Democratic Deficit

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. Sean Rillo Raczka explains why 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

• Video: The Crisis of the British Regime

  

  Chris Bambery, Lindsey German, Liz Fekete and Danny Dorling discuss the crisis of the British regime, inequality and broken politics

• 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