Democratic Deficit

Labour's conference and what it tells us about how the left can win

The left surge at Labour conference was impressive - now, if we want to win, we need to mobilise the whole movement
The best democracy money can buy

We need a democratic movement that can break the Westminster consensus
Dutch lessons: time to fight for our alternatives

The mainstream media is peddling a destructive lie that we have to crush, asserts Lindsey German
Labour and the movement after Stoke and Copeland: the next steps

As safe seats become marginal ones before our very eyes, Lindsey German makes short work of the media voodoo and suggests a plan
Stormont: corruption and decay

Can our side benefit as the Northern Ireland power-sharing fix unravels, asks Chris Bambery
Escaping Bleak House: sex, class and power in neoliberal Britain

In this major new analysis, Lindsey German looks at resistance to neoliberalism, oppression's relationship to class, and how new forms of organising and the united front are central to a socialist transformation of Britain
The Fourth Estate and the Fifteen Years’ War

Lindsey German despairs at the dishonest accounting that passes for the media’s scrutiny of the War on Terror
Should we stay or should we go?

Alex Gordon, convenor of Lexit – The Left Leave Campaign and former president of the RMT trade union, talks to Counterfire about the upcoming EU referendum
Don’t just watch: The logic of Corbyn’s rise revealed

Corbyn's rise is only the most recent expression of a long term trend towards a more radical and left-wing politics, argues Chris Nineham
MPs complaints of bullying show contempt for democracy

Many of those complaining fear greater accountability and the wave of anti-war feeling evident from Corbyn's election as Labour leader
Corbyn, electability and the Middle England myth

Chris Nineham challenges the ‘Corbyn just won’t play in Middle England’ argument
Confronting TTIP means confronting the undemocratic EU

If we want to fight TTIP we need to confront the undemocratic and unaccountable European Union argues Reuben Bard-Rosenberg
How Labour lost

With both main parties retrenching their commitment to austerity, the crisis of representation will be met, for now, outside of Parliament argues James Meadway
A light shines on the democratic deficit

Caryl Churchill’s classic English revolution drama could not come at a better moment nor be performed in a better place, says John Rees
Revolutionising reformism

It will be up to the radicals and revolutionaries to make the case for an effective, modern reformism - a minimum set of demands, as a prelude to further radicalization - argues James Meadway
Phoenix time

John Rees looks at what can rise from the ashes of the election
Tower Hamlets: the real electoral fraud is about to begin

John Rees on the outrageous dismissal of Tower Hamlet's first elected Muslim Mayor
Politics just got interesting - come and discuss what needs to be done

Counterfire is organising a series of meetings around the country to discuss the election, the implications of the new situation and to prepare for action after May
Eyes on the prize: the election and beyond

The consensus at the centre of British politics is being prised open - and with this comes an opportunity to build a mass, radical left across this island
It's Scotland, stupid

The significance of this election will be greater than any since Margaret Thatcher came to power argues John Rees
Democracy threatened by 'counter extremism'

The government's new 'counter extremism' strategy is an attack on the very democratic values it claims to defend argues Tower Hamlets Deputy Mayor Oliur Rahman
What are the choices? The left, the elections and how to get to a better place

Establishment politics is fracturing, but the General Election outcome won't represent the anger with the elite. Chris Nineham outlines a strategy for popular opposition and generating a new left
Confronting EU illusions

How can we voice opposition to the EU without sounding like Nigel Farage? Well the obvious answer is not to stay silent about the EU’s lack of democracy writes Chris Bambery
Rifkind, Straw and everyday corporate influence in Westminster

Jack Straw and Malcolm Rifkind can't see what they have done wrong because they swim in a sea of corporate influence
Breaking the Magic Kingdom’s code

Dan Hind's new book on the constitution of the British state makes the radical case for a republic. Socialists should take up the argument for democratisation, says James Doran
Lutfur Rahman Election Petition is an insult to democracy

An 'Election Petition' - a legal challenge to Lutfur Rahman's mayoral election victory - begins this week. It's an attack on democracy
The crisis of British politics

A resolution on the crisis of British politics passed at Counterfire National Conference 2015. Submitted by the Steering Committee
Welcome to dodgy Dave’s second-hand democracy sale!

Richard Allday responds to the latest Tory attacks on democracy, from curtailing trade union rights to eroding the powers of local authorities
2014: Twelve things that shaped this year’s politics

Lindsey German looks at twelve features of last year that will shape politics in the year ahead
The Establishment: And how they get away with it

Owen Jones’ The Establishmentis a valuable dissection of the networks of power and ideology, but the concept of the ruling class adds a needed dimension, argues Sean Ledwith
The return of the Party member?

The membership of mainstream parties is plummeting, but people are joining parties if they look as if they are going to take on the elite, argues John Rees
5 things they keep quiet about the crisis of the British regime

Chris Nineham makes five observations about the anti-establishment mood in austerity Britain
Video: Occupying democracy with Russell Brand

A video compilation of moments from this week's #Occupydemocracy protest by Shahrzad Shemirani
Occupy Democracy holds Parliament Square despite police aggression

Occupy digs in at Parliament Square despite huge police aggression and intimidation reports Matt Bonner
A revolt of our own

Chris Nineham on why we need to lead the fight against inequality and for democracy
The English Question: Democracy or jingoism?

Alastair Stephens: we need to democratise the state in all its aspects, but for now the battle lines are clear: we want democracy restored not jingoism revived
UK undead: 10 reasons democracy is dying

Alastair Stephens looks at how democracy in the UK is dying at the hands of the neoliberal ruling elite
The crisis of the British regime: democracy, protest and the unions

The British political regime faces a crisis of confidence. This report presents empirical evidence for the democratic deficit, growing protest, the state of the trade unions and the strategic implications for the left

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Democratic Deficit

Democratic Deficit

The left surge at Labour conference was impressive - now, if we want to win, we need to mobilise the whole movement

We need a democratic movement that can break the Westminster consensus

The mainstream media is peddling a destructive lie that we have to crush, asserts Lindsey German

As safe seats become marginal ones before our very eyes, Lindsey German makes short work of the media voodoo and suggests a plan

Can our side benefit as the Northern Ireland power-sharing fix unravels, asks Chris Bambery

In this major new analysis, Lindsey German looks at resistance to neoliberalism, oppression's relationship to class, and how new forms of organising and the united front are central to a socialist transformation of Britain

Lindsey German despairs at the dishonest accounting that passes for the media’s scrutiny of the War on Terror

Alex Gordon, convenor of Lexit – The Left Leave Campaign and former president of the RMT trade union, talks to Counterfire about the upcoming EU referendum

Corbyn's rise is only the most recent expression of a long term trend towards a more radical and left-wing politics, argues Chris Nineham

Many of those complaining fear greater accountability and the wave of anti-war feeling evident from Corbyn's election as Labour leader

Chris Nineham challenges the ‘Corbyn just won’t play in Middle England’ argument

If we want to fight TTIP we need to confront the undemocratic and unaccountable European Union argues Reuben Bard-Rosenberg

With both main parties retrenching their commitment to austerity, the crisis of representation will be met, for now, outside of Parliament argues James Meadway

Caryl Churchill’s classic English revolution drama could not come at a better moment nor be performed in a better place, says John Rees

It will be up to the radicals and revolutionaries to make the case for an effective, modern reformism - a minimum set of demands, as a prelude to further radicalization - argues James Meadway

John Rees looks at what can rise from the ashes of the election

John Rees on the outrageous dismissal of Tower Hamlet's first elected Muslim Mayor

Counterfire is organising a series of meetings around the country to discuss the election, the implications of the new situation and to prepare for action after May

The consensus at the centre of British politics is being prised open - and with this comes an opportunity to build a mass, radical left across this island

The significance of this election will be greater than any since Margaret Thatcher came to power argues John Rees

The government's new 'counter extremism' strategy is an attack on the very democratic values it claims to defend argues Tower Hamlets Deputy Mayor Oliur Rahman

Establishment politics is fracturing, but the General Election outcome won't represent the anger with the elite. Chris Nineham outlines a strategy for popular opposition and generating a new left

How can we voice opposition to the EU without sounding like Nigel Farage? Well the obvious answer is not to stay silent about the EU’s lack of democracy writes Chris Bambery

Jack Straw and Malcolm Rifkind can't see what they have done wrong because they swim in a sea of corporate influence

Dan Hind's new book on the constitution of the British state makes the radical case for a republic. Socialists should take up the argument for democratisation, says James Doran

An 'Election Petition' - a legal challenge to Lutfur Rahman's mayoral election victory - begins this week. It's an attack on democracy

A resolution on the crisis of British politics passed at Counterfire National Conference 2015. Submitted by the Steering Committee

Richard Allday responds to the latest Tory attacks on democracy, from curtailing trade union rights to eroding the powers of local authorities

Lindsey German looks at twelve features of last year that will shape politics in the year ahead

Owen Jones’ The Establishmentis a valuable dissection of the networks of power and ideology, but the concept of the ruling class adds a needed dimension, argues Sean Ledwith

The membership of mainstream parties is plummeting, but people are joining parties if they look as if they are going to take on the elite, argues John Rees

Chris Nineham makes five observations about the anti-establishment mood in austerity Britain

A video compilation of moments from this week's #Occupydemocracy protest by Shahrzad Shemirani

Occupy digs in at Parliament Square despite huge police aggression and intimidation reports Matt Bonner

Chris Nineham on why we need to lead the fight against inequality and for democracy

Alastair Stephens: we need to democratise the state in all its aspects, but for now the battle lines are clear: we want democracy restored not jingoism revived

Alastair Stephens looks at how democracy in the UK is dying at the hands of the neoliberal ruling elite

The British political regime faces a crisis of confidence. This report presents empirical evidence for the democratic deficit, growing protest, the state of the trade unions and the strategic implications for the left