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 great lesson of the last year in British politics and of the general election is that it is an anti-conventional and radical politics that can advance the left.
Labour under Jeremy Corbyn stands out uniquely compared with other European centre-left parties in its electoral gains.
No amount of fashionable talking up of the minority government in Portugal, which was granted a brief respite from EU austerity thanks to last year’s Brexit vote in Britain, alters that.
Starmer sabotaged Labour with his second referendum campaign, mobilising a liberal backlash that sincerely felt progressive ideals were at stake — but the EU was then and is now an entity Britain should have nothing to do with, explains NICK WRIGHT
In the run-up to the Communist Party congress in November ROB GRIFFITHS outlines a few ideas regarding its participation in the elections of May 2026
While Reform poses as a workers’ party, a credible left alternative rooted in working-class communities would expose their sham — and Corbyn’s stature will be crucial to its appeal, argues CHELLEY RYAN



