The crew of the Freedom Flotilla boat, Handala, warned Israel to obey international law but are now in captivity, reports LINDA PENTZ GUNTER

THE first weeks of 2018 have brought some significant victories for housing campaigners. Concerted opposition to estate demolitions, privatisation and profiteering have won important battles, if not the war.
There’s also some hope for improving the situation for super-exploited private renters (in the shape of a parliamentary Bill sponsored by Karen Buck MP).
Meanwhile, the scale and urgency of the housing crisis is shaping the argument on the future of the Labour Party and a possible Labour government.

GLYN ROBBINS celebrates how tenant-led campaigning forced the government to drop Pay to Stay, fixed-term tenancies and council home sell-offs under Cameron — but warns that Labour’s faith in private developers will require renewed resistance


