‘Labour represents the sort of people for whom trade unions were created or it represents no one’
Labour needs the unions because they give the Party a sense of purpose. The unions need Labour to represent workers in parliament.
Francis Beckett
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Reform conference: ‘Is a British autocratic government really so unimaginable?’
As Reform gathers at its Birmingham conference, playwright Francis Beckett looks at the historical echos of autocratic regimes and asks if it could happen here.
A permanent war with the left is bad for Keir Starmer, the party and the country
For me, preparing for the Labour Party's 2022 conference involves looking closely at the titans of Labour history. I’m rehearsing my play about Labour’s most successful leader, and my political hero, Clement Attlee, for two performances at…
Fascism is back – and yet the left are turning on each other
A few clear-sighted Americans anticipated this moment 80 years ago. Henry Wallace, US Vice-President during the Second World War, said in 1944: “When and if fascism comes to America it will not be labelled ‘made in Germany’, it will not be…
75 years since Labour’s 1945 victory. Is Keir Starmer a Clem Attlee figure?
In the week when we celebrate the 75th anniversary of Clem Attlee leading Labour to victory on July 6th, 1945, the party is in as grim a position as it was when Attlee was first elected leader in 1935. A lot rests on whether the newly…
10 ways to make Labour’s communications professional again
Making Labour’s communications professional again might not be top of new leader Keir Starmer’s to-do list this week – but if it isn’t near the top, we’re in trouble. You cannot win elections on good PR alone, but you can’t win without it…