"Socialism Makes Sense: An Unfriendly Dialogue" Review Sean Matgamna is well into his sixth decade of activism, and for most of that time has been the leading theoretician of the tendency now known as the Alliance for Workers’ Liberty. This book – a revised version of one published under a slightly different name in 2016… Continue reading Arguments for Socialism
Month: Aug 2018
The politics of classical music
All flag waving and patriotism? Think again argues Michael Barnes This month marks the beginning of the annual Proms season, which carries on throughout the summer until the patriotic flag-waving last night on 8th September. Henry Wood, who founded the Proms in 1895, saw his task as educating a middle class public. Beginning with a… Continue reading The politics of classical music
Breaking down barriers: Cafe Society Swing
Richard Price enjoys a tribute to a pioneering club at the Theatre Royal, Stratford. In 1938, Barney Josephson opened the first integrated nightclub in New York. Naming it Café Society in a barbed reference to the beautiful people and bright young things of the 30s, he later said that he “wanted a club where blacks… Continue reading Breaking down barriers: Cafe Society Swing
UK’s first Women’s Committee
Valerie Wise, former Chair of the GLC's Women's Commitee. The GLC Women’s Committee was established in May 1982, a year after Labour came to power. Labour had promised to set up an Ethnic Minorities Committee, but there was no such commitment for women. Women’s economic status, their caring responsibilities and their specific needs regarding public… Continue reading UK’s first Women’s Committee
Immigration detention
Over 400 migrants and asylum seekers attempted self-harm while held in detention in 2017 - the highest recorded number since government started to keep statistics in 2007. Published figures reveal there were 446 attempts at self harm in detention last year with at least 10 confirmed suicides. The Home Office often fails to publicise deaths… Continue reading Immigration detention
Arrivederci Roma?
One of the first fruits of the lash up between the far right League party and the supposedly left-leaning Five Star Movement is a proposal by interior minister Matteo Salvini for a census of Roma and the expulsion of thousands who aren’t Italian citizens. A leader of Italy’s Jewish community compared it to Mussolini’s racial… Continue reading Arrivederci Roma?
