VIJAY PRASHAD looks at the web of militias and drug-trafficking gangs that emerged in the Sweida region through the Syrian civil war, and how they relate to recent clashes and Israel’s intervention
Latest editorial
Two jobs or not two jobs? That is the question
Keir Starmer seemed to be hammering the Tories for once over the Owen Paterson scandal — but on closer inspection his limited proposals would have little effect on moonlighting MPs, explains SOLOMON HUGHES
Owen Paterson, who has now resigned after the government's bid to shield him from the consequences of paid lobbying failed
by Roger D Harris and John Perry
VINCE MILLS says Scottish Labour has adopted better positions than its Westminster counterpart — but unless it starts to fight for them that will count for nothing
Labour MSP CAROL MOCHAN calls for Britain to follow France’s lead and recognise the Palestinian state as part of efforts to end this war
A Chilean court ruled that funds were illegally taken by the dictator to accumulate family wealth that is now disputed among his heirs, writes PABLO MERIGUET
The shock suspension of socialist MPs and Diane Abbott’s re-suspension reveals a leadership intent on crushing internal debate — but MERCEDES VILLALBA MSP warns against surrendering party democracy without a fight
EVERYBODY is happier seeing Labour being much more muscular than usual when challenging Tory attempts to tear up anti-corruption rules to protect Owen Paterson and give more Tory MPs the chance to take £100,000 salaries to moonlight as corporate lobbyists.
Actually opposing the Tories on a popular point of principle might even help Labour recover in the polls. But there is one weakness.
Labour’s 2019 manifesto policy was simple and firm: “We will stop MPs from taking paid second jobs.” This would stop Paterson-style corruption in its tracks. It’s easily understood: MPs should not be moonlighting for corporations, they should work for their voters — not for their £100,000 employers on the side.
More from this author
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
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
US General Stanley McChrystal has been invited to advise on creating a ‘team of teams’ for healthcare transformation. His credentials? He previously ran interrogation bases where Iraqis were stripped naked and beaten, reports SOLOMON HUGHES
