Background Check

Gavin Williamson’s ‘free speech’ is an attack on our rights to organise

The Tories’ crackdown on universities means protecting bigots from opposition. But as Nick Clark shows, real free speech battles have always involved defending the right to protest

Working class people will gain nothing from ‘patriotism’

In a recent party broadcast, Labour Party leader Keir Starmer appeared beside a Union Jack. Nick Clark examines why Labour hopes to gain from nationalism—and why it’s wrong

Can workers stop job cuts when the system’s in crisis?

Bosses claim they ‘can’t afford’ to keep people on because of the crisis. There’s money—but it will take a fight to take it off the rich, writes Sadie Robinson

How the spy cops were set up to infiltrate the left

Parliament and the press fumed with growing paranoia as the revolts of 1968 entered Britain.

Grenfell firms try to avoid justice during blaze inquiry

Landlords for the Grenfell tower have unveiled shocking revelations at the inquiry into the blaze. Their evidence shows that at every turn profit was prioritised over safety.

How Trump and privatised health care left US exposed

The US is the richest country in the world, but has one of the worst responses to coronavirus. Sarah Bates looks at how a a broken system killed over 200,000

Busting the bigoted myths told about transgender people

JK Rowling’s new book has ignited fury because it’s about a male serial killer who dresses up in women’s clothing. Sophie Squire takes apart the myths that paint trans women as a threat

The story of how Corbyn’s compromises led to defeat

Left Out is a book for people who think Keir Starmer is doing a good job. But it also holds some valuable lessons for genuine socialists—and hard truths about the Labour Party.

QAnon conspiracy theorists are important for Trump—and they’re dangerous

QAnon followers have been egged on by a president who promised them vengeance against their enemies and never followed through

Tour de France—how bosses are putting profits above safety

As the year’s biggest cycling event begins Nick Clark investigates if such sporting events can be safe in the Covid-19 pandemic

Joe Biden’s coronation will not bring real change

As Democrats pick corporate favourite Joe Biden as their presidential candidate to face Donald Trump, Sophie Squire says hope lies outside the party machine

Blame Tories not the poor for obesity and hunger

The rolling out of new measures to tackle obesity shames poor people and will not tackle a crisis that the Tories made worse, says Sarah Bates

Don’t rush in to wrong explanations of Russian interference

Vladimir Putin and the Russian state are ruthless. But so is Britain. The real story is about competition, cooperation and corruption under capitalism

Racist legacy to blame for Blackburn Covid-19 spike

A sharp increase in coronavirus cases has taken Blackburn back to the brink of lockdown, and some have a racist solution.

British society scarred by deep poverty and racism

A new report shows 14.4 million people, including 4.5 million children, are living in poverty—and it’s even worse for black people, writes Sadie Robinson

‘I miss a normal life’—the workers stuck out at sea

Lockdown has imprisoned seafarers on ships for months—and they are desperate to leave.

Slaughter abroad is linked to militarisation of the US police

It was after the US’s wars in the Middle East escalated that military equipment really started flooding into police departments, writes Nick Clark

Plan for new repressive laws reignites rage in Hong Kong

For the second time this year, pro-democracy protesters have filled the streets of Hong Kong. Sadie Robinson looks at what’s driving their anger

Tory ‘test, track and trace’ plan is in tatters before it’s begun

After months of failures, Boris Johnson claims he has a new contact tracing strategy. But as Sarah Bates reports, the scheme is already in trouble

Report exposes shocking call centre conditions for workers

Call centre workers are risking their lives on a “dangerous frontline” in the coronavirus crisis. A new report says that, “Without exaggeration the severity of the hazards from Covid-19 and the effects on these workers make for shocking reading.”