After years hidden away, Oldham’s memorial to six local volunteers who died fighting fascism in the Spanish civil war has been restored to public view, marking both a victory for campaigners and a renewed tribute to the town’s proud International Brigade heritage, says ROB HARGREAVES
THE 2024 general election is probably the most extraordinary of my lifetime, or certainly at least since the turmoil of the elections in the early 1970s.
That crisis, finally facing up to post-World War II decline, was not at all resolved by Thatcherism (except politically), but was postponed by the inflow of North Sea oil revenues.
I believe we may be in the midst of another tumultuous period, giving rise to a new political settlement. Progressive forces need to intervene strongly to prevent another terrible political outcome.
Every Starmer boast about removing asylum-seekers probably wins Reform another seat while Labour loses more voters to Lib Dems, Greens and nationalists than to the far right — the disaster facing Labour is the leadership’s fault, writes DIANE ABBOTT MP
With Reform UK surging and Labour determined not to offer anything different from the status quo, a clear opportunity opens for the left, argues CLAUDIA WEBBE



