Britain’s New Enclosure
Less than 1% of the population own half of England’s land, and with every passing year public right of access is diminishing – enclosing swathes of green spaces to be enjoyed by the rich alone.
4334 Articles by:
Billy Anania
Billy Anania is an art critic, editor, and journalist in New York City.
Racism Isn’t a Problem of ‘a Few Bad Individuals’
The racist abuse directed at England players after the Euro final has been written off as the moral failing of a minority – but in reality it is embedded in the structures and institutions of our society.
Ending the UC Uplift Shows that Poverty Is Tory Government Policy
Ending the Universal Credit uplift could force up to 1.2 million people into poverty and increase foodbank usage by 20% – but the Tories are pushing ahead because deprivation sustains Britain’s low-pay economy.
The Tories’ Latest Plan to Wreck the NHS
The Tories’ Health and Care Bill not only provides new opportunities for private firms to decide policy and pick up contracts – it also reduces the local accountability which keeps essential services in place.
The Icelandic Popstars who Brought Palestine to Eurovision
In 2019, performers heading to Israel were told to keep politics out of the Eurovision. A new documentary tells the story of Hatari, the Icelandic band who defied the authorities by flying the Palestinian flag.
The England Team Are the Best of Us
The racist abuse directed at England’s football players since last night’s match is not an anomaly – it’s the consequence of politicians and media outlets demonising them for their efforts to make this country better.
Leave the Billionaires in Space
The space race playing out among billionaires like Branson, Bezos and Musk has little to do with science – it’s a PR-driven spectacle designed to distract us from the disasters capitalism is causing here on Earth.
Black Country Rock
Paul Mendez’s novel ‘Rainbow Milk’ celebrates the accents and voices of the Black Country, following its characters from Jamaica to Dudley to London.
Living to Tell
Paris Lees’ novel, inspired by her upbringing in the East Midlands, is a traumatic and funny story of class mobility, and of the places where the oppressions of class and gender collide.
Batley and Spen Showed How Labour Has Gone Backwards Under Starmer
Labour’s right-wing has treated the razor-thin victory a week ago in Batley and Spen as vindication – but it exposed a stark reality: the party’s problems are even greater now than they were in December 2019.
Steve Turner’s Plan for a Worker-Led Fight Against Climate Change
Steve Turner’s ‘Workers’ Greenprint’ is a bold plan to put workers at the forefront of the fight against climate change – and it shows why he’s the candidate we need as the next general secretary of Unite.
The Myth of the No-Go Zone
In the last decade, right-wing politicians and media outlets have proliferated the idea of ‘no-go zones’ as a way to foment hatred against immigrants – only proving how much of their ideology consists of fantasy.
43. Imperial Nostalgia: An Interview with Peter Mitchell
This week, Grace speaks to writer and historian Peter Mitchell about how the memory of empire manifests in today’s politics, how Labour supports that trend, and how the Left should respond to emotive calls for a return to a better age.
Together in Electric Dreams
A documentary film about the science fiction motif of ‘the world as a hallucination’ reveals something quite different — the tragedy of the means people use to cope with reality.
How a Luton Council Estate Is Taking Control of Its Future
After years of institutional neglect, residents of Marsh Farm in Luton have come together to build a bottom-up model of regeneration – one which puts the community’s interest before private profit.
The Workers’ Wimbledon
Tennis has often been considered an exclusive sport – but in the 1930s, trade unionists came together to challenge the private clubs with their own tournament: the ‘Workers’ Wimbledon.’
The Ethnic Cleansing Theme Park
For decades, Israel has used culture and heritage as a weapon in its war against the Palestinians – but its latest move in Silwan is the most brazen yet: replacing living neighbourhoods with a biblical theme park.
The Film That Fell to Earth
The recently re-released ‘Friendship’s Death’ is an ambitious 1980s Channel 4 film in which left-wing director Peter Wollen brings radical science fiction together with the Palestinian freedom struggle.
How Covid-19 Accelerated the Corporate Takeover of Our Economy
Despite early predictions that the pandemic would be a ‘great leveller,’ it’s increasingly clear that Covid-19 has helped major corporations increase their power – and only worker organising can fight back.
Ashington’s Statue to Jack Charlton: Tribute to a Working-Class Hero
Last week, the campaign for a statue to Jack Charlton in his hometown of Ashington reached its funding goal – with support from trade unions, ex-miners and the local council securing a statue to a working-class hero.