Issue 32 Autumn 2018

CONTENTS: EU intransigence - Division and weakness in Britain, Alex Davidson:  Trump's policies - method or madness?  Frieda Park:  The Labour Party conference, Ed Lively:  The few versus the many, Clare Bailey:  Options for a soft Brexit fall short, Simon Korner:  HSBC - drugs, arms and money, Brian Durrans:  Free-speech on Israel, Frieda Park:  Hard lessons in fighting imperialism, Dan Morgan:  John McLean - accuser of capitalism, Brian Durrans:  In-work poverty in Germany:  REVIEWS: Windrush - songs in a strange land, Pat Turnbull:  BlaKkKlansman, Ben Sotton: the white working-class - what everyone needs to know, Ben Soton.

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Articles featured in Issue 32

• EU intransigence - Division and weakness in Britain
  Sunday, November 18, 2018

  The current intractable problems of negotiating a Brexit which will satisfy the EU, both wings of the Tory Party, its allies in the Democratic Unionist Party and the divided electorate are rooted in the history of the EU and British imperialism. The impossibility of negotiating as equals with the EU was experienced by the Greek government and it comes as no surprise that it is playing hard-ball with Britain. The future of Brexit remains highly uncertain.
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• Options for a soft Brexit fall short
  Saturday, November 17, 2018

  As well as the current proposal agreed by Teresa May and the EU several other options have been proposed for a "soft Brexit", however the EU will only accept an agreement which does not undermine the integrity of its single-market. This means that in any soft Brexit option Britain would be required to remain bound by its rules, effectively part of the EU without any say in it.
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• The few versus the many
  Friday, November 16, 2018

  There have already been press smears and campaigns by the establishment against Jeremy Corbyn, so how would capitalism and the British state react to a Corbyn lead Labour government? We need to be prepared to take on attempts at destabilisation with popular support being critical.
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• Trump's policies - method or madness?
  Thursday, November 15, 2018

  Concentrating on President Trump's moral defects and excesses draws attention away from a critique of his policies which still promote the interests of US capitalism. The US people need someone not just of a different character but someone with different politics in the White House.
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• Free speech on Israel
  Wednesday, November 14, 2018

  Allegations of anti-Semitism within the Labour Party have now been exposed as a cover for those who wish to defend Israel and promote a right-wing agenda. In response to the adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance examples by the Party we should turn the argument round and ask Israel's supporters how can they justify its actions and what language would the use to describe them.
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• The Labour Party conference
  Tuesday, November 13, 2018

  The 2018 Labour Party conference consolidated the shift of the Party from supporting neo-liberalism under New Labour to one espousing social justice. There were many positives especially Corbyn's speech which was packed full of policies and the historic motion on Palestine. There were also weaknesses with continued confusion over Brexit and only a little progress on Party democracy. There remain many challenges, but Labour looks increasingly like a government in waiting.
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• Hard lessons in fighting imperialism
  Monday, November 12, 2018

  Across Latin America battles continue to be waged between reactionary and progressive forces. The recent past has shown the strength of imperialism and weaknesses on the left. Despite some defeats the fight goes on, especially to defend Venezuela against concerted opposition from within and externally from the USA.
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• HSBC - drugs, arms and money
  Sunday, November 11, 2018

  The corporate image that HSBC likes to portray to the world is very different from its history, ranging from complicity in the Chinese opium trade right up to today in promoting arms sales to Israel. This, of course, is all about maximising profit. Campaigners for boycott, divestment and sanctions are now taking the company on.
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• John McLean - accuser of capitalism
  Saturday, November 10, 2018

  2018 sees the 100th anniversary of the trial of John McLean, the Scottish socialist and fierce opponent of the First World War. Facing charges of sedition McLean opted to defend himself and his speech from the dock is a classic denunciation of capitalism.
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• Windrush - songs in a strange land
  Friday, November 9, 2018

  An exhibition at the British Library which offered a potted history of relations between Britain and the Caribbean. Very timely in view of recent revelations about the mistreatment of British citizens of Caribbean origin.
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• In-work poverty in Germany
  Thursday, November 8, 2018

  Millions of working households in Germany live in poverty.
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• BlacKkKlansman - directed by Spike Lee
  Wednesday, November 7, 2018

  Review of the 2018 film by Spike Lee.
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• The white working-class - what everyone needs to know by Justin Gest
  Tuesday, November 6, 2018

  Review of the book The white working-class - what everyone needs to know by Justin Gest.
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