uk politics
UK Labour manifesto – for the many not the few
Written By: - Date published: 6:28 am, May 17th, 2017 - 29 comments
UK Labour unveils a plan that is both radical and responsible.
Labour’s Manifesto
Written By: - Date published: 11:50 am, May 11th, 2017 - 293 comments
Old school Social Democracy. (Remember that?)
Dog’s Breakfast.
Written By: - Date published: 12:40 pm, April 23rd, 2017 - 17 comments
If politicians are meant to represent people, then shouldn’t they explore ways to ensure that the people they represent get represented in government?
May seeks UK snap election
Written By: - Date published: 10:43 pm, April 18th, 2017 - 142 comments
Theresa May is seeking a snap election on 8 June.
Brexit begins
Written By: - Date published: 7:04 am, March 30th, 2017 - 81 comments
Here we are then. Article 50 has been invoked, and the 2 year countdown to Brexit begins.
The 60th Anniversary of the European Union
Written By: - Date published: 2:17 pm, March 29th, 2017 - 3 comments
Last week the main heads of the European Union governments got together to celebrate 60 years since the first declaration in Rome. This is a good time to review if it is still fulfilling its original goals.
London attack
Written By: - Date published: 8:17 am, March 23rd, 2017 - 92 comments
A person has carried out an attack on Parliament in London. Guardian: “Four people have died, including a police officer and one man believed to be the attacker, police said.”
Cat Among the Pigeons
Written By: - Date published: 9:56 am, March 14th, 2017 - 94 comments
Nicolas Sturgeon to seek the authority of the Scottish Parliament to agree the details of a Section 30 Order that will allow the Scottish Parliament to legislate for an independence referendum.
Slightly smug about MMP
Written By: - Date published: 8:00 am, March 4th, 2017 - 22 comments
2017 will be New Zealand’s eighth election under MMP, over 22 years. With very strong democratically elected governments appearing right across the world digging in for the long term, it’s useful to take a moment for MMP.
Where to now for the left?
Written By: - Date published: 10:43 am, February 26th, 2017 - 115 comments
With the right in ascendancy throughout the Western World what does the left do to change this?
Jonathan Pie – A Socialist agenda
Written By: - Date published: 8:50 am, February 22nd, 2017 - 3 comments
Jonathan Pie on why being a socialist is actually a good thing.
Key gives up on us, keeps International Democratic Union.
Written By: - Date published: 9:00 am, February 10th, 2017 - 33 comments
The Herald informs us that Key is going on the speaking circuit and will go back into finance (not that he ever left). Like John Howard before him, he also intends to carry on chairing the International Democratic Union of right-wing parties. Not a surprise.
Special Relationship 2
Written By: - Date published: 8:41 am, January 27th, 2017 - 58 comments
The Bush Blair “special relationship” was a geopolitical disaster of epic proportions. Get ready for Round 2, Trump May.
Hard Brexit
Written By: - Date published: 8:25 am, January 18th, 2017 - 97 comments
Theresa May has finally set out some guidelines on the shape of Brexit. Out of the single market, rejecting the European court, full border control.
English in England
Written By: - Date published: 8:48 am, January 15th, 2017 - 48 comments
The usual media suspects are digging pretty deep to try and find anything supportive to say about English’s UK visit. English himself sounds like he has been put in his place.
This pattern of Kiwi’s exploiting migrants is shameful
Written By: - Date published: 8:17 am, December 14th, 2016 - 88 comments
A depressing feature in The Herald this morning explores the exploitation of migrant workers. The same pattern as the private sector’s treatment of foreign students. This paints a shameful picture of New Zealand. Greed has made us forget who we were.
What skills do we need in the age of fake news?
Written By: - Date published: 8:19 am, November 23rd, 2016 - 131 comments
Revelations surrounding the role of fake news in the American election have been stunning. And the critical thinking skills that democracy needs to survive this trend are under attack in our education system.
As politicians go…(II)
Written By: - Date published: 10:43 am, November 18th, 2016 - 7 comments
Two paths. One choice.
Through the Looking Glass.
Written By: - Date published: 12:57 pm, October 31st, 2016 - 15 comments
The culture being addressed will be familiar enough to many here in NZ who deal with Work and Income. Government strategies to address that culture? Well, that’s another story. This isn’t just happening half a world away. It might as well be happening in another universe – back on the sane side of some looking glass NZ has fallen through.
“Itching Scratches” on Nine to Noon
Written By: - Date published: 6:27 pm, September 26th, 2016 - 61 comments
Matthew Hooton got carried away on Nine to Noon dissing Andrew Little’s views on political strategy and the centre ground that appeared to differ from Helen Clark’s. Stephen Mills piled in too on Jeremy Corbyn and the “missing millions.” All Little said was that he wants to connect with different groups of voters on issues important to them. Can’t argue with that.
Corbyn wins! Now what?
Written By: - Date published: 7:55 am, September 25th, 2016 - 294 comments
Jeremy Corbyn has won a resounding victory in the UK Labour Leadership campaign. But what happens now?
Labour Organising
Written By: - Date published: 10:09 am, September 14th, 2016 - 39 comments
From the UK. Organising 101.
Optimism, determination and, above all, unity
Written By: - Date published: 7:30 am, September 14th, 2016 - 15 comments
At the Guardian, UK Labour MP Rebecca Long-Bailey reflects on the first year of Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership.
‘Living Rent’ and other UK stories
Written By: - Date published: 9:53 am, September 8th, 2016 - 4 comments
A Tory think tank proposes a massive house-building plan, with a ‘Living Rent’ to make it affordable; and Nick Clegg lifts the lid on the Tories in the last government.
Assange is a hero: Jill Stein US Greens Presidential Candidate
Written By: - Date published: 9:54 am, August 24th, 2016 - 204 comments
Julian Assange is a true hero, says Jill Stein unequivocally, along with other whistleblowers who have had the audacity to challenge the status quo establishment.
The Canary – UK independent news featured on RT’s Sputnik
Written By: - Date published: 1:35 pm, August 21st, 2016 - 36 comments
The Canary: independent UK news media successfully using a democratic, socialist model. And succeeding within the highly commercial world of the MSM.
A UK Labour Split
Written By: - Date published: 7:58 am, August 16th, 2016 - 90 comments
The options for UK Labour appear to be limited. Split or die or do both.
Refining an existing capacity to make the rubble bounce and bounce
Written By: - Date published: 8:04 am, July 20th, 2016 - 80 comments
UK Labour continues to embarrass progressives throughout the world after a majority of MPs voted to support renewal of the Trident program.
Anti-Corbyn media bias
Written By: - Date published: 9:58 pm, July 19th, 2016 - 77 comments
“When a democracy cannot rely on its press to provide its citizens with information about political parties that meets the basic standards of fairness, then we can expect a political process that is equally unbalanced.”
London School of Economics study.
Shinbone Star: Bloody Hell
Written By: - Date published: 9:31 am, July 18th, 2016 - 35 comments
Reprinted with permission from John Palethorpe’s blog Shinbone Star where he analyses the current situation of the British Labour Party and analyses what happens if Jeremy Corbyn wins, and what happens if he loses.
BREXIT Sitrep
Written By: - Date published: 11:39 am, July 17th, 2016 - 72 comments
BREXIT has brought into sharp relief the cleavages in British politics. The ordinary members of the UK Labour Party are consolidating their take back of Labour from entitlement minded Blairite Third Way careerists.
- ‘Whaka round, find out’: When the hīkoi came to Auckland
The Toitū te Tiriti hīkoi reached Auckland on Wednesday, seeing thousands cross the Harbour Bridge and walk around the coast to Bastion Point. Lyric Waiwiri-Smith joined them. Atop Bastion Point, a crowd of red, black and white gathered at the end of what we’ve been told is a history-making moment. ...2 weeks ago - Government Will Not Say If Gang Members To Be Excluded From Abuse In Care Compensation
The government is refusing to say whether gang members could be excluded from compensation for abuse they suffered while in state care. ...2 weeks ago - Fair News Bargaining Bill In Limbo As Minister Says It Is Not Ready
It was supposed to have its second reading on Wednesday, but on the final order paper appeared at 13th, meaning it was effectively postponed for the week. ...2 weeks ago
- Free Speech Union Endorses Carter’s Copyright (Parody And Satire) Amendment Bill, But It Raises Qu...
We commend the Green Party’s Bill to protect the speech rights of creators, artists, and commentators who are regularly targets of censorship. We hope this represents the turning of a new leaf in their defence of all speech rights. ...2 weeks ago
- A hīkoi dispatch from Ōtautahi
A thousand-strong crowd gathered in Ōtautahi today to show support for the Toitū te Tiriti hīkoi. Alex Casey was there. One of the most charming aspects of attending demonstrations in Ōtautahi’s city centre is that they happen right in the orbit of our many tourist trams, periodically forcing the crowd ...2 weeks ago
- Submissions Open For The Employment Relations (Employee Remuneration Disclosure) Amendment Bill
The bill seeks to amend the Employment Relations Act 2000 to protect employees who discuss or disclose their remuneration. ...2 weeks ago
- Hobson’s Pledge Support Peaceful Protest But Encourage Listening
It is concerning that some participants of the hīkoi seem to believe only their voice and actions are to be respected, and are intent on shutting down any debate. ...2 weeks ago
- ‘Effortless-seeming genius’: Carl Shuker’s favourite reads and other stories
Welcome to The Spinoff Books Confessional, in which we get to know the reading habits of Aotearoa writers, and guests. This week: Carl Shuker, author of new novel The Royal Free. The book I wish I’d written I wish I’d written Philip Hensher’s Kitchen Venom. No one talks about it ...2 weeks ago
- Gone By Lunchtime: Our decision desk is now ready to call the US election
The new old president, the hīkoi hits Auckland, and a momentous day of apology at parliament. After more than a week scrutinising the granular data, the Gone By Lunchtime podcast decision desk is ready to make a call: Donald Trump has won the US presidency. In a new episode, ...2 weeks ago
- Small Business Owners, MPs Rally Together To Demand Transparency In Tauranga Marine Precinct Sale
“This sale, and the lack of information surrounding it, shows exactly why we need better regulations to hold council staff and it’s leadership more accountable,” Harvey said.” ...2 weeks ago
- The Lord of the Rings musical is better than you’re probably expecting
Musical theatre sceptics Gabi Lardies and Stewart Sowman-Lund review the three-hour spectacle at Auckland’s Civic Theatre. Gabi Lardies: Stewart, we sat through THREE HOURS of musical theatre last night. That’s a big ask for an audience trained on 12-second reels. Tickets are between $69 and $179 – we were both ...2 weeks ago
- The four funniest New Zealanders are ready for their holiday orgy
In 2016, Chris Parker, Tom Sainsbury, Kura Forrester and Brynley Stent surprised audiences with an orgy. Now they’re doing it all again, on a bigger, shinier stage. Eight years ago, four little-known comedians, two who had just met, ended their play thrusting, sweating and panting in an over-the-top orgy. There ...2 weeks ago
- New Zealand Government Refuses NGO Calls To Back End To Secret WCPFC Compliance Processes
Accountability.Fish, a global non-governmental organisation dedicated to improving the transparency and accountability of Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs), has raised concerns for some time over the lack of transparency within the ...2 weeks ago
- Who are the New Zealanders who can’t afford nourishing food?
By calculating the weekly deficit in people’s budgets, a new report shows how those receiving benefits or working for minimum wage often can’t pay for food after the cost of fixed expenses. One in five working-age New Zealanders doesn’t earn enough to feed themselves and their family well, new ...2 weeks ago
- The Cost Of Silence: NZ’s Role In Standing Against Iran’s Repression
The piece highlights the recent execution of Jamshid Sharmahd by the Iranian government, discusses New Zealand's current approach (as well as that of other democracies) toward the regime's hostage-taking tactics, and suggests an alternative, more unified approach. ...2 weeks ago
- Horrific, heartbreaking, wrong: Who apologised, and how
Politicians and public sector bosses say sorry, but victims of state abuse have something to say, too, writes Toby Manhire in today’s extract from The Bulletin. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. Sorrow and substance ...2 weeks ago
- As te reo Māori grows, so does the search for trilingual interpreters
Deaf Māori face exclusion from their whānau and cultural heritage due to an extreme shortage of trilingual interpreters. Imagine being deaf and at the tangi of a loved one. You stand when everyone else stands, sit when everyone else sits, and stare at the lips of speakers, trying to catch ...2 weeks ago
- We have the ratings for Stuff’s ThreeNews. What story do they tell?
Duncan Greive analyses three months’ worth of ratings data to get a sense of whether Stuff and Three’s big bet is paying off. When Three shocked the country by announcing it was shutting Newshub earlier this year, as many as 10 groups are thought to have canvassed the idea of ...2 weeks ago
- The Treaty Principles Bill
Human Rights Commission’s Tino Rangatiratanga leaderJulia Whaipooti explains what has been happening. ...2 weeks ago
- Survivors Must Receive Redress To Have The Opportunity To Heal: Save The Children
Today’s vision shared of New Zealand is of an Aotearoa where every child has their rights understood, respected and upheld ensuring they live good lives now and have a bright future to look forward to. ...2 weeks ago
- Govt Axes Specialist Māori Body Advising Pharmac Without Consulting Māori
"This is another sad indictment of the priority the National-led Government places on improving the health of Māori," said Fleur Fitzsimons, Assistant Secretary for Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi Public Service Association. ...2 weeks ago
- An Apology For The Apology? Blind Survivor Deplores Use Of Ableist Slur By Prime Minister At Histori...
“The phrase "turn a blind eye" is an inherently ableist expression that wrongly equates blindness with ignorance, neglect, or deliberate stupidity. This phrase reinforces the dangerous & outdated stereotype that blind people are less perceptive, capable, ...2 weeks ago
- Care Experienced Young People Say Apology Means Nothing Without Action
The apologies seemed sincere, but amongst those listening there was disappointment that there is still no redress system; and a sense that unless the apology is followed by action the words will seem hollow. ...2 weeks ago
- Ara Taiohi Calls For Abuse Apology To Be Backed Up By Rangatahi-centred Policies
We must build back better, build a system with rangatahi at its very centre. The legacy of this government will be measured by their ability to respond appropriately, to create a physically safe and emotionally nurturing environment for children and ...2 weeks ago
- Three rooms, one apology: Survivors gather across the motu for abuse in care reckoning
Joel MacManus reports from parliament as the prime minister delivers the national apology for abuse in state care, while Lyric Waiwiri-Smith in Auckland and Alex Casey in Christchurch join survivors watching the livestream. ‘It’s not enough’ – Wellington As Andrew Bridgman, the acting chief executive of Oranga Tamariki, began the ...2 weeks ago
- ‘The room was aching’: Survivors in Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch gather for apology
Joel MacManus reports from parliament as the prime minister delivers the national apology for abuse in state care, while Lyric Waiwiri-Smith in Auckland and Alex Casey in Christchurch join survivors watching the livestream. As Andrew Bridgman, the acting chief executive of Oranga Tamariki, began the speeches at the national apology ...2 weeks ago
- Hollow Apology Fails To Resonate With Survivors
Today, the Government had an historic and monumental opportunity to start righting decades of wrongs against survivors. Unfortunately, the Government has yet again let down survivors who placed their trust in it. ...2 weeks ago
- TOAH-NNEST Rejects Choice Of Parliament For State Apology – True Reckoning Is Concrete Reform &...
The national network says the government should have chosen direct engagement at the flaxroots outlining concrete, meaningful actions for survivor restoration and systemic prevention to ensure this never happens again. ...2 weeks ago
- Home Education: The Baker whānau
Home Education follows the everyday lives of six families in Aotearoa educating their children at home. Today, education among whales and horses with the Baker whānau. The new docuseries Home Education is filmed across Aotearoa, in and around the homes of six families who have taken schooling outside ...2 weeks ago
- Great news: New Zealand’s favourite TV show about trucks driving very slowly is back
Tara Ward watches the return of Moving Houses. Seasons change, flowers bloom and bath water grows cold, but one thing never alters: the pulling power of a house on the back of a truck. Moving Houses returned to TVNZ for its third season on Sunday night, and with it a ...2 weeks ago
- The Baker whānau | Home Education | The Spinoff
“Family is always first” | Watch the full series: http://thespinoff.co.nz/videos/home-education 🐋 When a whale washed up on Tokomaru Bay, Israel and Petrina Baker decided it was important to take time out of school so that their tamariki could learn how to harvest the taonga. Truancy officers were not too pleased, ...2 weeks ago
- Review: Inside Mystery Festival, Auckland’s most secretive concert
Does a slightly dodgy gimmick make for a majorly shit music festival? As Lyric Waiwiri-Smith finds out, not necessarily. To have entered Auckland’s Mystery Festival on Saturday, you needed stamina, a fondness for drum and bass, break-neck-speed head bopping, a pair of jorts or those ruched Glassons short shorts and, ...2 weeks ago
- Takatāpui, Rainbow & MVPFAFF+ Survivors Lead Aotearoa’s Journey Toward Truth & Reconcilia...
The research from Takatāpui, Rainbow, and MVPFAFF+ survivors also highlights the urgent need to end State control over children’s care decisions, advocating instead for empowering whānau with the necessary support and resources to provide appropriate ...2 weeks ago
- The cost of being: A disabled beneficiary who often has to spend bus money on food
As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a ‘skint’ 32-year-old on the supported living payment explains how she gets by. Want to be part of The Cost of Being? Fill out the questionnaire here. Gender: Trans woman. Age: 32. Ethnicity: Pākehā. Role: Long-term ...2 weeks ago
- Minister Using Extraordinary Power Shows Need For Fair Pay Offer At NZDF As Strike Continues
PSA members who are civilian workers escalated industrial action last week after NZDF refused to budge from a zero-pay rise offered during negotiations for a new collective agreement. ...2 weeks ago
- “The Beginning Of A New Chapter” – Care Experienced Rangatahi Hope Landmark Apology Will Signa...
VOYCE - Whakarongo Mai has been advocating for care experienced rangatahi since 2017, and CEO Tracie Shipton hopes the apology will mark the start of a new and better chapter for care in Aotearoa. ...2 weeks ago
- A national apology and what’s left unsaid
Government agency and political leaders will apologise today for decades of historic abuse in state care, writes Duncan Greive in today’s extract from The Bulletin. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. ...2 weeks ago
- What is Cop29? A beginner’s guide to the big climate summit in Baku
Is the global conference more than just a gabfest, and what is it doing in Azerbaijan? What is Cop and why is it 29? Cop is the “conference of the parties” – that is, the 197 parties that have ratified the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change born out ...2 weeks ago
- The new stalking law, explained
Legislation that will make stalking illegal will be introduced to parliament before the end of the year. Here’s everything you need to know. Hang on – is stalking currently legal? It’s complicated. A lot of the behaviours that constitute stalking, like sending abusive messages and threatening violence, are already offences ...2 weeks ago
- Hīkoi mō te Tiriti day one: ‘Lets make this hīkoi build a nation’
Since setting off Monday morning numbers have swelled from a couple hundred to well over 1000 people, demonstrating their opposition to the coalition government's controversial Treaty Principles Bill and other policies impacting Māori. ...2 weeks ago
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