Author: Miles Donavan

‘You must acknowledge equally that your government did not introduce this for 14 years previously’ Sky News’ Wilfred Frost tore apart the shadow home secretary Chris Philp’s claim that Labour had to be dragged into agreeing to a national grooming gang inquiry, and only ‘finally agreed’ after six months.  Frost quickly countered that if Philp criticises Keir Starmer for being “dragged into” the decision six months late, “You must acknowledge equally that your government did not introduce this for 14 years previously.” The shadow home secretary completely ignored the question, claiming that the last government did a lot on grooming…

Despite their recent outrage, neither right-wing leader has previously taken any action on grooming gangs. Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage have been criticised for politicising the grooming gangs inquiry.  Following the publication of Baroness Louise Casey’s audit of grooming gangs, the government yesterday committed to launching a national inquiry.  Responding to the Home Secretary Yvette Cooper’s statement, Badenoch accused the government of “another U-turn” and claimed Keir Starmer’s handling of the grooming scandal was “an extraordinary failure of leadership”.  She also said: “It has been left to the Conservatives to force this issue”, adding that Labour MPs voted against a…

While using taxpayers’ cash for her own expenses, Badenoch has pushed for a smaller state and less spending on everyone else! So much for the Tory mantra of ‘we’re all in this together’ and being the party of ‘sound finances’. It’s been revealed that Tory leader Kemi Badenoch charged taxpayers nearly £3,000 worth of electricity bills for her second home, just months after the last Tory government ended assistance for struggling households. The Mirror reports: “The last government’s Energy Bills Assistance scheme came to an end in June 2023. “But the following February, Ms Badenoch billed taxpayers for more than…

The former Labour and Momentum activist on how the Greens could offer a new political home for the Left. Michael Chessum is a socialist writer and activist based in London. He was a member of Momentum’s first steering committee in 2016-17, and was the national organiser of Another Europe is Possible. He is the author of This Is Only The Beginning: the making of a new left, from anti-austerity to the fall of Corbyn. I was a member of the Labour Party for 13 years. Today, I left to join the Greens. Leaving Labour was not a moral decision, but…

The left-wing Labour MP argues that Labour needs to show it’s on the side of working class people, not millionaires. Nadia Whittome’s voice carries a mixture of exhaustion and determination as she speaks about Labour’s proposed cuts to disability benefits. She doesn’t hide the fact that this isn’t the only policy choice Labour has made in the last 11 months that has disappointed her, but she won’t stand by. On migrant and trans rights, Gaza, the climate crisis and other social justice issues that she passionately believes in, “I’m going to be relentlessly continuing to raise my voice,” the Labour…

‘I told him that the poster was an absolute disgrace and that he should be ‘ashamed of himself’. With Nigel Farage flying high, and his Reform Party looking to capitalise on discontent and political apathy among the electorate, it’s worth reminding readers about Farage’s beliefs and what he really stands for. Farage, who has made clear his views on opposing immigration and multiculturalism has often drawn criticism for his dog-whistles and inflammatory rhetoric. Many will recall the ‘Breaking point’ poster’ during the Brexit campaign, which showed a photograph of Syrian refugees near the Croatia-Slovenia border in 2015, with the caption…

‘This sounds like something that’s either flat-out untrue, or deliberately framed to mislead.’ Zia Yusuf has been asked to provide proof for his questionable claim that councils are using taxpayer money to pay for TV licences for asylum seekers. Yusuf, who is now head of Reform’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), says he has identified an area where Kent County Council is wasting money. In a post on X, he said: “Kent County Council is using taxpayer money to pay for TV licenses for asylum seekers. “Remember that next time you are asked to pay for yours.” Source, please?…

‘How many of the Class of ‘25 will still be in their seats when the 2029 Local Elections roll around? Stay tuned…”’ In the six weeks since the local elections on 1 May, Reform UK has managed to lose nine of its councillors to resignations, suspensions and expulsions. The chaos continued last week, with two councillors stepping down just a month after being elected. It mirrors what is happening in the party at a national level, where Zia Yusuf left the party and rejoined just two days later. The past year has also seen Nigel Farage replace Richard Tice as…

These are the kind of people Reform employs. The mask just keeps slipping when it comes to Reform UK. While the party continues to insist it isn’t far-right, its candidates, members and MPs continue to have their links to the far-right exposed. It’s now been revealed that Reform MP Lee Anderson’s head of office, has posted content in support of far-right thug Tommy Robinson (Stephen Lennon). Anderson, who himself has a history of espousing bigoted and Islamophobic remarks, previously ruled out Robinson joining Reform when asked about it on GB News, saying that his presence in the party would be…

“What on earth has woke got to do with it?” You could be forgiven for thinking this recent headline in the Daily Mail was satire: ‘Fishermen’s fury as ‘disaster’ octopus invasion destroys their catch thanks to woke rule allowing predators to ‘treat them like McDonald’s.’ Yes, the right-wing, Brexit-cheerleading newspaper returned to familiar territory, howling the post-Brexit woes of British fishermen, while finding a new scapegoat in so-called ‘woke’ policy. The piece attempts to pin the plight of Devon fishermen on a supposed ‘woke’ conservation measure. The story is centred on a local bylaw requiring certain crab pots to include “escape holes,”…