Friday, May 24, 2024

 A collage picture of Jeremy Corbyn and Grace Blakeley with Blakeley's book, Vulture Capitalism, between them.

‘Let’s challenge the false economic narratives’ – Grace Blakeley & Jeremy Corbyn

You have a very powerful collective organisation at the top of society and then an isolated, atomised mass of people everywhere else… The alternative is to say lets get together and do this ourselves – let’s join in and participate in political movements.
Grace Blakeley

Ben Hayes reports from the latest Arise Festival event ‘Jeremy Corbyn and Grace Blakeley in Conversation’ held to celebrate the launch of Grace’s new book: Vulture Capitalism – Corporate Crimes, Backdoor Bailouts and the Death of Freedom.

Over 2,500 people joined an online forum hosted by Arise: A Festival of Left Ideas between economist Grace Blakeley and MP for Islington North Jeremy Corbyn to discuss her book Vulture Capitalism: Corporate Crimes, Backdoor Bailouts, and the Death of Freedom. Introduced by Arise’s Matt Willgress, attendees to the event reported tuning in from 57 different constituencies and 9 countries across the world.

Blakeley outlined how she sought to ‘challenge some of the biggest false narratives around economics’ with the book, including that socialism is purely defined by large state involvement in the economy and that capitalism can fundamentally be relied upon to deliver freedom. Emphasising the importance of analysing whose interests the state serves to understanding an economy, she pointed to an example of multinational corporation in aerospace manufacturer Boeing, arguing that its ties to the US government and military illustrated how many of those who profit the most from the American economy receive significant help along the way. Blakeley also reflected on the role of culture in maintaining the existing system- pointing out that whilst those in power keep it “through cooperation and class solidarity”, whilst promoting “individualism and division” to the majority- and called for an alternative base of pressure to be built up representing their interests.

Corbyn echoed this critique of the US economy’s relationship to the concept of freedom, and pointed to a domestic example of the post-privatisation water industry as an example of a “toxic” link between the government and large private firms. Praising Vulture Capitalism for “calling into question many of the common economic assumptions”, he called for socialists to build greater clarity on the model that they are seeking to develop. Corbyn also shared the emphasis on the role of culture in both maintaining and changing existing orders, highlighting the potential role of the trade union movement and its profile in wider society to “help build a world of solidarity” instead of “worshipping individual wealth and sharp elbows”.

Questions raised by those watching online covered topics including the government’s promotion of Freeports and Special Economic Zones, the economic policy of a likely Labour government, how the left can get its arguments out in the media, building participation in mass organisations, the 1976 Lucas Plan, international co-operation, democratic reforms, and building a culture of unity.

Blakeley argued that the creation of Freeports and Special Economic Zones illustrated how freedom for capital is prioritised above all else, and also emphasised the importance of understanding imperialism to any serious economic analysis. Calling for the left to throw itself into institutions based on collective interests, she warned that without a movement for positive change rooted in communities the growth of reactionary politics was likely.

Corbyn slammed Freeports as “being based on the illusion of development when in reality they represent an abdication of responsibility”, and called for “a message based on hope”- reflecting on how during his time as Leader of the Labour Party he aimed to make it a “community-based force”. Noting the successes of the social movement model of Brazilian trade unionism in defeating the Bolsonaro government, he raised the possibility of calling ‘People’s Forums’ in developing a sense of shared interest and participation. After commending Blakeley’s book for “giving us a greater understanding of the situation”, he concluded by stating that it was “our job to turn it around”. You can watch the full event below.




  • You can watch the full event on YouTube here or listen back on the Arise Festival podcast here.
  • You can buy Grace Blakeley’s book, Vulture Capitalism, here.
Here is how the next UK Government can end the need for food banks

'We urge all political parties to embrace these priorities and commit to a future where everyone has the security for the essentials'



Opinion
23 May, 2024 
Helen Barnard is Director of Policy, Research and Impact at The Trussell Trust

Now that an election has been called, every party should set out its plan to end the need for food banks in the UK and start to reverse the appalling rises in severe hardship and destitution. The public will judge the next government on whether it succeeds in reversing this tide.

Currently 79% of the UK public agree that poverty in the UK is a big problem, and 74% believe that it is the UK government’s responsibility to change this.

In the past year, food banks in the Trussell Trust network distributed more than 3.1 million emergency food parcels – the highest number in our history. This includes more than 1.1 million parcels for children and is almost double the number of parcels distributed five years ago.

These numbers are extremely shocking, and the message is clear, this cannot be allowed to continue. The food banks in our network do an incredible job supporting people facing hardship in their communities, but they are reaching breaking point.

We live in one of the wealthiest countries in the world and yet people who need the most support are being left to struggle on incomes so low they can’t even afford the essentials we all need to survive. This is having devastating consequences on our society, damaging our health, harming the prospects of young people, and holding back our economy. An economy does not thrive while the people who have the least are trapped in poverty and are forced to turn to charities, rather than receiving support from the very systems that were designed to protect them from harm.

We know what’s needed to end the need for food banks, and we know that it is achievable but decisive action is needed. That’s why we launched our manifesto which sets out our priorities for the next UK Government and the actions we urge all political parties to support in order to build a more hopeful future.

The increase in the level of need seen by food banks is largely driven by the fact that people simply don’t have enough money to afford food and other essential living costs. Our social security system is supposed to be there for us when times are tough, but it is currently failing in its most basic duty: to protect people from going without essentials. It is unacceptable that, last year, four in ten families receiving Universal Credit faced hunger, and one in five have been forced to turn to a food bank for help. It is a failing of our society that anyone should be forced to use a food bank because they can’t afford food, clothing, heating or other essentials.

Ensuring the UK’s social security system is fit for purpose and provides enough support for people to afford the essentials is critical for building a future without the need for food banks. We are calling for an Essentials Guarantee, which would embed in legislation the principle that Universal Credit should protect people from going without essentials. Deductions from benefits for debt or caps to benefits for some families should never take their income below this level.

We also need to ensure everyone can get the right support at the right time, to prevent tough times turning into crises and spiralling into longer lasting hardship. When people are unable to access support, their health, employment, and relationships suffer. Our research indicates that people referred to our food banks have often exhausted support networks such as family and friends, or do not have these support networks to turn to at all.

Too many reach a food bank without having received advice or help which could have prevented their situation deteriorating. That’s why we need a long-term approach to local crisis support that prioritises cash grants, money advice and preventative support services. This is particularly urgent given the funding crisis facing so many councils and the end of the Household Support Fund in September this year.

We are also calling for a UK financial inclusion strategy that prioritises people in need by ensuring people on low incomes can access the advice and support they need on money matters, including social security eligibility and debt, and have access to affordable credit to prevent people being pulled further into hardship through unaffordable debt.

Crucially, people should also be supported in a way that reflects the reality of their lives. Parents, carers, and disabled people are disproportionately likely to need the support of food banks. In fact, the majority (69%) of people referred to food banks in the Trussell Trust network are disabled. Therefore, we need swift and accurate decisions about disability social security support for all applicants. In addition, we need to see an overhauled employment support offer, including a rapid expansion of voluntary, specialist employment support, integrated with mental health provision and work with employers to open up more flexible, secure jobs for disabled people and carers.

Finally, everyone should have the security we all need to access opportunities and have hope for the future. Preventing people ever needing to turn to a food bank requires embedding security across people’s lives – in their finances, work and housing. However, the prevalence of insecure, part-time, and poorly paid work, combined with unaffordable and unsafe housing, has created an extremely precarious situation for people.

We can turn this around by embedding new workers’ rights legislation to ensure rights to job security, predictable working hours and flexible working. Alongside this, we’re calling for the investment in building 90,000 new social homes every year in England, to provide the dignity of a safe, secure, and affordable place to live.

These solutions are well within our reach, but we need every part of our society to work in partnership to drive this change – civil society, employers, businesses and all levels of government acting together with people who’ve needed a food bank, individuals and communities. We urge all political parties to embrace these priorities and commit to a future where everyone has the security for the essentials, so we can end the need for food banks for good.

(Photo credit: Jess Hurd)
Nigel Farage will not stand in general election, to focus instead on US contest

The former UKIP leader confirms he will not stand as an election candidate, avoiding another humiliating defeat

“He’s off to help Donald Trump. Proper British values. What a patriot.”




Nigel Farage has confirmed he will not stand as an election candidate in the UK general election, having previously hinted at making a political comeback.

The former UKIP has stood unsuccessfully for election seven times, in five general elections and two by-elections, so he may have cut his losses to avoid another humiliating defeat.

In a letter posted on his X account this morning, the honorary president of Reform UK said he had thought “long and hard” about whether to stand but concluded that now was “not the right time”, as he announced he intends to help Donald Trump with his re-election bid.

There was much speculation about whether Farage would return to frontline politics and run for the Reform UK party after hopes that his exposure from appearing on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! might help him.

Previous rumours also hinted he was considering joining the Tory Party, much to the delight of Tory MPs like Jacob Rees-Mogg. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had suggested that he would be welcomed in the ‘broach church’ of the Conservative Party.

But Farage has been a vocal supporter of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, who he has repeatedly praised and interviewed on his GB News show in March.

Writing on X, Farage said: “I have thought long and hard as to whether I should stand in the upcoming general election. As honorary president of Reform UK, I am fully supportive of Richard Tice’s leadership and urge voters to put their trust in him and Lee Anderson. I will do my bit to help in the campaign, but it is not the right time for me to go any further than that.

“Important though the general election is, the contest in the United States of America on November 5 has huge global significance. A strong America as a close ally is vital for our peace and security. I intend to help with the grassroots campaign in the USA in any way that I can. The choice between Labour and the Conservatives is uninspiring, and only Reform have the radical agenda that is needed to end decline in this country.”

Reacting to news of Farage not standing in the upcoming election, one social media user wrote: “Obvious Nigel Farage wouldn’t stand in the forthcoming General Election.

“He’s failed multiple times to be elected so why would he risk the wave he has been riding recently to be humiliated again?

“He’s off to help Donald Trump. Proper British values. What a patriot.”

THE GUARDIAN 2016 QUOTE



UK
Net Zero Minister gets rinsed for attempt to justify Rishi Sunak’s private jet use

'The wealthy don’t have a carbon footprint.'
 Who knew!

Yesterday

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Claire Coutinho, the Minister for Energy and Net Zero, has been rinsed after attempting to justify Rishi Sunak’s penchant for private jets.

In an interview with Sky News, the Tory MP was asked by presenter Anna Jones whether it was a “good look” that the Prime Minister was travelling around the country for short campaign stops on a private jet.

Coutinho dismissed the concern and claimed it was important for “democracy” that Sunak speak to as many people as possible, while downplaying the impact of private jets on the environment.

The Energy Secretary said: “We need to make sure that we are speaking to people in the country, this is a democracy, I think it’s right that the Prime Minister goes and talks to people as much as possible.”

She then claimed that taking a private jet is, “not going to make a massive difference when it comes to carbon emissions, let’s be serious.”

A private jet flight causes 10 times more CO2 emissions than a regular flight per flight per person, and 50 times more than the average train ride, according to Greenpeace. Environmental campaigners argue that private jets epitomise social and climate injustice, as just 1 percent of the global population is responsible for half of the world’s aviation emissions.

The multi-millionaire Prime Minister has used private jets more than anyone else in Downing Street, racking up £50,000 worth of private jet trips in less than a fortnight in 2022, leading to accusations that he is out of touch and unable to lead of green policy.

One X user said: “So there we have it @ClaireCoutinho the minister for net zero confirms that everyone can do whatever they want because they personally are only a small percentage of the whole. To the bitter end they defend the indefensible. This proves their commitments are a joke.”

Another wrote: “The wealthy don’t have a carbon footprint. Who knew.”

(Image credit: Sky News screenshot)


Hannah Davenport is news reporter at Left Foot Forward
Jeremy Corbyn expelled from Labour after declaring he will stand as independent
Senior Political Correspondent24 May 2024
Jeremy Corbyn to stand as an independent at general election


Yesterday
Left Foot Forward

The former Labour leader has sat in the Islington North seat for over 40 years



Jeremy Corbyn has announced he will run as an independent candidate in Islington North at the general election.

Corbyn has sat in the seat since 1983, most of which was spent as a Labour MP until he had the whip suspended in 2020 over his response to the equalities regulator report into antisemitism in the party. He has therefore sat as an independent since.

He broke the news that he will stand as an independent in an article for the Islington Tribune in which he wrote, “when I was first elected, I made a promise to stand by my constituents no matter what.”

In his campaign video, the former Labour leader said he would be an “independent voice for equality, democracy and peace” as he called for “fundamental change” and warned the country “has become more divided than ever”.

He called for a “redistribution of power and wealth”, and for public ownership of the water, mail and energy industries. Laying out his campaign demands and values he listed; a more equal society, housing justice, a fully-public, fully-funded NHS and for an “alternative to endless war”.

Labour’s shortlist for candidates in North Islington were confirmed this week as Hackney councillor Sem Moema and Islington councillor Praful Nargund.

Moema has served as a councillor in Hackney for over eight years and she is a Mayoral Advisor for the Private Rented Sector and Affordability. Nargund is an entrepreneur and campaigner, he works as Chief Executive of abc ivf, a chain of 15 clinics founded by his mother Geeta.

The winner of Labour’s selection process will be announced on June 1.

(Image credit: Flickr / Creative Commons)

Hannah Davenport is news reporter at Left Foot Forward

Jeremy Corbyn will run as an independent in Islington North

 

MAY 24,2024

As the Labour apparatus imposes a shortlist of just two candidates in Islington North, with zero consultation with the local constituency party, Jeremy Corbyn has announced he will fight to retain his seat as an independent.

Kate Dove, Momentum Chair said: “This is an almighty mess for Labour and Keir Starmer alone bears responsibility.

“Jeremy Corbyn has loyally served the people of Islington North as their Labour MP for over 40 years. He wanted to run again as the Labour candidate and the local party backed him too. But Starmer and his Westminster clique again denied local people the chance to choose their own candidate and blocked Jeremy. Starmer has treated the people of Islington with contempt, setting the stage for a divisive and distracting election campaign.

“We urge the Labour Leadership not to repeat this damaging debacle in Hackney with Diane Abbott. Britain’s first black woman MP, who Keir Starmer rightly called a ‘trailblazer’, deserves to run as the Labour candidate, as local members voted.

“Jeremy’s leadership brought positions like public ownership, fairer taxation and opposition to war and austerity back to the mainstream, policies which are more urgent and popular than ever. He turned Labour into a mass membership party once again. In response he was subjected to the most vicious, relentless, and dishonest campaign of character assassination in modern British political history, which he has faced with dignity and decency.

“But where Starmer once decried how the media ‘vilified’ his ‘friend’ and promised to build on his legacy, he has done the exact opposite. Starmer’s attacks on Jeremy were never just about one man – they were about driving out the socialist politics he represented, in favour of elite interests.  We will not allow Labour’s founding socialist values to be driven out of the party. Momentum will continue to stand up for real Labour values within the party, while campaigning for socialist and trade unionist Labour candidates in the coming election.”

As some on the right of the Party try to falsify history by claiming Jeremy Corbyn was blocked from being a Labour candidate because of “anti-Semitism”, it’s worth recalling that the motion Keir Starmer got passed at the National Executive Committee last year did not mention the issue.

Many socialists will feel highly conflicted about this turn of events. Supporters of Jeremy Corbyn are calling for volunteers to sign up in large numbers to back his campaign.

Momentum are warning, however, that Party activists should be aware that Labour officials are likely to seek the expulsion of members who advocate support for Jeremy – even retweets, reposts or likes on a post.

A spokesperson said: “Momentum won’t let Labour’s founding socialist values be driven out of our Party. We will stay in Labour, the political home of the trade union movement, and keep fighting for real Labour values and a democratic party.

Labour Hub – http://www.threads.net/@labour_hub

Corbyn and Webbe run as independents as Starmer grilled on Abbott suspension


© Alexandros Michailidis/Shutterstock.com

Jeremy Corbyn will run as an independent candidate at the general election, the former party leader has confirmed, with Labour moving quickly to expel him.

Labour leader Keir Starmer said Corbyn’s announcement was a “decision for him”, but told the BBC the party would have an “excellent candidate” and the choice in Islington North and elsewhere was Tory chaos and division or “turning the page” with Labour.

Meanwhile another once-Labour, now-independent MP Claudia Webbe also confirmed on Friday she would stand as an independent in Leicester East.

A Labour source told LabourList “we’re focused on returning as many Labour MPs as possible” after Corbyn’s announcement.

LabourList understands Corbyn is no longer a member of the party, with Labour rules stating members can’t run for rival parties. Corbyn was blocked from standing for Labour last year.

READ MORE: Labour picks two councillors for Islington North shortlist

It comes just after the Labour party shortlisted two candidates to run for the party in the north London seat, north London councillors Praful Nagrund and Sem Moema.

Journalist and activist Paul Mason also stood, but did not make the shortlist. The selection will be wrapped up within the next few days.

 

It comes as pressure grows on Starmer to restore the whip to Diane Abbott, suspended last year for suggesting Irish people, Jews and Travellers do not experience racism all their lives.

Her long suspension has faced criticism even from some of her critics who do not share the veteran left-winger’s politics, and Starmer faced questions in broadcast interviews on Friday about whether she would stand as a Labour candidate – and why she was excluded while Natalie Elphicke was in the party.

Starmer said the disciplinary process was independent, but that it should be wrapped up very soon given deadlines for confirming electoral candidates.

Kate Dove, co-chair of Momentum, the Labour left campaign group launched to support Corbyn before and when he led the party, said: “Starmer and his Westminster clique again denied local people the chance to choose their own candidate and blocked Jeremy. Starmer has treated the people of Islington with contempt, setting the stage for a divisive and distracting election campaign.

“We urge the Labour Leadership not to repeat this damaging debacle in Hackney with Diane Abbott. Britain’s first black woman MP, who Keir Starmer rightly called a ‘trailblazer’, deserves to run as the Labour candidate, as local members voted.”

Meet Labour Islington North candidate fighting Corbyn as NEC denies CLP vote


© Twitter/@jeremycorbyn


Labour has confirmed Praful Nargund will stand as its candidate in Islington North, just hours after Jeremy Corbyn announced he will run as an independent in the constituency.

The announcement by London Labour comes in spite of a ballot of members originally being planned over the next week, choosing between Nargund and another candidate, Hackney councillor and London Assembly Member Sem Moema.

LabourList understands the National Executive Committee stepped in to accelerate the process though with the election weeks away, and selected Nargund over Moema.

Moema said: “Congratulations  – you will be a fantastic Labour MP for Islington North, and I can’t wait to join you on the doorstep to help get you elected!”

The NEC decision to deprive members of a vote is likely to be controversial, with anger among Corbyn’s supporters in the CLP already that he is not on the ballot.

READ MORE: Watch as Jeremy Corbyn launches independent campaign

The Islington councillor will face a tough campaign against the veteran former party leader in the north London seat he has held for four decades.

Nargund had been widely seen as a likely contender in the lead-up to the selection. He describes himself on his website as an “entrepreneur and campaigner”, who has spent a decade “using innovation to tackle inequalities in fertility treatment.”

He is on Islington council’s health, wellbeing and adult social care scrutiny committee, and his website says he has campaigned on issues including skills, home insulation and fuel poverty.

Praful Nagrund

His website states too that he grew up “in an NHS family”.

Nargund has remained tight-lipped during the campaign so far in recent days, however.

“Hellooo, is Praful there? It’s total silence from the Labour hopeful eyeing up seat,” ran the headline in local paper the Islington Tribune this morning.

Nargund has not responded to LabourList requests for comment previously about his campaign, either.


Islington North: Two councillors make shortlist as Paul Mason misses out


© Alexandros Michailidis/Shutterstock.com

Labour’s shortlist for its candidate in Jeremy Corbyn’s seat of Islington North has been announced, with two London councillors still in the running to be selected while journalist Paul Mason has missed out.

The shortlist of two was confirmed as London Assembly member and Hackney councillor Sem Moema and Islington councillor Praful Nargund, as Labour looks to get candidates in place in its unfilled seats following Rishi Sunak’s surprise announcement of a general election on July 4th.

Mason – who has stood for selection as a Labour candidate on a number of occasions in this election cycle – confirmed in a post on X this morning that he had not made the shortlist and thanked those who had backed his campaign.

The former BBC and Channel 4 journalist wrote: “It’s vital that we get out the vote [for] the selected candidate, and keep Islington North red!”

The selection process has attracted criticism from within the party over Corbyn’s exclusion and central party control over the process, with MPs on the left of the party including John McDonnell, Mick Whitley and Beth Winter saying members should be able to choose, with the former party leader on the ballot.

The local Constituency Labour Party’s (CLP) officers also called for “local democracy [to] be respected” and the local party to be allowed to choose its candidate “from amongst any Labour Party member in good standing”.

Corbyn remains a member of the party but has had the party whip suspended since October 2020 following his response to a report into allegations of antisemitism in the Labour Party. The party’s governing national executive committee (NEC) last year voted to block him standing as a Labour candidate at the coming election.

Islington North CLP’s general committee almost unanimously passed a motion in support of Corbyn and its “democratic right” to choose its candidate shortly after the NEC barred him.

Corbyn has not made his intentions explicitly clear about whether he will stand as an independent. But he said last year after members passed the motion backing him: “I have spent the past 40 years campaigning alongside my community for a mass redistribution of wealth, ownership and power. That is what I’ll continue to do.”

He then told The Observer“40 years ago, I made a promise to my constituents that I would always stand up for democracy and justice on their behalf. In Islington North, we keep our promises.”

ITV News’ political editor Robert Peston said in a post on X today that he ‘understands’ the former Labour leader will confirm today that he will be standing as an independent candidate.

Moema was reelected as the London Assembly member for the North East earlier this month, with her constituency covering the areas of Hackney, Islington and Waltham Forest. She also currently serves as a councillor on Hackney council, representing Hackney Downs ward.

Nargund has been a councillor in Islington since 2022, representing Barnsbury ward. He is the founder and director of Create Impact Ventures, an early-stage investor.

The Labour candidate is expected to be in place by June 1st. The head of one Labour affiliate told LabourList before the shortlisted names were confirmed: “The party has a real duty of care to candidates it puts on that shortlist.

“The campaign will be utterly toxic and there will be a real half life to that, following the general election even if we win, with a big effort to rebuild the local party. I wouldn’t want to see a friend go through that campaign.”