Urban Planning for the People
The coronavirus lockdown has seen local community networks come into their own. When it’s over, we need to be careful not to give urban power back to developers and big business.
4361 Articles by:
Billy Anania
Billy Anania is an art critic, editor, and journalist in New York City.
After the Applause
A new campaign from GMB trade union says it’s time to move beyond clapping – and calls on the public to back demands for increased pay for key workers at the frontlines of the pandemic crisis.
Exclusive: Public Supports a New Deal for Britain after Coronavirus
A Survation poll for Unite the union released today shows overwhelming public support for economic changes post-crisis: increased pay for key workers, investment in the NHS, a clampdown on tax avoiders and wealth redistribution.
No Exit Strategy Without Healthcare Workers
The NHS was already in crisis before coronavirus, now research shows 300,000 of its workers want to leave – any end to the lockdown has to put their safety first, and commit to real investment in improving conditions.
The Socialist Politics of Sally Rooney’s ‘Normal People’
Sally Rooney’s ‘Normal People’ is a rich portrayal of life and love in contemporary capitalism. Its radicalism doesn’t lie in flaunting socialist politics, but in making them its common sense.
Adventures in Marxism
Marx’s writing grappled with the experience of life under capitalism – and gave a glimpse into the humanity that is buried beneath centuries of exploitation and oppression.
Why Marx Still Matters
Karl Marx was born on this day in 1818. His work remains as relevant as ever.
Firefighter Deaths Are a Tragedy – But They Are Not Inevitable
On Firefighters’ Memorial Day, we should remember the bravery of firefighters who have died on the job – and commit ourselves to fight for the safety of every worker, argues FBU General Secretary Matt Wrack.
When Bevan Met Tito
Yugoslav partisan and Communist leader Josip Broz Tito died 40 years ago today. We remember his meeting with Nye Bevan in 1951, which earned Bevan the nickname ‘the Tito from Tonypandy.’
How the Media’s Fake Neutrality Undermines Journalism
The pretence of neutrality in the media serves only to disguise the politics that companies represent – and, increasingly, to police the opinions of young journalists who want to hold power to account.
Corporate Welfare Is Not the Exception – It’s the Rule
Government subsidies and bailouts of private companies aren’t exceptional, they are part of the fabric of capitalism – it’s time we used them to serve the public interest.
It’s Time to Tax Big Tech’s Data
Big Tech is the big winner from the coronavirus crisis, raking in record profits. But their revenue comes from data we create collectively – and we should tax it for the public good.
Britain Is Ready for Radical Policies – But the Labour Party Isn’t
Recent polling shows the British public in favour of proposals like a jobs guarantee, basic income and rent controls – but the Labour leadership is failing to propose the economic alternative the moment demands, argues Grace Blakeley.
Borders, Law and Empire
Nadine El-Enany’s (B)Ordering Britain calls for a radical rethinking of immigration and nationality law, through a reckoning with the legacies of colonialism.
How Coronavirus Propped Up Ireland’s Establishment
February’s election rocked Irish politics, with Sinn Féin breaking decades of right-wing duopoly to win the largest share of the vote. But in Ireland, as across the world, coronavirus has stalled the momentum of political opposition.
A Britain Worth Fighting For
As Britain’s official war artist from 1941 to 1945, socialist Abram Games produced iconic propaganda. But his work portrayed the country the troops were fighting for – not the one the Tories wanted them to accept.
After Coronavirus We Need a New Social Contract
The scale of the coronavirus crisis means it’s very unlikely the economy will just return to ‘normal’ – it’s time for the Left to propose new rules for how it should operate, before our opponents do.
In the Shadow of the Beast
A new film featuring Dennis Skinner explores working life in Bolsover after the destruction of its mining industry – and the working-class people fighting to make a living in the zero-hour economy.
Britain’s Coronavirus Wildcat Strikes
On May Day, we explore the wave of wildcat strikes across Britain during the coronavirus pandemic – where workers fed up with their bosses’ negligence have downed tools and walked out.
Rosa Luxemburg on the Meaning of May Day
“As long as the struggle of the workers against the ruling class continues, May Day will be the yearly expression of our demands.” Rosa Luxemburg on the meaning of International Workers’ Day.