TUC general secretary PAUL NOWAK speaks to the Morning Star’s Berny Torre about the increasing frustration the trade union movement feels at a government that promised change, but has been too slow to bring it about

“LA tua compagna e morta” — your comrade is dead — said Fabio in wind-up mode. Fabio’s vinoteca doubles as a coffee shop until noon and is conveniently situated on the route of my morning passeggiata.
“Quale compagno?” I asked. “Barbara Balzerani,” he said knowing it would get a rise from me.
The novelist Barbara Balzerani died last week, March 4. In her younger years, she was head of the Rome column of the Brigate Rosse (Red Brigades) and was in the team that, on March 16 1978, along with her then-partner Mario Morretti, kidnapped the Christian Democrat president Aldo Moro, killing five police and carabinieri bodyguards in the process.
The Moro affair is, to this day, the subject of much speculation as to the motives of the main actors, the shadowy forces behind each of the protagonists and the role of foreign and domestic intelligence services.

US tariffs have had Von der Leyen bowing in submission, while comments from the former European Central Bank leader call for more European political integration and less individual state sovereignty. All this adds up to more pain and austerity ahead, argues NICK WRIGHT

Starmer sabotaged Labour with his second referendum campaign, mobilising a liberal backlash that sincerely felt progressive ideals were at stake — but the EU was then and is now an entity Britain should have nothing to do with, explains NICK WRIGHT

Deep disillusionment with the Westminster cross-party consensus means rupture with the status quo is on the cards – bringing not only opportunities but also dangers, says NICK WRIGHT

Holding office in local government is a poisoned chalice for a party that bases its electoral appeal around issues where it has no power whatsoever, argues NICK WRIGHT