As the biggest fare increase in half a decade came into force this week, the TUC has found that UK commuters spend up to 5 times as much of their salary on rail fares as other Europeans. Fares…Read more…
Fat Cat Day – Ladbrokes special
Today is Fat Cat Day, the day on which the High Pay Centre calculates that the average FTSE100 CEO has “earned” as much as someone on average earnings gets in a year.
As we’re focused on exec pay, I thought I’d contribute an update to a blog I wrote …Read more…
It’s odd what Liam Fox thinks should and shouldn’t be ruled out…
Yesterday, on a trip to China, the UK’s trade minister, Liam Fox, was asked about he possibility of Britain joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).Read more…
West Ham Labour Party January 2018 update – want to get fit and lose weight? Go canvassing!
West Ham Labour Party January 2018 update
Dear Members
I hope that everyone had a refreshing break and are now ready to get involved and active in the local and national party.
West Hammers News
Newham Councillor Candidate’s selection meeting & …Read more…
Thinking further about the Labour Party Democracy Review
Having fallen victim to “’flu’-like symptoms” I find myself laid up and that I therefore have time to think further a bit about the first phase of the Labour Party Democracy Review (about which I blogged a few days ago).
Perhaps the most entertaining f…Read more…
Five ways to encourage new young activists?
I have been meaning to post on this challenging but important article by Carl Roper on the TUC website Stronger Unions for a while. It is about the urgent need to recruit young union members and turn them into activists.
This is a criti…Read more…
A Union Voice From Europe
By Martin Mayer, UK TUC delegate to EU Economic and Social Committee December 2017 “BREXIT means BREXIT?” Reality check on current status of the BREXIT negotiations On Friday 8th December, Theresa…Read more…
A new economic way is possible in 2018 – but we need policy change
In effect, policymakers have given up on the idea of repairing the economy.Read more…
What's behind the protests in Iran and what can you do?
Over the New Year, a wave of protests has erupted in Iran, as people in towns all over the country took to the streets to air their grievances.Read more…
“Staff and parents protest against academy plans”
From Newham Recorder page 2 December 2017 see my previous post on the protest here. Apologises for the mangled english in my quote. Hopefully a typo. Read more…
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year!
A brisk walk along the beach to clear my head from the excesses of last night, leads to reflections on 2017 and thoughts for the year ahead.
The UK general election was obviously…Read more…
Happy New Year (Blwyddyn Newydd Dda) 2018
May you find your pot of gold in 2018. Then of course, immediately distribute it amongst the masses 🙂
Why Local authorities need “honest serving” men and women with the tools to ensure effective scrutiny
I have just been re-reading an excellent hard hitting report published earlier this month by the Select Committee on Communities and Local Government.
The Select Committee examined the grossly inadequate scrutiny arrangements in many Local Authorities…Read more…
The first thing for Labour Party members in the New Year
The first phase of the Labour Party’s Democracy Review is very much upon us. The deadline for submissions on the organisational aspects of Young Labour, BAME Labour and Women’s Conference is 12 January 2018. The questions which are specifically as…Read more…
Island Line Affected By New Year’s Eve Strike
By Charlotte Morgan – 31st December 2017 Island Line is among rail services across the UK to be affected by strike action this New Year’s Eve. It’s the latest industrial action in an…Read more…
The Alwen Trail (& The Fairy Freckled Cow)
Picture collage from a lovely walk in North Wales last week. A 7.5 mile circular walk around the Alwen Dam and Denbigh moors. The dam was built in 1911 and flooded an ancient sheep farm valley in order to provide drinking water for Birkenhead in …Read more…
Review: Artemis, by Andy Weir
Andy Weir’s first book, The Martian, was nearly perfect. As I read it, I remember thinking: This is why I used to love reading science fiction. The film version starring Matt Damon, while…Read more…
#We Were Many – A Philosophy Football Review of 2017
Standards rising in annual Bristol NUJ student awards
A HEALTHY crop of entrants for the annual journalism awards for students at the University of the West of England saw standards rising once again, particularly for the new media entries. Highlights…Read more…
Protect the Protectors
This is an article written by our West Ham MP, Lyn Brown. Seen here at the memorial to PC Nina Mackay. Over the Christmas and New Year holiday not only will public service workers be looking after us 24/7 but many of them will face abuse and viol…Read more…