The Left

Marxism and Class Part Two: Whatever happened to the western working class?

In the second in the series on class, Chris Nineham shows that the working class is as central as ever to capitalism here and across the world
Strike days: let's go onto the offensive

We need wider and deeper co-ordination and escalation to win the strikes, argues Unjum Mirza
Starmer is rewarming Blairism. Why are some on the left applauding?

Starmer at the Labour Conference broadcasted his commitment to free markets and fiscal austerity, argues Chris Nineham
Sweden election: Polarisation and prospects for the left

ES Sandberg assesses the political landscape ahead of Sweden’s general election on 11 September
Naomi Wimborne-Idrissi: Next steps for the Labour left - video

Naomi Wimborne-Idrissi speaks to Shabbir Lakha about her election to Labour's NEC, the attacks she's facing from the right and what she thinks are the priorities for the Labour left
Where is France Insoumise going?

John Mullen looks at the direction of Jean-Luc Mélenchon and the new French left after their electoral breakthrough earlier in the year
Bringing down Bolsonaro: Lula campaign launched in London

Orlando Hill reports from the launch of the London campaign for Lula, the Brazilian left-wing candidate taking on Bolsonaro
Salman Rushdie attack: Bitter fruits of a carnival of reaction

Following the attempted murder of Salman Rushdie, Kevin Ovenden discusses the clash of fundamentalisms at the heart of the global system and how the left should respond
System failure: What should socialists do? A discussion with Lindsey German and James Schneider - video

A discussion with Lindsey German, author and Convenor of Stop the War, and James Schneider, co-founder of Momentum and author of the upcoming book Our Bloc: How We Win, on the crises we face and strategy for the left
The best of times, the worst of times: Prospects for socialism today - video

Lindsey German, in conversation with Feyzi Ismail, on the Corbyn years, the movement and the opportunities for the struggle for socialism today
Confronting crisis: Next steps for the left - video

Danièle Obono, Eddie Dempsey, John Rees and Jeremy Corbyn on the interlocking crises we face and strategy for the left at Counterfire's Revolution! Festival
Petro's triumph: A seismic victory for Colombian left

Left-wing Gustavo Petro's historic victory in the Colombian elections ends decades of neoliberal rule but the left must be prepared for the challenges ahead, argues Jonathan Maunders
French Assembly elections: Bad blow for Macron as polarisation deepens

President Macron lost his majority in the National Assembly elections with both the radical left and far right making huge gains. John Mullen discusses the opportunities and challenges ahead for the left
Left surge sees Macron's majority under threat

In a historic breakthrough, the coalition of left parties, led by the radical left, has won the most votes in the first round of the French parliamentary elections, reports John McGrath
How does a socialist turn into a nark?

Kevin Ovenden on Paul Mason's alleged plans to collude with the state to attack the anti-war left
Can France's new left alliance make a difference?

John Mullen discusses the politics and the prospects of the New Popular Union in the upcoming parliamentary elections in France
The politics of helping out: why the left needs to do more than care for the community

Poverty and inequality are political so the left must focus on building an effective political fight back, argues John Westmoreland
Lindsey German statement at Spycops Inquiry

The witness statement of Lindsey German, a core participant in the Undercover Policing Inquiry, on how the police infiltrated and spied on left organisations
Spies, lies and sabotage: How the state infiltrated the far left

As the Undercover Policing Inquiry unearths more on the nefarious activities of the police and intelligence services, we republish the opening statement of the legal representatives of Lindsey German in relation to her testimony in the Inquiry
Now the deluge: France after the presidential election

Three blocs have emerged from the political rubble. Right, far right and radical left. Kevin Ovenden argues that the radical left can play the decisive role
The European Radical Left: Movements and Parties since the 1960s - book review

Charalambous’s The European Radical Left provides a useful overview of the radical left in Europe since the 1960s, but more detailed analysis is still needed, argues Chris Bambery
Polarisation in France: fight Le Pen and build the left

Continuing collapse of the traditional parties, polarization to left and right: John Mullen reports from France
France election: The usefulness and limits of Jean-Luc Mélenchon - long read

Ahead of the French presidential elections, John Mullen analyses the usefulness of La France Insoumise and its new version of left reformism for the working people of France
In the shadow of the Ukraine war: Serbia’s election reveals scepticism of the West

There should be a lesson here for the radical left in the region, argues Vladimir Unkovski-Korica
France: Mélenchon, Macron, Zemmour and the future of the left

Ahead of France's presidential elections, we repost an interview with John Mullen on the balance of forces and the prospects for the left
Socialist Register 2022: New Polarisations, Old Contradictions, The Crisis of Centrism - book review

Socialist Register 2022 discusses the impasse in the neoliberal consensus, the rise of authoritarian politics, and the prospects for the left, finds Dominic Alexander
Freedom Convoy: the right driving legitimate concerns away from real solutions

Canada's far right are capitalising on the government's botched Covid response that is impacting millions of workers, but an active and campaigning left can build unity and action on the real issues, argues David Bush
What does Portugal's election result mean for the radical left?

Kevin Ovenden analyses the Portugese general election result which has given the centre-left Socialist Party a majority
The anti-capitalist struggle against environmentally-destructive neoliberalism in Serbia

Vladimir Unkovski-Korica analyses the movement against the Rio Tinto mine in Serbia and the prospects for the left
Victory for the left: Chile votes to end 50 years of neoliberalism

Gabriel Boric's victory is a profound step forward for class-based politics in Chile and Latin America at large, writes John McGrath
Establishment ideological contradictions and the left

The left must develop class positions independent of establishment ideologies if it is to end the toxic nature of recent debates and successfully challenge oppression, argues John Rees
Historic opportunity for the left in Argentina

Argentina’s congressional elections have delivered a breakthrough for the radical left, but dangers remain, reports Jonathan Maunders
Voting Labour after Corbyn

Until such time as a new parliamentary vehicle for the working class emerges, socialists should continue to vote Labour, argues Martin Hall
John Rees: The threat to free speech and how to defend it - video

John Rees on the threat to free speech and what that means for the left
'A new world is struggling to be born': Pamela Fitzpatrick on Starmer, poverty and the mood for change

Pamela Fitzpatrick discusses with Shabbir Lakha current Labour leadership, the targeting of socialists in the Labour party and what the left can do to counter it
Turning insult into injury: Starmer and the endless war on the left

The Labour leadership’s latest attack on the left shows why we must turn to the extra-parliamentary movements to fight the Tories, argues Terina Hine
Why I joined Counterfire

Four recently joined Counterfire members explain why they became members
We won't pay for their crisis - Counterfire Freesheet October 2021

The Tory crisis, an interview with Ken Loach on Starmer and the next steps for the left, urgent demands to stop climate breakdown and more in this month's Counterfire freesheet
Starmer vs the members - CounterBlast

Labour's conference has been a battleground between the leadership and the members in a fight for the direction of the party, describes Terina Hine
Brighton 2021: Members speak out on Starmer, stitch ups and next steps for the left

Chris Nineham speaks to activists in Brighton and reports on the Labour Party conference and discussions about the next steps for the left
'On the road to nowhere': Leah Levane on Labour, Starmer and the expulsions - video

Chris Nineham speaks to JVL co-founder Leah Levane about her expulsion form Labour and the direction Starmer is taking the party in
Humiliated: Starmer’s attack on democracy postponed

Keir Starmer's anti-democratic electoral college plan is dead in the water in a humiliating defeat for the Labour leader, writes John Westmoreland
'We need to move fast': Ken Loach on Starmer, socialism and building a new left - interview

Ken Loach speaks to Chris Nineham about his expulsion from the Labour Party and the next steps for the left
Recovery positions: A Labour Party Conference reading guide

As Labour Conference gathers in Brighton, Mark Perryman reviews books that seek to describe what the party’s recovery might look like
Germany’s election: shattering the illusion of stability

As Germany prepares to go to the polls, Kevin Ovenden assesses the fragmentation of German politics
The Tories' contempt for the working class knows no bounds

With the Tories revamping austerity and Starmer focused on attacking the left in Labour, the real opposition is on the streets
Not so hidden agenda: Ken Loach and Labour's war on the left

With the expulsion of Ken Loach, Keir Starmer is escalating his McCarthyite witch-hunt against the left in Labour, argues Alex Snowdon
Changing the narrative on Palestine: The Big Ride 2021 – photo essay

The Big Ride for Palestine 2021 arrives tomorrow in Tower Hamlets. Orlando Hill is reporting on the road, noting the upsurge in support for Palestinian liberation
Zero support for workers as Labour backs employers on zero-hour contracts - Counterblast

Labour's ambivalence towards workers' rights alongside its embrace of the neoliberal status quo is set to backfire, argues Lucy Nichols
The left, the right and the culture wars - video

Introduced by Mike Wayne and Kevin Ovenden at Counterfire's Revolution! Festival
Tories 3-0 down in the culture wars – weekly briefing

Lindsey German on the right in retreat and the grey knight’s return to witch-hunting
Witchfinder Starmer must be stopped: this is a fight for all the left

As Starmer prepares another round of attacks and expulsions against the left, we need a united response across the labour movement, argues Kevin Ovenden
Murdoch’s man: how the left can beat Coyne in Unite

Chris Neville looks at the Coyne campaign in the Unite General Secretary election and explains why the left should back Steve Turner
French elections: Why there is no champagne for Macron or Le Pen

The triumph of traditional parties of the left and right, together with record levels of abstention, offers little cheer for either projected ‘frontrunner’ in next year’s presidential poll, argues Susan Ram
A promising fight back against fascism in France

With Marine Le Pen set to do well in next year’s elections, the mobilisation of anti-fascists is an important step in pushing her back, argues John Mullen
Counting the cost of Coyne

Don’t underestimate what would change in the labour movement if Gerard Coyne led Unite the Union, warns John Rees
Trans rights, women’s rights and open debate – weekly briefing

Lindsey German on how the left should confront oppression
Unison NEC elections: an advance for the left

The victory of left candidates in Unison's NEC election could tip the balance in favour of a more combative, member-led union, writes Nathan Street
Don't split the left: an open letter from Unite members

Unite members call for a single left candidate to defeat the right in the General Secretary election.
The left breakthrough in Peru: socialist teacher Castillo on the verge of victory

Trade unionist Pedro Castillo’s narrow lead in Peru’s Presidential elections opens up the prospect for radical change, but the right won’t back down quietly, argues Jonathan Maunders
Migration Beyond Capitalism - book review

Hannah Cross’s analysis of the role of migration in capitalism is a guide for the left on how to set an agenda for the global emancipation of all workers, argues Yonas Makoni
How dangerous is Marine Le Pen?

John Mullen assesses the prospect of electoral success for Marine Le Pen and argues that she must be countered by national anti-fascist initiatives from the left
India’s Covid apocalypse: ‘Super spreader’ Modi lets the bodies pile high

Narendra Modi and his far right government stand foursquare at the heart of the horror unfolding in India, argues Susan Ram
J’accuse! Spycops witness speaks out

In this compelling testimony to the Spycops Inquiry, a woman using the pseudonym Madeleine tells her story of how she became part of the revolutionary left and how her trust was betrayed by the undercover police
Neoliberal own goal: Super League collapse is a victory for working class activism and solidarity – CounterBlast

The left should celebrate the stunning success of a mass mobilisation of football fans against corporate parasites, argues Sean Ledwith
Peruvians are sick of neoliberalism, but can the left win?

Years of corruption and growing inequality cemented left wing Pedro Castillo’s lead in Peru’s election, but the road to victory is an uphill battle, argues Jonathan Maunders
Alabama Amazon defeat: a wake-up call for the US labour movement

US socialist Joe Allen analyses the failed attempt to unionise at Amazon in Bessemer, Alabama, and argues the movement must learn the lessons if it wants to win
Scottish independence at a crossroads: where has Alba come from?

Dissatisfaction with the SNP’s lack of strategy and turn to neoliberalism is being expressed in the new pro-independence Alba party, argues Chris Bambery
Slanders against Corbyn echo in Canada

Weaponised charges of antisemitism are being rolled out against the left wing Canadian MP Niki Ashton and must be resisted, argues John Clarke.
Rail against privatisation: the battle lines are drawn

Writing for Tunnel Vision, Unjum Mirza describes the disaster of rail privatisation and the need for a service which serves public need not private profit.
Unite: the left must mobilise to beat the right

Unite executive member Richard Allday writes (in a personal capacity) on the union’s general secretary election and the need for a united left
Starmer’s shtick: Ruthless against the left, useless against the right - CounterBlast

Preoccupied with burying the politics of the Corbyn era, Starmer’s vacuous leadership is failing to offer a coherent alternative to the Tories, argues Alex Snowdon.
Beyond satire: John Woodcock to investigate extremism

John Woodcock’s record shows the absurdity of his review into “progressive extremism” and the transparency of the government’s attempts to criminalise protest, writes Yonas Makoni
Pro-independence Catalan vote deepens crisis of the Spanish state

Chris Bambery analyses the Catalonia election which put pro-independence parties ahead of unionists, the crisis for Madrid and the challenges ahead for the left
Putin, Navalny and the Russian protests

The weekend protests against Putin offer opportunities for the Russian left, argues Dragan Plavšić
20 reasons to celebrate the end of the Trump Presidency - CounterBlast

The departure of the 45^th President after one term marks a moment of vindication for the American left, argues Sean Ledwith
After Trump: can the left organise to defeat the right? - part two

As Biden is inaugurated, Kate O’Neil asks DSA activist and author Saman Sepehri what challenges and opportunities lie ahead for the American left
After Trump: can the left organise to defeat the right? - part one

In the lead-up to Biden’s inauguration, Kate O’Neil asks DSA activist and author Saman Sepehri what this month’s historic events in the US mean for the American left
The fight against Trumpism: lessons of Hitler’s Munich Putsch

As far as historical parallels can be made, we must draw the lessons from the past in the fight against fascism, writes John Westmoreland
Unison’s left lose out in the General Secretary Election

Despite left candidates receiving the majority of the votes in Unison’s General Secretary election, the split vote meant the candidate of the right has won, writes Karen Buckley
Impeachment will not defeat Trumpism

The US left must constitute itself as an independent pole, and not fall in behind attempts to rehabilitate business as usual, argues Kevin Ovenden
Why Trumpism must be defeated: reactions to the Capitol chaos

Some immediate thoughts on the scenes of armed Trump supporters taking over the Capitol building on Wednesday
Brexit brinkmanship: after 4 years, it’s the safe bet that wins the race

As the UK and the EU announce a trade deal, Martin Hall considers it, and looks back on the most divisive issue to beset the left in a generation
We need to learn from the mistakes of Brexit past

With a Brexit deal seemingly close, the Left must learn from the mistakes of the last four years, argues Kevin Ovenden
Brexit paralysis: how did we get here? – weekly briefing

Alex Snowdon on a fractured yet immobile capitalist class and a new initiative from Jeremy Corbyn
Is there life outside Labour?

In our continuing series on left strategy, Chris Nineham from Counterfire responds to Laura Smith and John McInally
Keir Starmer's Brexit opportunism

Starmer has confirmed that his manoeuvring on Brexit and a second referendum was always an anti-left operation used to attack Corbyn, argues Kevin Ovenden
Does Starmer want permanent war with the left?

Starmer is sidelining the left in the NEC as his purge continues, writes Terina Hine
Don’t give up! Educate, organise and fight

As part of our series on the future of the left in and out of Labour, Laura Smith outlines a path forward
Letter to the left: gloves off, time to fight!

Natalie Strecker describes her political journey, why she joined Labour under Corbyn and has since left, and what she thinks are the next steps for the left
‘Islamo-leftism’: Macron ramps up attacks on Muslims and the left in France

In France, ‘Islamo-gauchisme’ is the watchword of a widening attack on basic freedoms, targeting anti-racists and the left writes Susan Ram
The left’s Trump card – weekly briefing

Lindsey German on change at the top and what it really means for our side
Spycops: the rottenness at the heart of the British State

As the history of state infiltration of the left is exposed, it is no wonder the government is hurrying through its new SpyCops Bill, argues Terina Hine
Starmer's purge continues: Bristol members suspended for supporting Corbyn

Labour members in Bristol West have been suspended for confronting Starmer’s witch hunt against the left. This is a fight for all of us, argues Tom Whittaker
No capitulation to Starmer's witch-hunt: fight back now

The question isn't 'stay or leave', it's whether or not the left inside and outside the Labour party is going to fight back, argues John McInally
Why is the US election so close? - video

Kevin Ovenden analyses the US election result so far and why the crisis is far from over
Defend Corbyn: the key thing is to fight - video

Lindsey German speaks at a mass online rally in defence of Jeremy Corbyn
Crossing red lines: why the establishment wants to destroy Corbyn

Corbyn's anti-war principles and their popular appeal are the biggest threat to the establishment, says Chris Nineham
The Corbyn suspension and the next steps for the left

As attacks on the left increase, the need to develop an extra-parliamentary left becomes more important than ever. We urge you to join Counterfire
Defending Corbyn: what's at stake for the radical left

We need an explicitly anti-capitalist left to fight back against the centre's assault which is paving the way for an emboldened radical right, argues Kevin Ovenden
The attack on Jeremy Corbyn is baseless – there is nothing to support it in the EHRC report

The EHRC report does not uphold claims that Labour under Corbyn was institutionally antisemitic and does not justify the suspension of Jeremy Corbyn, argues Chris Nineham
France: build the movement against Islamophobia

Following on from the recent murder of a French schoolteacher and the exploitation of the event by Islamophobic forces, we repost Left Berlin’s interview with Paris activist John Mullen
From Golden Dawn to the AfD, the far right is being beaten back by a fighting left

The far right are not unstoppable, but neither is their decline inevitable; the radical left is key to the anti-fascist movements halting their march, argues Kevin Ovenden
Whether it's Trump or Biden, the US left needs to build an independent movement - video

Speaking at a recent Counterfire meeting on the US elections, Kate O'Neil discusses the political landscape in the US and how the left can organise
Covid: a Tory-made crisis - Counterfire Bulletin October 2020

Why we need a zero-Covid strategy, resistance on the frontline, carnage in America and a new direction for the left in this month's Counterfire bulletin
How the left drove the trial that found Golden Dawn guilty - video

Speaking on a live broadcast from Athens, Kevin Ovenden tells us about the fascist organisation Golden Dawn, and the centrality of the anti-racist movement in the trial which returned a historic guilty verdict
Starmer’s road leads to disaster: the left urgently needs a new direction

A left in thrall to Starmer's Labour risks irrelevance, argues Chris Nineham
Doncaster reacts to Starmer: 'We don't need another Tony Blair'

Keir Starmer's conference speech in Doncaster isn't convincing anybody, writes John Westmoreland after speaking to people in the area
Where next for the left? - Lindsey German

As part of a discussion on the next steps for the left, Lindsey German looks at the election defeat, the coronavirus crisis and how socialists should organise
Where next for the left? - Holly Rigby

As part of a discussion on the next steps for the left after the rightward shift of the Labour Party under Keir Starmer, looks at Tory failures during the pandemic and the role of union and movement organising
Where next for the left? - Mike Wayne

As part of a discussion on the next steps for the left after the rightward shift of the Labour Party under Keir Starmer, Mike Wayne looks at the need for a new party of the left and the importance of revolutionary organising
Left-wing comedians the problem at the BBC: is Tim Davie joking? - CounterBlast

The BBC’s new Director General complaining about left-wing bias in comedy is a joke, writes Chris Nineham
Counter-revolution in the Labour Party and the coming storm

John McInally, long-standing activist and former member of the PCS executive, contributes to the ongoing discussion on the future of the Labour Party and the prospects for the wider left
Kamala Harris is not 'progressive'

Kamala Harris' record shows she's far from the radical change that people want, argues Yonas Makoni
Workers strike for democracy in Belarus

Workers need an independent political force in Belarus to win, argues Vladimir Unkovski-Korica
Starmer's Panorama drama: an attempt to bury Corbyn's legacy

We repost Anna Southern's article in The Left Berlin on the continued attacks on Jeremy Corbyn and the left
The Starmer supremacy: Labour is now on the wrong side of the struggles that matter

Starmer's stampede to the right means that socialists will need to reach beyond the Labour Party to build a fighting left, argues Chris Nineham
Starmer’s taking Labour back to the right, what’s next for the left?

Counterfire asked six socialists and activists what they think the next steps are for the left
The global picture: Covid cases and deaths continue to rise sharply

World leaders like Trump and Johnson trying to get back to business as usual while the virus continues to spread are deliberately sacrificing public health, writes John Clarke
Save lives and jobs: distance yourself from neoliberalism - weekly briefing

Lindsey German on post-Covid reconstruction and the politics of free speech
Radical left and anti-capitalist breakthrough in Croatia elections

Despite left gains, early elections paid off for the ruling centre-right party, writes Vladimir Unkovski-Korica
Starmer is moving Labour to the right 'brutally and rapidly': a CLP secretary’s resignation statement

Socialists should focus their energies on building the extra-parliamentary left, argues Terina Hine in her statement resigning as Cities of London and Westminster CLP secretary
Starmer takes Labour right: It's time for an extra-parliamentary left

The fight is on, but it isn't going to be fought in the Labour Party
The battle is on: and the left can’t win in Labour - weekly briefing

Lindsey German on Labour, the left and taking on the Tories
Sacking Long-Bailey accelerates Labour’s drive to the right - CounterBlast

The sacking of the shadow cabinet’s only prominent socialist is a milestone in Labour’s move to the right, argues Alex Snowdon
Starmer’s ruthless at rooting out the left, not antisemitism - CounterBlast

In a week where the Tories are covering for corruption and risking working people’s lives, Keir Starmer is attacking the left instead of the government says Penny Hicks
Starmer plays to the right: where now for the left?

Starmer has signalled war on Labour's left with the sacking of Rebecca Long-Bailey. It is a deliberate attempt to root out Corbynism from positions of influence
Serbia’s quagmire: 7 conclusions from Europe’s first Covid-19-era election

The ruling party wins a landslide, but it faced an opposition boycott, reports Vladimir Unkovski-Korica
Socialist Register 2020: Beyond Market Dystopia - book review

The wide range of essays in Socialist Register 2020 provide important reflections on the strengths and weaknesses of recent left movements, finds Sean Ledwith
Brazil: crises, crises and more crises

Covid-19 is yet another crisis to haunt Bolsonaro argues Orlando Hill (in London) and Lilian Hill (in Rio de Janeiro)
Strikes, walkouts, and sickouts: how working-class Americans are organising in the time of Covid-19

Counterfire's Katherine Connelly interviews US writer and historian Chris Wright about how workers are organising to protect lives and homes in America today
Corona and the food crisis: how the markets failed us

Corona crisis has exposed how market forces cannot be trusted with our food production, says Kevin Potter
Set up to fail? Labour’s not so independent inquiry

Nick Fitzpatrick finds glaring issues with the panel put together by the NEC and its remit to investigate #LabourLeaks
Who pays? Socialists and state intervention part 2 – long read

In the second part of his article, Chris Nineham examines the recent development of the state and how the Coronavirus will impact on government policy and the left
Bernie campaigners take stock and look ahead

Kate O’Neil spoke with three Bernie campaigners about 'What’s next?'
Is there life outside Labour? That is where the hope lies

Recent events in the Labour Party need to be examined clinically, because they tell us important things both about the party's direction of travel and about how power is wielded within it, says Chris Nineham
Invasion of the Body Starmers

Starmer's Labour Party is a bit like Invasion of the Body Snatchers, let's learn the right lessons, argues Ben Tunstall
As It Happened: Briefings From Two Years of Turmoil, 2017-2019

A selection of Lindsey German's briefings from the 2017 to the 2019 general elections which present an analysis of Corbynism and the state of British politics as it happened
EU-Turkish border crisis spills over to Serbia

Racist patrols and protests are spreading in Serbia, as the far-right seeks to exploit the migrant crisis for political gain, says Vladimir Unkovski-Korica
The setbacks for Palestine solidarity and the need to fight back

The setbacks in the movement for solidarity with Palestine and the failure of militant anti-racism is a catastrophe for the left, and one that must be quickly rectified, argues David Jamieson
No socialist should vote for Keir Starmer

In the aftermath of Corbyn, candidates understand the need to be seen to tack left. Kier Starmer's career offers an insight into why we should examine the facts, argues Jonathan Maunders
Can Bernie win?

Sanders has had a good week and is in a strong position, but there are many battles to come, argues Kate O'Neil
The Irish election: the centre has not held and the left can win

The result in Ireland represents a seismic shock to the European establishment and can be a step towards radical change, argues Chris Bambery
Ten books to shake 2020

Want to turn the world upside down in 2020? Philosophy Football’sMark Perrymanhas found ten books to help us on the way
Brazil: the 2013 June Days and the consolidation of the 2018 coup

Leonardo Péricles looks at the character and context of the June Days protests in Brazil which he argues did not directly lead to the 2018 coup
6 steps toward rebuilding the left

Six practical and theoretical suggestions to build a broad, united and fighting left, by David McAllister
Retreat is a luxury the left cannot afford

The left must turn to rebuilding dynamic extra-parliamentary resistance to the Tories
Leaving the EU: this is about what sort of society we want – and it isn’t Johnson’s

As Britain leaves the EU at 11pm tonight, the future is up for grabs, and the fight continues, argues Martin Hall
Socialists and trade unionists chart the way forward after Brexit

Our Brexit, or Theirs – the LeFT Campaign’s North West event on Saturday saw a big turnout by trade unionists and socialists from across the region and beyond
Another struggle is possible

John Rees looks at what was lost and how to win again
Tony Blair is completely wrong: Chris Nineham on Sky News - video

Debating a representative from the Adam Smith Institute, Chris Nineham defends Jeremy Corbyn and the left on Sky News
2017 - 2019: what changed?

We need to analyse the last 2 years and place events in their proper context, argues Richard Allday
Past mistakes, future opportunities - weekly briefing

Lindsey German continues her sober assessment of the Johnson victory and its implications
Rebuilding the resistance

Boris Johnson has to be resisted, and that means we have to get organised
Bolivia: call it a coup, support the resistance

International solidarity is vital - the left must unite in condemning the coup against Morales, argues David Bush
Government funds for anti-Corbyn group a hint of things to come

The smearing of Jeremy Corbyn by a group taking money from the Home Office is only to be expected, argues Josh Newman
At last a large-scale fightback against Islamophobia in France?

John Mullen reports from Paris on a major breakthrough for Muslims fighting oppression in France
Trudeau clings to power

With Canadian neoliberalism safe in parliament, real progress must come from the streets, writes John Clarke
How the British State sabotaged the last left Labour government

Electing a Corbyn government is just the start, in order to take on the state the left must remember the lessons from the 70s, writes Chris Nineham
Why we can win: the left and Boris Johnson's crisis

The way out of this crisis is to keep left, fight for Corbyn and stay on the streets, argues Chris Nineham
Why Labour must not become a hard remain party

Corbyn must hold the line: Labour cannot become an official Remain Party, argues Mike Wayne
No confidence in anti-democratic Boris Johnson

Labour must get back to the priority of toppling Boris Johnson with a no confidence vote and reconnect with the movement on the streets, argues David McAllister
Leave - Fight - Transform - founding statement

From Amazon warehouses to Belfast’s shipyards, workers are demanding a break — a break with the failed system of austerity, neoliberalism and capitalism
Attack on Palestine solidarity turned back in Vancouver

When the left steps up and organises against the attacks, it can win, as shown in Vancouver, reports John Clarke
Dirty tricks: the British State and the left

Recent attacks on Corbyn are part of the British state's long history of undemining the left, writes Chris Nineham
‘I am not what I am’: why the left must take action against ‘Iago’ Watson

Tom Watson has made it clear that he will stop at nothing to remove Corbyn and it's about time the left stands up to him, argues Sean Ledwith
Miners' Gala shows we can kick back against the right

The Miners' Gala showed how strong a left united against austerity can be, reports David McAllister
Greece elections: the right is back in government

The conservative right won the Greek election but didn't do as well as predicted, and the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn were wiped out, reports Kevin Ovenden
Socialists should be trying to unite working people, not divide them - a reply to Paul Mason

Responding to Paul Mason's latest article, Shabbir Lakha argues that the left needs to be trying to unite working people against austerity, not divide them over Brexit
The poverty of anti-corruption politics

A politics based on anti-corruption obscures class and tends to benefit one side. It's not the left, argues Reuben Bard-Rosenberg
Iago Watson strikes again

Watson wants to wreck the Corbyn project. The left mustn't let him, argues Martin Hall
How the left can take the initiative

In the week of the Trump visit, the left held the initiative, and now must keep it, argues John Rees
Pompeo threatens Corbyn: nothing to see here

The US threatening to interfere in the UK's democratic processes should be front page news, argues Chris Nineham
No centrist surge, but a fragmenting Europe: European elections explained

European politics is increasingly fragmented, which poses important challenges but also opportunities for the radical left, argues Vladimir Unkovski-Korica
Jo Grady victory: all change at the top of UCU

Jo Grady has been elected General Secretary of UCU in a victory for the left, now the rank and file need to get organised argues Graham Kirkwood
Milkshakes, moralism, and the rationalist error

Some on the left are crying when they should be laughing, argues John Rees
Brazil: documenting the movement against Bolsonaro

After the first mass, national anti-Bolsonaro demonstration and ahead of the second on 30 May, Lilian Hill speaks to Mavanio Matheus about photodocumenting and taking part in the social movement
It's time for the Labour left to step up to the plate

For Labour to beat the right, the left must stop retreating, argues John Rees
William Godwin: A political life - book review

A new biography lauds William Godwin, but some contemporary radicals of the 1790s offer better inspiration for the modern left, argues Dominic Alexander
Remain and reform? European Parliament elections suggest otherwise

Promises of progressive reforms within the EU will ring hollow, with the hard right set to gain from polarisation. The left here can challenge this trend, argues Vladimir Unkovski-Korica
Spanish election: the left win but society polarises

The Socialist Party has won the most seats in Spain's parliament but falls short of a majority amidst gainst made by the far right, writes Chris Bambery
Counterfire media reaches 100k, now help us do better

This is a time of great possibility for the left, but only if we are prepared to stand our ground
Corbyn is being smeared on antisemitism - and we need to deal with it

There is no contradiction between recognising that antisemitism exists in Labour, and understanding that Corbyn is being smeared, argues Des Freedman
To defeat the Blairite splitters and plotters the left must learn the lessons of history

The Blairites are a threat to Corbyn, but the left has the resources to win and there are important differences with the era of the SDP split, argues Vladimir Unkovski-Korica
Labour can end its internal war at a stroke: become a socialist party

If Labour can reinvent itself it can end its perpetual internal war and reinvigorate the whole of progressive politics, argues John Rees
How to deal with defectors – keep left

We shouldn't be intimidated by the splitters, we need to work to make Labour decisively turn its back on its failed Blairite past, argues David Swanson
The insignificant seven: what the left must do

The left must respond by not giving an inch, instead pushing the leadership to return to a politics of insurgency, argues Alex Snowdon
Yellow Vests join unions to agitate for a general strike in France

Repudiating Macron’s ‘great national debate’, Yellow Vests join hands with trade unions and the radical left to build for a general strike, reports Susan Ram
Left advances in Serbia: news from the protest frontlines

The left has to engage with mass movements but to maintain an independent profile, argues Vladimir Unkovski-Korica
For a left populism - book review

Mouffe’s elaboration of a left populist strategy contains some useful insights but ultimately rests on the centrist ideology that it appears to criticise, argues Josh Newman
New wave of protests in Serbia – opening new horizons?

In the face of austerity and exploitation, the left must act as a counterweight to the established political order, argues Anja Ilic
The Left Case Against the EU - book review

Costas Lapavitsas makes a convincing argument why the Left should oppose the EU, writes Martin Hall
La France Insoumise: tradition and change on the French Left

As tensions rise in Paris, John Mullen gives a cool-headed tour of the French Left
Yellow Jackets: a high-vis uprising sweeps France

At roadblocks, barricades and on the march, the Gilets Jaunes embody nationwide fury towards Project Macron, reports Susan Ram
Brazil election: Bolsonaro's victory and the struggle ahead

The victory for far-right Bolsonaro is a dangerous development and it is now a critical moment for the left to unite and win the streets, argues Orlando Hill
Stop Tommy Robinson: leaflets for National Unity Demonstration Against Fascism and Racism

On 17 November, we will be out marching against racism and the fascist thug that is Tommy Robinson - we provide leaflets for you to print and distribute
O efeito Bolsonaro: e agora Brasil?

À medida que as eleições do Brasil avançam para o segundo turno, Orlando Hill examina as perspectivas para a esquerda derrotar a candidatura presidencial da extrema-direita Jair Bolsonaro
The Bolsonaro effect: what now for Brazil?

As Brazil's elections progress to the second round, Orlando Hill examines the prospects for the left in defeating the presidential candidacy of the far right Jair Bolsonaro
Macedonia's failed referendum: a disaster for the EU and Nato

The failed referendum in the small Balkan state represents a major upset for the West, argues Vladimir Unkovski-Korica
Labour conference and how the left can win - Counterfire Media Podcast

Chris Nineham and Tom Lock Griffiths discuss Labour Party conference and what it tells us about how the left can win in the first episode of Counterfire Media's new podcast

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The Left

The Left

In the second in the series on class, Chris Nineham shows that the working class is as central as ever to capitalism here and across the world

We need wider and deeper co-ordination and escalation to win the strikes, argues Unjum Mirza

Starmer at the Labour Conference broadcasted his commitment to free markets and fiscal austerity, argues Chris Nineham

ES Sandberg assesses the political landscape ahead of Sweden’s general election on 11 September

Naomi Wimborne-Idrissi speaks to Shabbir Lakha about her election to Labour's NEC, the attacks she's facing from the right and what she thinks are the priorities for the Labour left

John Mullen looks at the direction of Jean-Luc Mélenchon and the new French left after their electoral breakthrough earlier in the year

Orlando Hill reports from the launch of the London campaign for Lula, the Brazilian left-wing candidate taking on Bolsonaro

Following the attempted murder of Salman Rushdie, Kevin Ovenden discusses the clash of fundamentalisms at the heart of the global system and how the left should respond

A discussion with Lindsey German, author and Convenor of Stop the War, and James Schneider, co-founder of Momentum and author of the upcoming book Our Bloc: How We Win, on the crises we face and strategy for the left

Lindsey German, in conversation with Feyzi Ismail, on the Corbyn years, the movement and the opportunities for the struggle for socialism today

Danièle Obono, Eddie Dempsey, John Rees and Jeremy Corbyn on the interlocking crises we face and strategy for the left at Counterfire's Revolution! Festival

Left-wing Gustavo Petro's historic victory in the Colombian elections ends decades of neoliberal rule but the left must be prepared for the challenges ahead, argues Jonathan Maunders

President Macron lost his majority in the National Assembly elections with both the radical left and far right making huge gains. John Mullen discusses the opportunities and challenges ahead for the left

In a historic breakthrough, the coalition of left parties, led by the radical left, has won the most votes in the first round of the French parliamentary elections, reports John McGrath

Kevin Ovenden on Paul Mason's alleged plans to collude with the state to attack the anti-war left

John Mullen discusses the politics and the prospects of the New Popular Union in the upcoming parliamentary elections in France

Poverty and inequality are political so the left must focus on building an effective political fight back, argues John Westmoreland

The witness statement of Lindsey German, a core participant in the Undercover Policing Inquiry, on how the police infiltrated and spied on left organisations

As the Undercover Policing Inquiry unearths more on the nefarious activities of the police and intelligence services, we republish the opening statement of the legal representatives of Lindsey German in relation to her testimony in the Inquiry

Three blocs have emerged from the political rubble. Right, far right and radical left. Kevin Ovenden argues that the radical left can play the decisive role

Charalambous’s The European Radical Left provides a useful overview of the radical left in Europe since the 1960s, but more detailed analysis is still needed, argues Chris Bambery

Continuing collapse of the traditional parties, polarization to left and right: John Mullen reports from France

Ahead of the French presidential elections, John Mullen analyses the usefulness of La France Insoumise and its new version of left reformism for the working people of France

There should be a lesson here for the radical left in the region, argues Vladimir Unkovski-Korica

Ahead of France's presidential elections, we repost an interview with John Mullen on the balance of forces and the prospects for the left

Socialist Register 2022 discusses the impasse in the neoliberal consensus, the rise of authoritarian politics, and the prospects for the left, finds Dominic Alexander

Canada's far right are capitalising on the government's botched Covid response that is impacting millions of workers, but an active and campaigning left can build unity and action on the real issues, argues David Bush

Kevin Ovenden analyses the Portugese general election result which has given the centre-left Socialist Party a majority

Vladimir Unkovski-Korica analyses the movement against the Rio Tinto mine in Serbia and the prospects for the left

Gabriel Boric's victory is a profound step forward for class-based politics in Chile and Latin America at large, writes John McGrath

The left must develop class positions independent of establishment ideologies if it is to end the toxic nature of recent debates and successfully challenge oppression, argues John Rees

Argentina’s congressional elections have delivered a breakthrough for the radical left, but dangers remain, reports Jonathan Maunders

Until such time as a new parliamentary vehicle for the working class emerges, socialists should continue to vote Labour, argues Martin Hall

John Rees on the threat to free speech and what that means for the left

Pamela Fitzpatrick discusses with Shabbir Lakha current Labour leadership, the targeting of socialists in the Labour party and what the left can do to counter it

The Labour leadership’s latest attack on the left shows why we must turn to the extra-parliamentary movements to fight the Tories, argues Terina Hine

Four recently joined Counterfire members explain why they became members

The Tory crisis, an interview with Ken Loach on Starmer and the next steps for the left, urgent demands to stop climate breakdown and more in this month's Counterfire freesheet

Labour's conference has been a battleground between the leadership and the members in a fight for the direction of the party, describes Terina Hine

Chris Nineham speaks to activists in Brighton and reports on the Labour Party conference and discussions about the next steps for the left

Chris Nineham speaks to JVL co-founder Leah Levane about her expulsion form Labour and the direction Starmer is taking the party in

Keir Starmer's anti-democratic electoral college plan is dead in the water in a humiliating defeat for the Labour leader, writes John Westmoreland

Ken Loach speaks to Chris Nineham about his expulsion from the Labour Party and the next steps for the left

As Labour Conference gathers in Brighton, Mark Perryman reviews books that seek to describe what the party’s recovery might look like

As Germany prepares to go to the polls, Kevin Ovenden assesses the fragmentation of German politics

With the Tories revamping austerity and Starmer focused on attacking the left in Labour, the real opposition is on the streets

With the expulsion of Ken Loach, Keir Starmer is escalating his McCarthyite witch-hunt against the left in Labour, argues Alex Snowdon

The Big Ride for Palestine 2021 arrives tomorrow in Tower Hamlets. Orlando Hill is reporting on the road, noting the upsurge in support for Palestinian liberation

Labour's ambivalence towards workers' rights alongside its embrace of the neoliberal status quo is set to backfire, argues Lucy Nichols

Introduced by Mike Wayne and Kevin Ovenden at Counterfire's Revolution! Festival

Lindsey German on the right in retreat and the grey knight’s return to witch-hunting

As Starmer prepares another round of attacks and expulsions against the left, we need a united response across the labour movement, argues Kevin Ovenden

Chris Neville looks at the Coyne campaign in the Unite General Secretary election and explains why the left should back Steve Turner

The triumph of traditional parties of the left and right, together with record levels of abstention, offers little cheer for either projected ‘frontrunner’ in next year’s presidential poll, argues Susan Ram

With Marine Le Pen set to do well in next year’s elections, the mobilisation of anti-fascists is an important step in pushing her back, argues John Mullen

Don’t underestimate what would change in the labour movement if Gerard Coyne led Unite the Union, warns John Rees

Lindsey German on how the left should confront oppression

The victory of left candidates in Unison's NEC election could tip the balance in favour of a more combative, member-led union, writes Nathan Street

Unite members call for a single left candidate to defeat the right in the General Secretary election.

Trade unionist Pedro Castillo’s narrow lead in Peru’s Presidential elections opens up the prospect for radical change, but the right won’t back down quietly, argues Jonathan Maunders

Hannah Cross’s analysis of the role of migration in capitalism is a guide for the left on how to set an agenda for the global emancipation of all workers, argues Yonas Makoni

John Mullen assesses the prospect of electoral success for Marine Le Pen and argues that she must be countered by national anti-fascist initiatives from the left

Narendra Modi and his far right government stand foursquare at the heart of the horror unfolding in India, argues Susan Ram

In this compelling testimony to the Spycops Inquiry, a woman using the pseudonym Madeleine tells her story of how she became part of the revolutionary left and how her trust was betrayed by the undercover police

The left should celebrate the stunning success of a mass mobilisation of football fans against corporate parasites, argues Sean Ledwith

Years of corruption and growing inequality cemented left wing Pedro Castillo’s lead in Peru’s election, but the road to victory is an uphill battle, argues Jonathan Maunders

US socialist Joe Allen analyses the failed attempt to unionise at Amazon in Bessemer, Alabama, and argues the movement must learn the lessons if it wants to win

Dissatisfaction with the SNP’s lack of strategy and turn to neoliberalism is being expressed in the new pro-independence Alba party, argues Chris Bambery

Weaponised charges of antisemitism are being rolled out against the left wing Canadian MP Niki Ashton and must be resisted, argues John Clarke.

Writing for Tunnel Vision, Unjum Mirza describes the disaster of rail privatisation and the need for a service which serves public need not private profit.

Unite executive member Richard Allday writes (in a personal capacity) on the union’s general secretary election and the need for a united left

Preoccupied with burying the politics of the Corbyn era, Starmer’s vacuous leadership is failing to offer a coherent alternative to the Tories, argues Alex Snowdon.

John Woodcock’s record shows the absurdity of his review into “progressive extremism” and the transparency of the government’s attempts to criminalise protest, writes Yonas Makoni