The politics of denial
Class and the politics of narrow nationalism are now entwined, writes Eddie Ford. Instead of denying its own role in helping to bring about this sorry situation, the left needs to do some serious thinking
Everyone is now trying to come to terms with the fallout from last week’s elections on ‘super Thursday’, especially the Hartlepool disaster-cum-debacle. Firstly, insofar as it is a valid exercise at all, how would the results have panned out in a general election? The polls tell us 36% for the Tories, Labour on 29%, the Liberal Democrats with 17% and others on 18% (Scottish National Party, Plaid Cymru, Greens, etc).
Keir Starmer set to wield axe to Labour shadow cabinet
dailyrecord.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from dailyrecord.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Angela Rayner sacked as Labour chair over disastrous election results Andrew Woodcock and Ashley Cowburn
Angela Rayner sacked as as Labour Party chairman
Replay Video
(Video by Press Association)
Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner has been dramatically sacked as the party’s chair and national campaign co-ordinator by Keir Starmer in the wake of this week’s disastrous election results.
The move is the first step in a wide-ranging shake-up of Labour’s top team being undertaken by Sir Keir after he promised changes in response to the “super Thursday” bloodbath.
Ms Rayner had come under criticism from some MPs for her stewardship of the campaign in the largest round of ballot outside a general election for many years.
First published on Sat 8 May 2021 14.26 EDT
Keir Starmer has sacked Angela Rayner from her roles as Labour’s party chair and national campaign coordinator after the humiliating loss of the Hartlepool byelection.
The worse-than-expected defeat in Hartlepool, which saw the Conservatives take the seat with a majority of almost 7,000, shocked Starmer’s team and led to recriminations at the top of the party.
Rayner’s status as deputy Labour leader is safe as that is a directly-elected post. But the move has reignited Labour’s civil war, as MPs and activists reacted with shock and dismay.
Gaya Sriskanthan, Momentum co-chair, called the move “blatant scapegoating”, saying of Starmer: “It is his failed strategy that has brought us to this point, and he said he would take responsibility. Yet again he has gone back on his word.”
Last modified on Wed 5 May 2021 04.18 EDT
Young people concerned about the climate crisis and air pollution are urging the London mayor, Sadiq Khan, to abandon his plans for a new four-lane road tunnel under the Thames or risk losing their support.
Climate justice campaigners, anti-pollution activists and key youth groups inside the Labour party say Khan, who is standing for re-election on Thursday, is ignoring climate scientists, economists and health experts by pressing ahead with the £2bn Silvertown tunnel scheme in east London.
They warn that unless he cancels the plans he, and the Labour party, could lose the backing of a generation of young voters.
vimarsana © 2020. All Rights Reserved.