The Left

The Left

• 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

• The socialist challenge to Trump

  

  The Trump nightmare has fired up left organisation in the US to electorally challenging the establishment, writes Sean Ledwith

• Labour conference 2018: packed Stop the War fringe meeting declares an anti-war government vital

  

  The anti-war movement is on the front foot, and made its mark at Labour's conference

• The left is growing: why the setbacks at Labour conference?

  

  The left has seen a number of defeats at Labour Conference, but on the ground, there is burgeoning resistance, writes Chris Nineham

• If Labour backs a second referendum, the whole Corbyn project will be in danger of defeat

  

  We can't let the most radical leadership in Labour's history find themselves fighting on the side of free trade, argues Reuben Bard-Rosenberg

• Minding the depth and breadth - a Labour conference reading list

  

  As Labour gathers for its annual conference Mark Perryman welcomes the variety of thinking a range of authors, new and old, are offering the Left at this vital time

• Is the Labour Party a machine or a movement?

  

  Corbynism and the prospect of a Labour government are at risk if the NEC undermines the membership and democracy 

• Media and the infrastructure of radical movements

  

  Our movements need media that inspire mass participation, amplifying analysis to reach new audiences turning to the left, writes Des Freedman

• Labour, antisemitism and the damage done

  

  The attacks on Corbyn and the left this summer have been damaging, and can only be dealt with through political struggle, argues Kevin Potter

• People's Vote vs People's Brexit

  

  Betraying the referendum result would spell disaster for Labour and the left, argues Martin Hall

• Corbyn’s leadership in danger

  

  The defeat for the Palestinian cause at the hands of the Labour Party’s NEC should not be underestimated

• Labour's NEC votes on IHRA; members protest to defend Corbyn

  

  Protesters rallied outside Labour Party HQ to defend Jeremy Corbyn and oppose the IHRA definition, Shabbir Lakha reports

• The attacks on Corbyn can only end if they're confronted

  

  Apologies and appeasement won’t stop the witch-hunt against Corbyn

• We cannot compromise on the NEC code of conduct on antisemitism

  

  Nothing will appease those who are determined to defeat Corbyn and diminish support for the Palestinians, argues Alex Snowdon

• What Frank Field's resignation tells us about the Labour right's slow coup

  

  Destined for deselection, yet citing antisemitism, the nationalist Leaver's parting shot has been supported by Blairites whose only principle is to smash the left, writes Kevin Ovenden

• It's time to stand up and be counted - what defending Corbyn really means

  

  This is a defining moment for the Corbyn project, and attacks over antisemitism and Palestine must be firmly opposed or they will escalate to chilling effect, argues Chris Nineham

• The fightback is on: hundreds rally behind Corbyn in London

  

  Hundreds of Londoners rallied against the attacks on Jeremy Corbyn and Palestine on Tuesday, Shabbir Lakha reports

• The dangers we face

  

  The current ascendancy of the left in the UK is beset by serious threats. They must be faced and defeated, argues John Rees

• Stand firm in attacks against Corbyn, or lose the fight

  

  Right wing attacks on Corbyn have intensified. If we lose ground now, we will pay heavily in the future, argues Alex Snowdon

• The attack on Bookmarks was an attack on us all

  

  The attack on Bookmarks shows how emboldened the far right are and why the debate on how to stop them is so urgent argues Pete Morgan

• Hodge case shows why Labour Right needs to be confronted - and defeated

  

  The only appropriate response to Margaret Hodge and her co-conspirators is to take them on politically and defeat them argues Alex Snowdon

• Antisemitism: what the left should say – weekly briefing

  

  We should not apologise for things we haven’t done and we do not shut down a witch-hunt by agreeing with it, argues Lindsey German

• Is Corbyn's Brexit policy really 'full Trump'?

  

  Describing Jeremy Corbyn's Brexit strategy as "economic nationalism" is adopting neoliberal arguments that defend the status quo argues Kevin Ovenden

• Steve Bannon: international orchestrator of the alt-right

  

  Steve Bannon has gained international notoriety for his role as Trump's chief strategist. Sean Ledwith examines his role in organising the transatlantic alt-right

• The new forces behind the fascist right

  

  A changed threat has emerged in Tommy Robinson's street movement, supported by the international populist right. John Rees looks at how we meet it

• Together we can defeat Trump, and the Tories too

  

  Opposing Donald Trump can play a role in bringing down our own vicious government

• Only a united movement can defeat the far right

  

  Saturday's far right demonstration in support of Tommy Robinson must be opposed directly on the streets

• Why we should all be out protesting against Trump's visit to the UK

  

  We must be united in our opposition to Trump and everything he represents

• After the final days of May

  

  This is the start of a new phase of the crisis, not the end of it, writes John Rees

• The rise of president ‘AMLO’: Mexico’s left turn?

  

  The landslide triumph of anti-establishment figure Andrés Manuel López Obrador has emerged from a disastrous social and economic crisis for Mexico’s ruling order and traditional party, opening up a new era of possibility for the left, argues Sean Ledwith

• 'Just do it': the politics of fighting precarity

  

  Richard Allday reminds us that we need to work together; we can’t be socialists on our own

• The phoney war must end: crossing the Brexit Rubicon

  

  The mask of the EU has slipped; Corbyn must seize this opportunity to make the case for a clean break, argues Martin Hall

• Enough is enough: Paris takes to the streets

  

  Paris mobilises one year on from Macron's election, and fifty years on from May '68, reports John Mullen 

• Rudd down, May to go

  

  Amber Rudd resigning because of popular pressure is a victory and a reminder that what the left does can make a decisive difference argues Chris Nineham

• France Insoumise: What is it and where is it going?

  

  As a massive wave of strikes continues in France, what forces might propose a mass political alternative to Macron? John Mullen discusses the party being led by Jean-Luc Mélenchon

• The Corbyn Moment - video

  

  Some clips from the speeches made at The Corbyn Moment event in London filmed and edited by Paul Merron

• Basic Income: progressive cloak and neoliberal dagger

  

  BI is not an answer to inequality under neoliberalism. Social transformation will come through collective struggle, argues John Clarke

• France also: a cynical attempt to divide anti-racism in the service of the government right

  

  Unite the left and anti-racist movements in a fight back against cynical right-wing disruption, argues Kevin Ovenden

• Jeremy Corbyn isn't antisemitic: we should stop being defensive about it

  

  The antisemitism smear campaign against Jeremy Corbyn is cynical political point scoring and the left must tackle the arguments head on argues Shabbir Lakha

• Brexit is an opportunity to break with the status quo: we must take it

  

  How Brexit is handled is key to Corbyn being elected, and the success of a radical Labour government

• France, March 22nd: the mobilisation of the public sector begins

  

  Across France, hundreds of thousands of people, spearheaded by combative rail workers, mobilise against Macron’s neoliberal assault on the public sector  

• The SNP, Russia and the turn to the establishment

  

  Sturgeon's rhetoric goes against the spirit of the Scottish independence movement. The left must unite against the state, argues David Jamieson

• Belgrade’s municipal elections: a class analysis

  

  After the regime’s win, the left needs to build a movement in the working-class areas

• Corbyn is right about Russia, it is time for a new foreign policy

  

  British government reaction to the attempted murder of double agent Sergei Skripal is rank hypocrisy, argues Vladimir Unkovski-Korica

• Russia hysteria, the establishment, and the left

  

  The establishment wants to create a consensus under the spurious cover of national unity. The left needs to rally in response, argues Kevin Ovenden

• The SPD, grand coalitions, and European social democracy

  

  In Germany, the left is at a crossroads, and what path it takes depends on the strength of the movements, argues Evan Sedgwick-Jell

• Social democratic suicide? What’s going on in Germany? Interview with Mark Bergfeld - podcast

  

  As the SPD go into another 'grand coalition' with the CDU, Mark Bergfeld looks at the prospects for the left in Germany

• Germany: why did the SPD membership vote for the coalition?

  

  The decision to join the government throws up big questions for the left and for the movements

• Berlusconi's back: Things are not looking good in Italy

  

  The hatred the elite in Italy have inspired, is, for the moment, flowing rightwards, finds Chris Bambery

• Neoliberalism has failed, the left can offer a political alternative

  

  The Carillion and NHS crises lay bare the failures of neoliberalism; we must fight to end this market madness

• The second coming of the referendum

  

  Calls for a second Brexit referendum, from the unholy confluence of establishment Remain and Farage, must be resisted by all the left, argues Martin Hall

• Corruption and Crisis in Peru

  

  As the Peruvian establishment reels, the left must seize the moment, take to the streets and strike a blow, argues Jonathan Maunders

• Obituary: A Sivanandan (1923-2018)

  

  Siva’s understanding of race, class and imperialism, and of humanity in general, will continue to inspire resistance to injustice and hope for socialism

• From Bah Humbug to Oh Jeremy Corbyn: a review of Christmas politics books

  

  Never mind miserablism this Christmas, Mark Perryman discovers more than enough books that describe reasons to be cheerful

• The Tories are falling apart, but we must act to push them out

  

  To achieve a scenario where Theresa May poses the question ‘who rules?’ requires all of us to start moving

• The Last Day of Oppression, and the First Day of the Same - book review

  

  Electing a left-wing government is not enough; Jeffrey Webber’s analysis of Latin America shows that capitalism must be confronted, argues Orlando Hill

• Parliament and power: Lessons from Latin America with Jeffery Webber - video

  

  Author and professor Jeffery Webber dissects the political situation in Latin America, how it developed and what lessons can be learnt from it at a London Counterfire public meeting

• May Day, May Day! The Tory ship is sinking

  

  John Rees on the reasons for the Tory debacle and what comes next

• The politics of 2017 catch up with the economics of 2008

  

  In a time of the rebirth of mass politics, the right is fighting back. The left must meet this challenge, argues Kevin Ovenden

• Euphoria and its discontents

  

  John Rees looks at Labour’s strengths and weaknesses

• AfD breakthrough: the threat of fascism never went away

  

  After the far-right party's success in the German election, we must look at the root causes of their rise, if we are to know how to fight back

• Corbyn's a winner, but this is only the beginning of the fight - weekly briefing

  

  The left have cemented their position within Labour, but we must build strength as a wider movement if we are to take on vested interests and really change society

• Dugdale's resignation is a victory for the left

  

  The resignation as leader of Scottish Labour is a recognition of Corbyn's strength

• May's not-so-great Repeal Bill

  

  The Tory mess is getting deeper, argues Jonathan Maunders

• Durham Miners' Gala: celebrating resistance

  

  Jeremy Corbyn will be speaking at the historic Durham Miners' Gala, off the back of a magnificent surge in support

• This political moment will not last

  

  Politics in this country has 
shifted decisively to the left, but we must make the most of it

• Corbyn and the movement: this is our time

  

  Following the political earthquake, building the movement is vital. Now it can really reshape politics

• First Diane Abbott, now Danièle Obono: the media lynching of black women on the radical Left

  

  Like Diane Abbott, French left-wing politician Danièle Obono feels the sexism and racism of the right-wing establishment, writes Susan Ram

• Electoral success on Corbyn's improbable path to power - interview with Alex Nunns

  

  In the wake of Corbyn's electoral success, Feyzi Ismail interviews Alex Nunns, author of 'The Candidate: Jeremy Corbyn's Improbable Path to Power' 

• The election of the French parliament: a huge shake-up, but polarisation continues

  

  The victory of "the centre" is only temporary, argues John Mullen

• Meanwhile in France, voters stayed away: A tale of two elections

  

  Is this really a surge in support for centrist politics?

• The Result: a very good night for Labour - and for the left - Election briefing #34

  

  A victory for Jeremy Corbyn that’s also a real advance for the working class, writes Lindsey German 

• Win or lose, change has already come

  

  John Rees on how to assess the election result

• The days of timidity are over

  

  It's time to stand up for our democratic rights, and that shouldn't be restricted to the vote we have in the general election

• Why you should join Counterfire

  

  We need a dynamic, combative left, fit for the 21st century

• Mélenchon's campaign should inspire us here in Britain

  

  Jean-Luc Mélenchon's dynamic presidential campaign is proof that the Left can make serious gains

• Compare and contrast: what the French elections can tell us about Britain

  

  The rise of Corbyn and Mélenchon have similar roots, but the Labour leader has to contend with problems that the French left does not have

• French election tells of a divided France

  

  Macron beat Le Pen to the presidency, but there is a parliamentary election still to come

• Lies, damned lies and local elections - Election briefing #10

  

  No one said it was going to be easy, but we must continue the fight, argues Lindsey German

• A political earthquake in France and the fight against Le Pen

  

  With less than a week to go until the second round of the French presidential elections, John Mullen takes a look at where we are now

• French elections: Le Pen, Macron and the radical left

  

  The first round results for the French presidential election confirm the deep political crisis in the country, which will no doubt deepen at the legislative elections in June

• It’s the Left that can beat Le Pen and fascism, not Macron

  

  With the fascist Le Pen winning a place in the the second round of the French election, Cameron Panting takes a look at how the Left should respond

• French elections: the banker, the fascist...or the streets?

  

  After the anti-capitalist left's unprecedented achievement in the first round, attention will now focus on Mélenchon’s engagement with the movement, writes Susan Ram

• Scottish independence: which side are you on?

  

  Opposition to the establishment will be strengthened if people south of the border support Scottish independence

• Trump: the new face of fascism?

  

  Is Trump a fascist? What is fascism anyway? Chris Bambery takes a look

• Marisa Leticia - an obituary

  

  Brazil's former first lady and life-long political activist, Marisa Leticia, has died. Orlando Hill takes a look at her life and contribution

• French Elections 2017: Islamophobia, austerity and the left

  

  A thorough analysis by John Mullen of the role of austerity and Islamophobia in the upcoming French elections and what the prospects for a radical left alternative are.

• Not my pussy: protest trumps pessimism

  

  The weekend’s magnificent demonstrations are a cue to reinvigorate left politics as a whole, suggests Ellen Graubart  

• The Women's Marches are just the beginning

  

  This can be the start of a new wave of dissent, argues Lindsey German

• Brexit and the left: uniting to take control of the debate

  

  John Rees makes the case for the left need to unite around key issues to end the dominance of the right in the Brexit debate

• Corbyn and Obama: compare and contrast

  

  Barack Obama's comments about Jeremy Corbyn expose how out of touch with reality American liberalism is, argues Ben Myers

• Keeping up: How Corbyn and the left can break through

  

  The fortunes of the Corbyn project and the wider movement are intertwined, argues Ben Myers

• Approaching the end time? Italy and the EU

  

  What’s happening in Italy tells us volumes about what’s wrong with the European Union, argues Chris Bambery 

• Brexit: new poll provides evidence for the left‘s strategy

  

  There are good grounds for the left counterposing our Brexit to the Tories‘, writes Kevin Ovenden

• 1956: Hungary's lost revolution

  

  The 21st century anti-capitalist movement owes a debt to the heroic and inspiring working-class uprisings in Hungary 60 years ago, argues Sean Ledwith

• Dario Fo will continue to inspire us

  

  Actor, playwright, theatre manger, activist: Dario Fo's legacy will live on, writes Jackie Mulhallen

• Cable Street: organised racism and capitalist crisis

  

  We must keep the spirit of Cable Street alive by confronting organised racism and fighting the effects of the capitalist crisis, argues Feyzi Ismail

• Taking back control: the movement hits the streets of Birmingham

  

  We took back Birmingham from the Tories and were resolute in our opposition to austerity, demanding a new deal for working people, reports Cameron Panting

• Breaking Bosnia's deadlock

  

  The imperial powers are once again at loggerheads in the Balkans. Dragan Plavsic argues for a decisive response from the left

• Battle of Cable Street: the fight against fascism

  

  As the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Cable Street approaches, Chris Bambery looks at the events that took place in 1936 Britain and the lessons we can take from them

• Jeremy Corbyn: what happens next?

  

  Lindsey German looks at what happens next after Jeremy Corbyn's landslide victory in the second Labour Leadership election in 12 months

• What strategy for Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership?

  

  With Jeremy Corbyn’s re-election almost certain, debate is turning to how a divided Labour Party can move forward. Alex Snowdon considers the next steps for Corbyn and the left

• Corbyn: a view from afar

  

  An Argentinian perspective on the rise of Jeremy Corbyn from journalist Mariano Schuster

• Corbyn: lies, damn lies and broadcast television

  

  The recent media barrage against Jeremy Corbyn and Momentum represents a new low in mainstream vilification of socialist ideas, asserts Des Freedman

• Contribution to Counterfire National meeting on 10th September

  

  From George Barratt

• Owen Jones has got it wrong about Jeremy Corbyn

  

  Owen Jones is wrong to compare Corbyn's foreign policy to that of Ed Miliband, writes Lindsey German

• Crisis of reformism: Corbyn, Sanders and the left

  

  The re-election of Corbyn is key, but an increase in the level of class struggle is critical to lasting success, argues Lindsey German

• Brazil coup: will the left respond?

  

  Héctor Rios takes a look at the context of the impeachment of Dilma Rousseff

• Black Lives Matter: getting organised

  

  Shabbir Lakha reports on this week's London activist meeting of Black Lives Matter, as participants discuss the next steps for the movement 

• No time for faint hearts

  

  We have got this far by being radical, argues Chris Nineham, and now is not the time to moderate the message

• They call it unity but it's really war

  

  Owen Smith is being painted as a unity candidate. Chris Nineham argues he is in fact spearheading a war on the majority of the Labour Party

• Strategy beyond the referendum

  

  As the established order falls apart, Chris Bambery argues how the left should respond

• How the left should deal with the referendum results

  

  With many of the old political certainties breaking up, Lindsey German argues that the left have to rise to the challenge.

• End austerity - general election now! Lexit statement on leave vote

  

  As the UK votes to leave the EU, let's take the fight to the Tories

• Looking beyond the Referendum

  

  Whatever the outcome, the left will have to unite after the referendum to fight against racism, austerity and war argues Lindsey German.

• France and the fight against neoliberalism - podcast

  

  Danielle Obono speaks about the social movements in France and the current wave of protests and strikes around the country

• Getting ready for the 24th

  

  After a bleak week, Lindsey German surveys the pre-referendum terrain and offers some starting points for future campaigning

• Brexit, the economy, immigration and the Labour Party

  

  Where are the economic arguments for anti-austerity and a new equality across Europe, asks Brian Heron

• An assault on the whole movement

  

  The furore over alleged antisemitism in Labour is a smear on the party’s left and an attempt to delegitimise criticism of Israel, argues Reuben Bard-Rosenberg

• To stop the far right we must oppose the EU

  

  Kevin Ovenden argues for an internationalist approach to the European crisis in the second half of a two-part series on the European question

• 'Left-wing antisemitism': anatomy of an accusation

  

  Leo Fischer argues the best response to accusations of antisemitism is to educate, organise and emphasise the continuing human rights abuses committed in Palestine

• Dangerous Times Festival 2016: an opportunity that mustn’t be missed

  

  With the Tories in turmoil and the political landscape in flux, the movement and the left need to come together to discuss next steps

• The EU referendum and the Left

  

  Obama's remarks have shown that the EU is a constraint on anything democratic and popular that may fall foul of the capitalist class, writes Alex Snowdon