area The Colne Valley CLP was formed on 21 July 1891 and put down deep roots in the Pennine communities of...
The Road from Ruin?
PAUL SALTONSTALL reports from a recent seminar on how to reform capitalism from the inside The talk was given by Michael Green, one of the authors of The Road from Ruin: A new capitalism for the Big Society, and the host was the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR). This was one of their...
NHS Reforms: An insider’s view
Health care professional NELLI FINN provides an inside account of years of NHS reform, a tale of competing trusts, contracting out, cost-cutting and chronically low morale. I have been working for the NHS as an occupational therapist since 1995 and, apart from a couple of brief sojourns abroad and in the private sector, have...
Summer 2011
Remaking our Music Barry Winter introduces the ILP’s new perspective The Politics of the Coalition Matthew Brown reviews the Tory-led government Refounding Labour? Will Brown asseses Labour’s party reform consultation Is Compass losing direction? Matthew Brown looks at Compass’s decision to open up Roma’s last stand Chris Hall recalls the life of a POUM...
Colne Valley Labour Party 120th Anniversary Celebrations
—- Colne Valley Labour Party 120th Anniversary Celebrations Thursday 21 July, 7.30pm The Watershed (behind Monsoon) Bridge Street Slaithwaite HD7 5JN Guest speaker: Lord David Clark, author of Colne Valley: radicalism to socialism and MP for Colne Valley 1970-1974 Plus: launch of souvenir booklet Looking Back, Looking Forward: Colne Valley Socialism 1891-2011 socialist songs from...
Pension lies
The government’s repeated lies about pensions have been exposed by the Today programme’s Evan Davis, writes WILL BROWN. For the second day in a row Government Ministers have been unable to defend Cameron’s lie that the public sector pension scheme is ‘going broke’. The claim was made by Cameron in a speech on Monday...
Refounding Labour – an ILP viewpoint
This contribution responds to the invitation for comments on Labour’s future as part of the Refounding Labour process, and is broadly endorsed by the ILP’s NAC. The renewal of the Labour Party, encompassing changes in its structures and practices, is long overdue and we welcome the Refounding Labour initiative. There is much to commend...
Members’ rights will not be compromised, says Hain
Peter Hain this week moved to allay fears that a new Labour supporters’ network will lead to ‘US primary-style’ party elections as a result of the Refounding Labour process on party reform which he is heading. Speaking at a meeting in the House of Commons organised by Compass on Tuesday (14 June), Hain said...
Celebrating Clarion House
The ILP will make a special presentation to volunteers at Clarion House near Nelson on Saturday 24th July to mark nearly a century of association between the ramblers’ tea shop run by members of the Nelson ILP Land Society and the national ILP. Members of the ILP’s national administrative council will present Clarion volunteers...
The North West’s Spain Volunteers
The 75th anniversary of the Spanish Civil war will be commemorated at Manchester Town Hall on Saturday 16 July with a celebration of the contribution made by volunteers from the north west of England. Organised by the International Brigade Memorial Trust, the event will mark the role of the north west volunteers in the...
Refounding Labour?
Despite its vagueness and many, many unanswered questions, Refounding Labour could be a genuine opportunity to renew the party, says WILL BROWN The future of the Labour Party, and in particular its internal organisation and operation, was a recurrent theme in the campaign for party leadership. All candidates argued that the party needs reinvigorating...