Compass > direction for the democratic left

Nothing could become Brown like his leaving argues Joan Smith

When I remarked in this column last month that Labour MPs were finally beginning to emerge from denial about the shortcomings of Gordon Brown, I wasn't suggesting they should rush out and commit mass political suicide.

Mullin will be missed � you can�t say that for all of them says Paul Anderson

So, farewell then, Chris Mullin, Labour MP for Sunderland South, as Private Eye's resident poet EJ Thribb would have it (although only if Mullin had died - which, of course, he hasn't).

Airport expansion is Plane Stupid says Katrina Forrester

Expansion at Heathrow does not only fly in the face of the scientific imperative that we reduce our emissions. It also makes a farce of the democratic process on which we traditionally rely.

Child poverty targets at risk says George Moody

Labour's 1999 pledge to halve child poverty by 2010 and eliminate it by 2020 marked a clear commitment to a fairer and more equal society.

Debate a fairer more equal Britain

Debate a fairer more equal Britain at this year's Compass National and Robin Cook Memorial conference. Born Free & Equal takes place on Saturday 14 June held in association with Unite, The Guardian and New Statesman and will ask the question: How do we deliver equality in the 21st century? Speakers include Ed Miliband, Douglas Alexander, Beatrix Campbell, Danny Dorling, Derek Simpson, Melissa Benn, Kate Green, Deborah Littman, Polly Toynbee, Jon Cruddas, Neal Lawson, Jon Trickett, Ruth Lister with more to be confirmed.

It's time to forge a new collectivism says Neal Lawson

One week on from the carnage of the local and London elections, and with Labour still in polling freefall (witness The Sun putting the party 26 points behind) how is the centre-left to make sense of what has happened to Gordon Brown and New Labour?

Gerry Hassan writes on the unravelling of Labour Britain

Last week's events could not have been made up in theatre or fiction. Within days of Labour's humiliation in the local elections it has become engulfed in a storm of controversy and confusion about the union.

Asbos are a dying breed. But what seems to be replacing them is more concerning explains Zoe Gannon

Much like the 1980s saw the birth of the concept of "mugging"; the Blair years defined a new criminal activity: anti-social behaviour. This amorphous entity covers everything from high-hedges to noise to the possession of firm-arms.

Labour must fight Cameron for progressive tag argues Neal Lawson

David Cameron's pitch for the progressive ground of politics is a huge challenge to the centre-left. It is both threat and opportunity. The threat comes from the fact that he might be believed. Given that New Labour has never trumpeted its redistribution to the poor no one feels good about it.

Change overrides all says Jon Trickett

On May 1st, 2008 the Labour Government was given a stark and serious ultimatum - change or cease to exist. The numbers by now are familiar: a Labour loss of 331 councillors, a Tory gain of 256, a 12-council gain for the Tories, a nine-council loss for Labour, the Cameron Conservatives now holding over three times as many councils as Brown's Labour.