LAST month, Red Pepper magazine announced its final print copy. To anyone committed to left-wing journalism, independent media, getting out news from the movements, here and internationally, then this is a blow. There is little enough media on our side — and we can’t afford to lose any of it. 

So I want to pay tribute to Red Pepper’s founding editor, Hilary Wainwright, and her talented editorial teams, that produced Red Pepper for over 30 years. I didn’t always agree with the articles, but really, so what? Who doesn’t want debate and discussion, and Red Pepper was always well-informed, principled and well-written. 

When it was founded, explicitly as a left publication independent of the Labour Party, it had real appeal. I always appreciated its coverage of the left in Europe, its commitment to the World Social Forum process, its informed writings on defence diversification, and its support for the cause of peace.