With the death of Pope Francis, the world loses not only a church leader but also a moral compass
Starmer’s hollow manifesto rings last gasps of centrism
The Labour leader’s threadbare platform exposes the bankruptcy of liberal orthodoxy, not just here in Britain but as an era that is ending, with the far right waiting in the wings, writes ANDREW MURRAY

TWO THINGS hung over Labour’s manifesto launch in the atrium of the Co-op’s headquarters in Manchester.
The first was groups of employees draping the balconies all around the space where Starmer and his crew were gathered. Four of them, two floors up, seemed to be trying to recreate the iconic cover of the Beatles’ first album.
Down below it was not so much please please me as Starmer’s six baby steps on the long and winding road to nowhere.
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