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Labour

The Corbyn Project was defeated by the historic strengths of conservatism and liberalism

Mike Wayne takes stock of Labour's election defeat
Lip service to the left, but moves to the right - weekly briefing

Lindsey German on retreats, witch-hunts and war
What caused Labour's decline: 2019 vs 2017

An in-depth analysis of the statistics from the 2019 election shows beyond doubt that it was the collapse of the Labour Leave vote that proved fatal for Labour, reports Richard Crawford
Looking ahead: how the Left can win

Looking at how we got to where we are, Tony Dowling argues that the left must pivot to the streets
1860s: the red thread of working class internationalism

Rebecca Long-Bailey’s appeal to ‘progressive patriotism’ is misguided but the working class internationalism of the 1860s is inspiring, argues Alex Snowdon
Another struggle is possible

John Rees looks at what was lost and how to win again
Labour's leadership race - where's the left?

To preserve and build on gains made, we must respond to the lack of leadership on the Labour left with wider extra-parliamentary struggle, writes Alex Snowdon
The class war election

To fight the deliberate misrepresentation of Labour's radical policies, we must address the reasons underlying the systematic media bias, argues Des Freedman
From New Labour to a second referendum: why the north turned blue

As part of a series of opinion pieces on the election result, Heather Parry argues that it wasn't socialist policies but the view that Labour was ignoring voters that cost them the election
Labour needs Corbyn’s anti-war politics more than ever

The leadership contest is likely to be a missed opportunity for making Labour a serious anti-war party, argues Alex Snowdon
Socialists don't do nukes

Nuclear weapons are incompatible with socialist politics, argues Hilary Stephenson
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
Why can’t Tony Blair stay away?

The anti-war movement and Jeremy Corbyn were always the biggest threat to Blairism, that's why he's so adamant to try to show he's still standing, argues Jonathon Shafi
What are the lessons of GE 2019?

There are many lessons to draw from the election but the Labour right will try and obscure these core questions in the coming weeks, argues David Moyles
Beyond the Labour leadership election: let's not wait until 2024 for change

Strategy is important for the left now and it must go beyond who leads Labour next, argues Vladimir Unkovski-Korica
The climate election that never happened

As part of a series of opinion pieces on the election result, Elaine Graham-Leigh argues that the movement must turn to class on climate
Labour's defeat: how it happened

As part of a series of opinion pieces on the election result, Brian Heron looks at where it went wrong for Labour
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
Scotland: it's time to break from a broken UK

The SNP's overwhelming victory in the election demonstrates the appeal for an independence referendum, but this will have to be won on the streets, argues Chris Bambery
Corbyn is not to blame

Jeremy Corbyn as prime minister was unthinkable for the Labour right, and demanding a second referendum was about destroying the Corbyn project, writes John Westmoreland
The energy for Labour in Bristol has been projected across the South West - campaign report

In the last election, Bristol saw a massive swing to Labour, so this time Bristolians have led an energetic campaign in nearby seats, reports Nathan Street
Hastings and Rye set to turn red - campaign report

Chrissy Brand reports from Hastings and Rye where the tiny Tory majority of 346 votes in 2017 is set to be overturned by Labour
The people powered campaign - reports from Thurrock, Wimbledon and South West Norfolk

As polling gets underway, Counterfire activists report from the Labour campaign trail in the last week
We have a world to win – election briefing Polling Day

Lindsey German considers results and prospects
Ignore the naysayers and keep fighting – election briefing 11 December

Lindsey German on trusting Tories and the Jeremy Corbyn she knows
Lindsey German: don't underestimate how far we've come - video

Speaking at a public meeting, Lindsey German discusses some of the issues that have come up in the election and says whatever the outcome, extra-parliamentary organisation will be key
Whatever the result, this is what the election has told us

Win or lose, Labour's strategy in this general election campaign gives us an insight into the priorities for the fight after the results are announced on Friday, argues John Rees
Who needs enemies, with friends like Jon Ashworth?

Labour can still win, but in spite of Labour MPs like Jon Ashworth, argues Vladimir Unkovski-Korica
Jewish activists speak out: why we’re campaigning for Corbyn

Counterfire’s Kate O’Neil caught up with three Jewish activists campaigning for Jeremy Corbyn this week to hear what they had to say
Thatcher, the miners and why you should never believe a Tory promise

Just like his idol Margaret Thatcher, Boris Johnson is lying through his teeth, argues John Westmoreland
What are the Greens' true colours?

The Green Party's electoral alliance with the Lib Dems is a tactic that will prevent a Corbyn government instead of getting the Tories out, argues Elaine Graham-Leigh
Scotland's election

Labour's record on independence means we shouldn't expect a rush of Corbynista MPs from Scotland, argues Chris Bambery
The impact of the manifesto: canvassing for Labour in Glasgow North

Labour’s radical policies are visibly popular on the doorstep, reports Vladimir Unkovski-Korica
The problem with Nancy Astor

Tory and media championing of the antisemitic Astor reveals an acute case of double standards, argues Katherine Connelly
Labour can win: general election is all to play for

Polls can be troublesome, but we can still learn from them and we can win, writes Alex Snowdon
The BBC's anti-Corbyn bias shows it's not fit for purpose

The BBC's overt political bias against Jeremy Corbyn should cause us to question what public service it's really providing, writes Morgan Daniels
Beating the Tories online: effective political campaigning on Facebook

A guide to winning the online battle during this election by Jim Scott
On the canvassing trail in Lancashire

Although there is no clear front-runner in Lancashire, there is hope in young voters and the widespread care for the NHS, reports Karen Buckley
The Corbyn effect in Scotland - campaign report

Jeremy Corbyn's Labour is offering hope in Scotland, reports Mark Porciani from the campaign trail in Glasgow North East
Labour's plan is what schools need

Labour manifesto promises for education are worth fighting for, writes Alex Snowdon
What it will take to beat the Tories in Scotland

The SNP’s disappointing drift rightwards and Labour’s confusion on the national question make it harder for the left both during and after the general election, argues Vladimir Unkovski-Korica
Time for the big picture - election briefing 19 November

Lindsey German on creating perspective, fair elections and the Lib Dems
Get organised, and get out there - campaign report

We can get Corbyn elected, but it will take sustained effort, writes Isabel Carr
Labour, the manifesto, and the rationalist error

Policy, however good, isn’t enough to win a general election, argues John Rees
All power to the Broadband Communists!

Free ultra-fast broadband isn't just possible, it's necessary, argues Elly Badcock
Immigration: it’s not about statistics, it’s about racism – election briefing 15 November

Lindsey German on the manipulation of social division and Boris’ common touch
Fracking must stop for good, not just for the election: interview with activist at Preston North Road site

After the government’s sudden u-turn over fracking, Counterfire’s Katherine Connelly spoke to Allan Todd, a Green Left member and Extinction Rebellion activist, about the cynical politics behind the announcement, the importance of the anti-fracking campaign and how we can ensure the victory isn’t as short-lived as the election campaign
Corbynism from Below – book review

Corbynism from Below is a wide-ranging collection of thoughtful essays on this historic opportunity for the left to transform society, finds Kevin Ovenden
Flooding misery: the consequences of climate change and austerity

The flooding of hundreds of Doncaster homes was probably caused in the first instance by climate change, but the devastation wreaked on families was avoidable, argues local resident John Westmoreland
Why tactical voting is a bad idea

Tactical voting benefits the Lib Dems and is a block to a people-powered movement for change, argues Dragan Plavšić
Labour promises real social transformation

With cynical spending plans from the Tories, Labour must go on the attack with its message of genuine change in favour of working people, argues David McAllister
Why have the Greens joined an anti-Labour alliance? - election briefing 8 November

Lindsey German on radical retreats, Ian Austin and fiscal priorities
The British State: A Warning - book review

Chris Nineham’s The British State argues that the left must confront the entrenched power of the British state to achieve radical change, writes Alex Snowdon
The mask keeps slipping - election briefing 7 November

Lindsey German on the persistence of the nasty party and Labour's antisemitism smears
Labour's right, billionaires shouldn't exist

Billionaires are evidence of the grotesque inequality in society and Labour is right to say a fair society wouldn't have them, writes Shabbir Lakha
Trump’s coming to London during the election

Trump's meddling can be beaten with protest, writes Lindsey German
Vote Labour and get ready to fight - Counterfire freesheet November 2019

Corbyn and the British state, CWU and UCU strike ballots, why we say no to Nato and more in this month's Counterfire freesheet
How Labour can win the election

Mobilising the labour movement behind a radical anti-austerity programme is Corbyn's best bet to win, writes David McAllister
Election 2019: the chance for a green industrial revolution

Electing a Corbyn government that can implement a green industrial revolution is the essential next step to taking on climate change, argues Alex Snowdon
It's going to be a tough battle, but Labour can win

There is only one way to get a government which wants to improve working people's lives - and that's by voting for Corbyn, argues Lindsey German
‘Delays have dangerous ends’ – weekly briefing

Lindsey German on the perils of Labour timidity, global migration and local ballots
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
The devil and the deep blue sea: Labour and Johnson’s deal

Final stage Brexit fatigue cannot be allowed to override fundamental class imperatives, argues Kevin Ovenden
At war with the powers that be

Don’t be naive — the British state will move against a Corbyn government, writes Chris Nineham
Police ban on Extinction Rebellion is an attack on our civil liberties

The threat to our civil liberties from the police banning Extinction Rebellion protests is dangerous and we must resist, argues Sweta Choudhury
With friends like this: John McDonnell’s flirtation with the right is damaging and inexcusable

Alastair Campbell and the Gentlemen’s Quarterly should be treated like enemies, argues Alex Snowdon
Kick out the crooks - Counterfire freesheet October 2019

Tory crisis, Corbynism, drive to war with Iran, austerity, climate strikes and more in this month's Counterfire freesheet
Conservative Party Conference: don’t be fooled by the confidence trick

Conservative Party Conference revealed the Tories are weak but are relying on the Labour right to help them out, argues Katherine Connelly
Steer left to beat Johnson's phoney populism

To get rid of the Tories, Labour must fight the status quo with radical class politics, argues Alex Snowdon
The left after Labour Party conference: don't let the spirit fade

Conference boosted the left but parliamentary pressures and compromises already threaten the Corbyn project, argues Vladimir Unkovski-Korica
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
The outlaw government must go!

John Rees on the next step to elect a socialist government
Boris Johnson is weak: Labour must not give him a Brexit lifeline

Labour must take full advantage of Johnson's weakness, 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
Tory crisis: does Boris Johnson have a way out?

There is still hope for Labour to take power but they must take advantage of flagrant weaknesses in the Tory party, argues Alex Snowden
Labour’s Brexit slide

Labour must distance themselves from the status quo and instead fight for radical change in the interests of working people, argues Martin Hall
Labour and a ‘national government’: how to dash the hopes of millions

Looking back at the last time Labour joined a national government, John Westmoreland argues it would be a mistake for Labour to consider it now
Tom Watson is undermining Labour – it’s time to cut him loose

With his call for Labour to prioritise another referendum over a general election, the party’s deputy leader is undermining Jeremy Corbyn, argues Vladimir Unkovski-Korica
We need a general election now, whether it’s in the ‘national interest’ or not

There is nothing for Labour to gain from putting the ‘national interest’ first and delaying a general election, argues Shabbir Lakha
Stop Boris Johnson - general election now!

We need the Tories out now to end austerity and transform society: Lindsey German at the People's Assembly Against Austerity demo
The Boris burnout - weekly briefing

Using Brexit as a trojan horse for Trumpism is proving a tougher ride than Johnson and Cummings might have imagined, observes Lindsey German
Labour: these aren't clever tactics, they are the establishment's tactics

The real trap is in playing the establishment's games, writes John Rees
Labour can only expose Johnson if they represent a radical opposition

Labour needs to champion democracy to counter Boris Johnson and put forward a class-based approach to overthrow the government, argues Alex Snowdon
Don’t overestimate Boris Johnson…

Working class voters will punish any Labour delay in taking down the Tories, argues John Rees
General election: unite and fight

The left must seize the initiative in the coming general election, argues Lindsey German
The Corbyn Project: Dreams and Dangers

In this new timely book, John Rees analyses the Corbyn project from the moment Corbyn became Leader of the Labour Party in 2015 till today
Resistance to the Tory coup should be about democracy, not Europe

The left cannot fight Boris Johnson’s power grab if it appeals only to Remainers, argues Vladimir Unkovski-Korica
The biggest attack on democracy since before universal suffrage

The hard right have seized government and are now launching an attack on democracy, we have to fight back, argues Chris Nineham
Corbyn can't win if Labour won't bring down the government

Labour's decision to make a vote of no confidence the last resort is a retreat that keeps the Tories in power, argues Kevin Ovenden
Can Labour win a general election?

Labour is at an electoral crossroads and must come out as a radical alternative to the establishment, argues Alex Snowdon
Peterloo: Manchester is still resisting

Remembering Peterloo means keeping the fight on the streets, writes Penny Hicks
Swinson’s choice: better a no deal Brexit than Corbyn

For the Liberal Democrats, a no deal Brexit seems preferable to a left wing Labour government under Corbyn, argues Alex Snowdon
Rise Like Lions: the politics of Shelley's Mask of Anarchy

200 years after it was penned, Jacqueline Mulhallen explores the politics of Shelley's great poem
Tower Hamlets ban should be a wake up call on Palestine

The IHRA definition is being used to stifle Palestine activism, exactly as activists had warned it would, report Chris Nineham and Sybil Cock
Despite the media consensus, Corbyn’s position on Brexit is the right one

Labour's Brexit strategy is not the 'fudge' the media describe it to be and is the most sensible approach given the circumstances, argues Mike Wayne
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
Johnson's Cabinet: a turn right and no resolution in sight

Boris Johnson is setting up a war cabinet, but at the same time has exposed just how crisis-ridden his government is from day one, argues Martin Hall
The Tories have no divine right to lead

Getting rid of the Tories is the primary task of the left, but to achieve this we must build on the momentum that a Boris Johnson premiership will create
The Millbank Militants: the forces behind People's Vote

From Mandelson to millionaires with vested interests, the People's Vote campaign is run and funded by those who want to destroy the left, argues Martin Hall
Murad Qureshi - Standing up for Londoners

Murad Qureshi is standing to be a Labour candidate for the London Assembly. He sent Counterfire his campaign statement and we are happy to share his reasons for standing.
What do they know of Cricket?

England’s Cricket World Cup has Mark Perryman hunting out his favourite CLR James quote to make sense of it all
Stop Boris: General Election Now - Counterfire Freesheet July 2019

No new Tory Prime Minister, protest the Tory party conference, revolt in Sudan, does modern monetary theory work, stop the drive to war with Iran, the British state and what Engels said about revolution in this month's Counterfire freesheet
‘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
BBC Panorama hatchet job on Labour antisemitism is a farce

The BBC's Panorama on antisemitism in the Labour Party provides no real evidence and shows how cynical the smear campaign is, argues David McAllister
Labour's lost Leave voters

The left should be the champions of democracy, but Labour backing a second referendum lets the right claim it instead, argues Lindsey German
Adopting the IHRA definition didn't end the attacks, it accelerated them

Apologising for an epidemic of antisemitism in Labour that isn't there and giving in to the right's demands has only accelerated the attacks, argues Lindsey German
A dangerous moment for the Corbyn project - weekly briefing

Labour’s internal tensions are jeopardising its most socialist stewardship in modern times, argues Alex Snowdon
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
Be clear: the moves against Chris Williamson are moves against Corbyn

The attacks on Chris Williamson are first and foremost about delegitimising the Corbyn project, writes Isabel Carr
The left needs to hold the line and fight the smears – weekly briefing

Witch-hunt season is back with a vengeance and Corbynism must re-assert itself to stay in the game, argues Alex Snowdon
Labour Country: Political Radicalism and Social Democracy in South Wales 1831-1985, and Stories of Solidarity - book review

Two books on the working-class history of Wales provide valuable accounts of a rich tradition, but neglect some radical aspects, argues Chris Bambery
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
Cracking up… in every sense of the word - weekly briefing

Drug scandals are just the icing on the cake for an imploding and decrepit Tory party, argues Lindsey German
Corbynism wins in Peterborough

Labour's by-election success in Peterborough is a vindication of the Corbyn project, argues Richard Allday
Take the fight to the Tories: they are unfit to govern - Counterfire freesheet June 2019

Tory meltdown, the crisis in British Steel, how we should remember D-Day, a Marxist analysis of Game of Thrones and more in this month's Counterfire freesheet
Labour must say no to a second referendum

As pressure mounts, Labour must hold the line and keep fighting for a general election, argues Shabbir Lakha
Alastair Campbell isn’t a victim, he’s trying to destroy Corbyn’s leadership

Alastair Campbell is trying to destroy Corbyn's leadership. The left cannot win by capitulating to him, argues Katherine Connelly
European elections: results and prospects

The European election results show a catastrophe for the Tories, a bad night for Labour and the main beneficiary was Farage's Brexit Party, writes Alex Snowdon
Labour's wrong turn on basic income

Mistaking the neoliberalism-lite handout policy of basic income for social justice is a disastrous road for a left-led Labour Party to go down, argues John Clarke
The Brexit delusion: why you should vote Labour

The only sensible option for the left in the EU elections is to vote for Labour, argues Shabbir Lakha
Milkshakes, moralism, and the rationalist error

Some on the left are crying when they should be laughing, argues John Rees
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
Nia Griffith has to go, say Labour members

Over 1,500 Labour Party members have signed an open letter calling for Nia Griffith’s resignation, reports Shabbir Lakha
Dump Trump: Protest the State Visit, June 3/4/5 - Counterfire freesheet May 2019

Protest against Trump's state visit, austerity and record levels of inequality, Algeria in revolt, Marxism made easy, Palestine, eco-demands and more in this month's Counterfire Freesheet
The resistable rise of Nigel Farage

The growth of the Brexit party is remarkable, but not unstoppable, argues John Rees
Municipal Dreams - book review

Council housing was about building homes not financial assets, and we should be proud of that, finds William Alderson
Local elections: a clear rejection of the Tories and austerity

The local election results have been devastating for the Tories, and the lesson for Labour is that it must be bolder and more radical, argues Shabbir Lakha
We need the labour movement to win the fight against climate change

The fight for workers' rights and jobs goes hand in hand with the fight against climate change, so we need the environmental movement and trade unionists to work together, writes Richard Allday
An election we thought we wouldn’t have, and a vote we shouldn’t have – weekly briefing

Concessions to Labour’s remainers can only damage and disorientate the Corbyn project, argues Lindsey German
Thank God it's Friday: 300 years of Robinson Crusoe

On the 300 year anniversary of the publishing of Robinson Crusoe, Morgan Daniels analyses what the book really tells us from a Marxist perspective
The left needs to stop retreating over the use of the term Zionism

John Rees on what anti-Zionism does and does not mean
To win, the labour movement still needs the ideas of Leon Trotsky

Vladimir Unkovski-Korica argues for the relevance of Trotsky’s notion of the united front in a review of John Kelly’s book Contemporary Trotskyism: Parties, Sects and Social Movements in Britain
Marxists, so-called Marxists, and parliamentary socialists

John Rees tries to distil some sense from recent tabloid exchanges, and looks at the real relationship between Marxism, parliament and Jeremy Corbyn
Neoliberalism and Brexit: why Brexit is about more than just Brexit

Brexit must be viewed through the window of the struggle against neoliberalism, argues Dragan Plavšić
Keep fighting for Corbyn: Stop the attacks - Counterfire freesheet March 2019

The soft coup against Corbyn and the weaponisation of antisemitism, Tory Brexit crisis, Winston Churchill, Venezuela, climate change, Palestine and more in this month's Counterfire Freesheet
The Labour Party in Historical Perspective - book review

The Labour Party in Historical Perspective shows that the Party has historically been revived by left resurgences, of which Corbyn is the latest, finds Graham Kirkwood
Brexit delayed: general election now!

This week’s parliamentary back-and-forth shows the Tories cannot deliver Brexit and a general election is the only sensible outcome, argues Martin Hall
Tony Benn: socialist, comrade, friend

An obituary written at the time of Tony Benn's passing by John Rees on a life well lived
May's Brexit deal is dead: we need a general election now

Theresa May's second catastrophic defeat in Parliament is a masterclass in Tory failure. The only way out is a general election, argues Shabbir Lakha
When Watson and Hodge represent Labour we know we’re in trouble - weekly briefing

Grassroots Momentum needs to re-assert itself to fend off this coup against Jeremy Corbyn, argues Lindsey German
A slow coup against Corbyn has started. We must stand up against it.

A coordinated campaign against Jeremy Corbyn is underway and the left inside and outside the Labour Party must stand against it, argues Chris Nineham
Conspiracy theory: the answer is more left-wing theory not less

Ruling class power can’t be understood as a conspiracy, argues John Rees
Labour and antisemitism: separating facts from fiction

The campaign to destabilise Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership of the Labour Party has accelerated. We must oppose the attacks and defend the left, argues Kara Bryan.
Labour pains: Watson, witch-hunts and what we do next - weekly briefing

Recapturing the Corbyn moment means going beyond the Labour right's fixations with Brexit and antisemitism, argues Lindsey German
Manchester's new councillors and the fight against austerity

How has the first year been for the new wave of Left Labour Councillors? Ben Clay, Councillor for Burnage in Manchester, spoke to Penny Hicks, Convenor of Manchester People’s Assembly
The attack on Chris Williamson is an attack on Corbyn and the left

The decision to suspend Chris Williamson is a capitulation to the right that only gives more ground for attacks on the left, argues Shabbir Lakha
The second referendum delusion

The second referendum announcement on Monday is exactly the kind of concession to the right that Jeremy Corbyn should not make, argues Vladimir Unkovski-Korica
Labour backing a second referendum is a mistake

Labour announcing it will support efforts to push for a second referendum is a mistake, here's why:
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
May delays again, and it’s all about holding the Tories together - weekly briefing

Phony brinksmanship cannot conceal a party hopelessly out of step with the class it strives to represent, argues Lindsey German
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
The strategy and tactics of Labour’s Brexit manoeuvring

Labour must set out its post-Brexit vision firmly, argues Martin Hall
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 left should take note: attack is the best form of defence

When the right is attacking you, going along with it is not the solution, fighting back is, argues Chris Nineham
Chuka's core values: privatisation, austerity and war

What the 7 MPs who quit Labour have in common is their voting records supporting welfare cuts, privatisation and foreign intervention, writes Mona Kamal
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
Good riddance… but the left must face up to this new danger

Good that the splitters have gone, but this is a dangerous moment for the left, argues John Rees
School's out for the Tories – weekly briefing

Students have put politics back on the streets again: this is an object lesson for everyone who wants a better world, argues Lindsey German
Corbynistas! Up your game, or lose the game

Waiting for the Tories to fail is a losing strategy, argues John Rees
Gavin Williamson: delusional and dangerous

Gavin Williamson's latest speech with jingoistic rhetoric and calling for more military spending shows just how out of touch with reality he is, argues Lindsey German
And your enemies closer? - weekly briefing

Red herrings are still being used to conceal real arguments about democratic accountability within the Labour party, argues Lindsey German
Luciana Berger and the plot against Corbyn: this is no time to retreat

From the antisemitism smears to the threats of splitting from the party over Brexit, the PLP are still at war with Labour's leadership, argues Alex Snowdon
What would a ‘Green New Deal’ look like in Britain?

A Green New Deal, now a popular idea in Britain as well as the US, can help to merge environmental struggle with class struggle, argues Jago Corry
Labour’s immigration fudge – pandering to the right doesn’t work

Labour’s failure to oppose the Tory Immigration Bill shows that appeasing the right is always a mistake, argues Shabbir Lakha
Tacking right with a smile. May has her moment.

Theresa May temporarily unites her party by appeasing the hard right Tories and DUP. Whether or not it lasts, we need an alternative plan for Brexit, argues Chris Nineham
Workers from the MoJ and BEIS go on strike and take to the streets

Despite the cold, picket lines outside the Ministry of Justice and Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy were vibrant and defiant, reports Shabbir Lakha
Question Time's attacks on Diane Abbott are part of a pattern

The vile treatment of Diane Abbott on the BBC's Question Time fits a theme of undermining left wing voices and pandering to the right, argues Des Freedman
It’s austerity, stupid

Eyes on the prize that matters most, an end to both the Tory government and austerity, argues John Rees
Tories don’t want May’s deal, but they fear Labour: now’s the time to stand firm – weekly briefing

The logjam shan’t be broken without a fight and the front line for our side is the urgent demand for a general election, argues Lindsey German
No confidence in May, and no confidence in this failing government: a general election is the only option

This government is sustained by class hatred alone. But they are weak and we must keep up the pressure for a general election
This zombie Tory government has go to go, we need a general election

Power concedes nothing without demand, and it's time we demand a general election to get the Tories out
They've got to go! General election now - Counterfire freesheet January 2019

Tory Brexit crisis, the fightback against austerity, Eurovision boycott campaign, Trump and Syria, remembering Rosa Luxemburg, Yellow Vests and protests across Europe in this month's Counterfire Freesheet
Labour members back Corbyn – what the polls actually tell us

Polls don't always tell the truth, but their current interpretation in the media is deliberately hiding it, argues Shabbir Lakha
Our ten most popular articles of 2018

The most popular articles on Counterfire this year
The establishment seems to have forgotten we live in a parliamentary democracy: let's remind them

We must demand a general election to resolve this crisis, argues Chris Nineham
Whether Theresa May wins or loses this no confidence vote, her time is up

There is no clear way out for May, and only one solution for the country - she has got to go
The Tories are incapable of delivering Brexit: we must push them out and do it ourselves

A number of contradictions are causing the Tories to lose grip; Reuben Bard-Rosenberg looks at why they have no clear way of holding on
May's deal is dead: this is what must happen next

Only a general election can break the impasse, and to make it happen we need to get out on the streets and pile the pressure on, argues Martin Hall
Why you should be on the protest that could bring down the government

John Rees on why the coming demonstration on the night of the Brexit vote could be the beginning of the end for the Tory government
5 things a Corbyn government can't do if we stay in the EU

If a Corbyn-led government is bound by the EU's framework, then it will face big obstacles in delivering its socialist policies, argues Richard Pratt
Beyond austerity: what should a radical economic policy look like?

Let’s insist that future Labour policies confront inequality and material deprivation head on, argues Alex Snowdon
Equating fascism with Brexit is disastrous, irresponsible and gives a hand up to Tommy Robinson

Arguments tying opposition to fascism with opposition to Brexit makes out half the country as Tommy Robinson supporters. This is idiotic in the extreme, argues Kevin Ovenden
Excising its credibility: Labour’s dilemma over top rate tax - weekly briefing

Dealing with inequality should be central to a radical socialist project, not something to be sidestepped, argues Cameron Panting
A march more about attacking Labour than challenging the Tories – weekly briefing

The Extreme Centre are never to be trusted especially when they mobilise under the banner of democracy, argues Lindsey German
EU summit: nothing much happens, but the crisis continues

Little progress was made in the Brexit negotiations, and Tory MPs are losing patience with May, finds Martin Hall
We must stop Universal Credit now: it's already wrecking lives

The government has pushed the full roll-out of Universal Credit further down the road, but we must stop it altogether, argues John Rees
The Tories are destroying our schools, we need a socialist education policy

The campaign against school funding cuts has attracted a lot of attention, but a socialist education policy can do much more than solve the funding crisis argues Judy Cox
Brexit breaking point: it May be the end of this government - weekly briefing

The crisis for Theresa May and the Tories continues to deepen, their only lifeline would be a second referendum, argues Lindsey German
Decarbonisation, jobs and justice

As the IPCC report stresses the urgent action needed to tackle climate change, we must challenge the narrative that an ecologically sound economy would be bad for workers
Corbyn and the mainstream media: a case-study in fake news

Since Corbyn was elected leader of the Labour Party, the media attacks have been relentless. T. J Coles, author of new book Real Fake News, examines
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
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
Justice for Palestine: a report from the Labour Party conference

Conference shows strong support among Labour members for the Palestinian cause, reports Terina Hine
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

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