Articles
Wednesday, September 13, 2017
First published in The Conversation UK. Labour's election strategy involved taking advantage of the requirement on broadcasters to give fair and equal coverage to Jeremy Corbyn, to make extensive use of social media to counter the right wing print media and to to turn perceived weaknesses into strengths. This involved taking risks such as Corbyn's speech after the Manchester terror attack where he questioned whether the "war on terror" was actually keeping us safe.
Tuesday, September 12, 2017
The SNP lost far more seats than it expected to in the General Election and it now has major problems. Largely due to Corbyn's positive national campaign and despite a negative campaign by Scottish Labour the Party won an additional 6 seats. Though the Tories were the main beneficiaries of the SNP's decline if Scottish Labour learns the lessons of Corbyn's campaign then it could again be the biggest party in Scotland.
Tuesday, September 12, 2017
There was an increase of 5% in the number of people voting in London in the General Election. The swing to Labour, however, was more than twice that demonstrating that it is winning over voters across the board and in the process gaining 4 more seats. It now holds 49 of the capital's 73 seats.
Monday, September 11, 2017
Despite Labour's much improved performance across Britain it still lost 5 seats in the north of England. Even though these were lost vote share for Labour improved and the losses were largely due to UKIP voter going to the Tories.
Sunday, September 10, 2017
Mansfield and North East Derbyshire were two of the seats Labour lost at the General election, despite increasing its vote share. Whilst there were local factors at work and changing demographics, the principle cause was the strong support for Leaving the European Union among the electorate. As in other parts of the country the UKIP vote collapsed and largely went to the Tories and here that was sufficient to enable them to win the seats.
Friday, September 1, 2017
The end of colonial rule in India was not a magnanimous gesture by British imperialism. In fact it had no choice as it faced a popular upsurge against its rule. To preserve its interests and influence it reached agreement with the Indian capitalist and landowning classes which passed power to them. Just as in Ireland it utilised partition to create divisions and hamper progressive development. The independence of Burma likewise was engineered do that Britain retained access to its economy and military bases. it was also saddled with a huge debt.
Thursday, August 31, 2017
Following the revolt the Indian Army against British domination in 1857 the imperial power set out to learn lessons. The central one was that the policy of divide and rule must be rigorously enforced in the army and in civil life. So that different groups would not make common cause they were separated into different fighting units and differences and antagonisms were actively encouraged. Conflicts of religion, caste and nationality were nurtured as tool of British rule.
Wednesday, August 30, 2017
Karl Marx gives a contemporary account of the 1857 revolt of the Indian Army against British colonial rule. 160 years later his insights into its importance are still valid. In particular how opposition to imperial domination overcame the British tactic of divide and rule and Hindus and Muslims fought together against their oppressor.