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
THERE were many memorable moments of the great miners’ strike of 1984-85. One of them I seem to recall (I am sure a reader or two will correct me) is Ron Todd, leader of what was the Transport and General Workers’ Union, trying to speak from the floor in the debate on the strike at the Labour Party conference.
But the chair was initially refusing to call him until the outcry from the conference forced him to change his mind.
Before that happened, a friend turned to me and said: “This is bloody ridiculous. He pays for the thing,” or more industrial words to that effect.
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
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
DIANE ABBOTT MP argues that Labour’s proposals contained in the recent white paper won’t actually bring down immigration numbers or win support from Reform voters — but they will succeed in making politics more nasty and poisonous



