Background Check

Rising imperialist tensions and war games over Taiwan

Taiwan, an island about 100 miles east of China, is at the centre of imperialist rivalries.

Union leader Sarah Woolley defends split from Labour

‘Let’s be clear, we have disaffiliated from Labour but Bfawu will try to be more political after what’s happened, not less.

Labour conference won’t give members a real say

Labour Party conference is approaching. Nick Clark investigates its limitations and talks to left Labour activists about what they think this year’s will bring

Build protests and strikes for upcoming Cop26 talks

Cop26 will take place in November to discuss the climate crisis. Sophie Squire speaks to activists who say big and militant mobilisations are the way forward

Where next after Sharon Graham’s victory in Unite?

After a win for the left in the Unite union general secretary election, workers spoke to Isabel Ringrose about their hope for change and how it can be won

Be realistic—why we can stop fossil fuel investment

Stopping investment in fossil fuels immediately can be done—but it takes a break from the priorities of the system to do it

Cruising through climate damage and tax avoidance

As cruise ships return to the seas following the pandemic and Venice decides to ban large ships, Simon Basketter explores how the cruise industry works

Empty shelves—nothing super about the market

With shelves staying bare and shortages predicted to get worse, Sophie Squire looks at what’s behind the crisis and pins the blame on production for profit

Blame the huge surge in virus cases, not the app

Notifications from the test and trace app are rising due to coronavirus cases. Sophie Squire investigates the Tory failures that have led to the rises

How fascist frustrations come to the fore in France

Failure in recent regional elections has caused crisis for Marine Le Pen’s National Rally party. But, says Charlie Kimber, the party won’t destroy itself.

Danger as Tories plan to end school Covid-19 safety rules

Failed education secretary Gavin Williamson wants to end the system of pupil ‘bubbles’ even as coronavirus cases soar. Sophie Squire talked to school workers who now fear the worst

Back Sharon Graham in Unite vote, say workers

Unite members speak to Isabel Ringrose on why backing Sharon Graham for Unite general secretary is linked to the fight for workplace organising

GB News is a joke, but the left can’t sit back and laugh

Seeking to emulate ‘shock jock’ TV channels in the US, GB News launched last week hoping to find an audience on the angry right. Sophie Squire explains

Is there a ‘new cold war’ between the US and China?

As US president Joe Biden goes on a mission to turn the West against China, Nick Clark investigates the competition between the capitalist states

How profit-hungry developers broke the housing system

Housing exposes obscene wealth and hard poverty in Britain today. Behind it all is a system where houses are built for profit, not homes

The NHS will allow businesses full access to your health data

NHS England is opening up patients’ medical records for sale to corporations—including Big Pharma. Sam Ord looks at how our data is being collated and shared for reasons of profit

Police use mental distress claims to target Muslims

A new report has found that counter-terrorism police are using claims of mental distress to lock up and intimidate people, writes Isabel Ringrose

Mental health made worse in pandemic by class and poverty

Depression and poor mental health have been exacerbated by the pandemic. Sadie Robinson explores a new report that shows how class affects people’s health and lives