All the evidence shows voters want Labour to shift to the left — but initial signs from Andy Burnham are worrying on that front, cautions DIANE ABBOTT
THE news of Tony Blair’s knighthood felt like a classic case of “shocking but not surprising.” It is indeed shocking that a man who led Britain into a war unleashing nearly 20 years of death and destruction across the Middle East has not only faced little in the way of consequences, but has been honoured with Establishment pageantry.
At the same time, it is unsurprising that the British state sees involvement in mass slaughter as no barrier to hero status, or that a former leader of the party of organised labour is happy to embrace the archaic traditions of the monarchy.
While the Queen formally awards these honours, her function in practice is to nod through the list recommended by the Cabinet Office.
ADRIAN WEIR charts the intercontinental trade union solidarity with Cuba and its desperate predicament
DIANE ABBOTT exposes Keir Starmer's doublespeak on Britain’s involvement in the Iran war but takes heart from the growing organisation of the opposition to it
Your Party can become an antidote to Reform UK – but only by rooting itself in communities up and down the country, says CLAUDIA WEBBE
STEPHEN ARNELL wonders at the family resemblance between former prince Andrew and his great-uncle ‘Dickie’


