Inequalities in premature death are as high as they have ever been in this country, and this is before the cuts. The Lib-Con coalition thinks that deep, swingeing spending cuts are the only way to get this country out of its economic hole, but is there any justification for that view? Or is there another agenda at work? (more…)

A critical take on identity politics by the American think tank New Labor Forum provides a sober debunking of the myths surrounding this pernicious ideology and shows how focusing on inter-ethnic income differences, at the expense of class income differences, only serves the neo-liberal preference for greater overall inequalities. (more…)

With 563,000 votes the BNP has conclusively surpassed its predecessor the National Front but the Labour-oriented left are politically incapable of recognising this, let alone responding to it.

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Two articles on the BBC website (’Slum landlord hit squad proposed‘, ‘MSPs hear slum housing concerns‘) earlier this month drew attention to the issue of slum housing in the Govanhill district of Glasgow, an area that has one of the severest housing problems in the UK.

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A recent column by The Times‘ Minette Marrin posed the question “Are men surplus to requirements?” If Marrin really wants to answer that question and understand her subject, all she needs to do is take heed of the words of new Tory economic adviser Sir Alan Budd.

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