Mark Perryman provides a seasonal round-up of the best books to cheer up the radical spirit. From #chaoticbrexit to the triumph of Trump via the summertime Labour coup. 2016 will…
15 Dec, 2016
12 Dec, 2016
To combat right-wing populism, we need to reclaim human rights.
Human rights are central to understanding – and arresting – the rise in right-wing populism. Farage, Trump, Le Pen and their fellow travellers gain strength from the poverty, inequality and…
09 Dec, 2016
Sleaford, Tonbridge and Telford: trials and tribulations of a progressive alliance
A string of by-elections on Thursday demonstrate the potential and the pitfalls of a progressive alliance across the UK. The clearest conclusion is that this is complex. Richmond is miles…
03 Dec, 2016
All that suffering. For what?
I cannot have been alone in my reaction to last week's Autumn Budget announcements from Philip Hammond in which the government promises that underpinned the austerity agenda for the last six…
02 Dec, 2016
The Richmond Revolution and its Repercussions
I want to address two issues: to review the Richmond Park “revolution”, its implications and the lessons learned; and secondly to offer practical help to Labour CLPs to enable them…
02 Dec, 2016
The New Politics Won Today
Politics has been grim for a long time. But today we woke up with a smile. The Tories, UKIP and the candidate they backed in Richmond Park were defeated. He…
25 Nov, 2016
Why the Left keeps losing when it should be winning and what to do about it
The Right (yet again) takes advantage of the crisis The Left is in retreat or unable to break through. And there is more to come. These reversals have taken place…
18 Nov, 2016
The case for a Progressive Alliance in Richmond
Christian Wolmar is standing as Labour candidate for Richmond in the December 1 by-election caused by Zac Goldsmith’s resignation. This may be a worthy cause. But please, Mr Wolmar, please,…
11 Nov, 2016
A Poppy for our Thoughts
Ahead of the England vs Scotland game Mark Perryman responds to FIFA’s Poppies ban The last time England played Scotland in a competitive match at Hampden Park was also in…
10 Nov, 2016
The Political Party: When Politics Are Depoliticizing
So long as we operate on the premise of an abstract and immanentist national unity, political parties and the false economies upon which they operate will thrive. It is finally…
09 Nov, 2016
After yet another grim night…
When will we ever learn? Brexit, as terrible as it was, was not the wake up call to the progressive sentiment. Now we have Brexit x10. The victory of Donald…
08 Nov, 2016
Summary of ‘the Context for a World Without Poverty’
‘The context for a World Without Poverty’ is a paper that is part of a series for a project that the Webb Memorial Trust (WMT) and Compass conduct together to…