There have been penalties for those who looked the other way when Epstein was convicted of child sex offences and decided to maintain relationships with the financier — but not for the British ambassador to Washington, reveals SOLOMON HUGHES
Clap for key workers? Try letting them stand up for themselves
MATT WRACK isn't impressed with government double standards over front-line workers
Labour’s new Treasury unit will ‘challenge unnecessary regulation’ by forcing nominally independent bodies like Ofwat to bend to business demands — exactly what Iain Anderson’s corporate clients wanted, writes SOLOMON HUGHES
DR DYLAN MURPHY looks at a Big Brother Watch report which exposes the government as an enabler of DWP secret spying on benefit claimants
The EU faces a critical choice: will it remain in the shadow of an increasingly unreliable US ally, or will it forge its own path in a multilateral world where co-operation with China is essential, asks MARC VANDEPITTE as leaders meet for the EU-China Summit
A lot of discussion about how the left should currently organise – including debate on whether the Green Party is a useful vehicle for advance – runs the risk of refusing to engage with or learn from the reasons the left was defeated previously, argues KEVIN OVENDEN
For Egypt trade trumps the Israeli genocide of the Palestinians, but how long can the country’s ‘misleaders’ – and others in the region – continue their indifference against the popular will of their own people, asks ROGER McKENZIE
It has become a weekly ritual – each Thursday, all those stuck in their homes come out to applaud the key workers pulling us through this crisis. The NHS staff, carers, firefighters, postal workers, cleaners, supermarket workers and delivery drivers are apparently being recognised – even by government ministers - as crucial to the functioning of society.
But this crisis has also exposed many of the injustices in workplaces in Britain and abroad. With bosses forcing staff to work in unsafe conditions during a global pandemic, the level of bullying and exploitation in many workplaces is clear to see. The UK has some the most restrictive trade union laws in Europe – and it is workers who feel the consequences.
In the last few weeks many of you will have seen the horrifying footage of Sean Madden, a boss at food supplier Bakkavor, telling workers that those who take time off sick during the Covid-19 crisis would be top of the list for future redundancies – all while the company could not guarantee basic safety measures such as social distancing or adequate PPE.
More from this author
In a speech to the party conference, outgoing TUC president MATT WRACK celebrates Labour’s return to power, arguing the movement must now push for a radical shift in Britain’s power balance away from the billionaire class
MATT WRACK outlines the FBU’s motion to the Labour Party conference, urging an overhaul of safety regulations, an end to privatisation, and preparation for the extreme weather events threatening public safety
Despite the damning report, cladding fires continue to threaten lives, and justice has not been done. MATT WRACK demands a radical overhaul of building safety regulations and public ownership of the inspection system
While workers must organise to push Starmer beyond his timid manifesto pledges, the scrapping of anti-strike laws and restoration of public services promised means we must vote Labour, argues MATT WRACK
