Fownhope’s Heart of Oak Society traces its roots to the age of friendly societies, when communities provided their own safety net. Its anniversary celebrations reveal a tradition still very much alive, says MARK SEDDON
NEWLY launched “centrist” party Change UK is in serious difficulty, with founder member Chuka Umunna quitting to join the Lib Dems after grim EU election results. But what about the other “new centrist party,” United for Change, set up by multimillionaire Simon Franks?
According to its latest accounts, United for Change has plenty of money. But that doesn’t buy it success: in the latest stumble, its chief executive has resigned as its public launch recedes into the distance.
This new party started as a company with the codename-sounding title Project One Movement. The latest accounts for the company, since renamed United for Change, were filed in June.
Martin Taylor, the hedge-fund multimillionaire who has poured millions into pushing Labour rightwards, helped finance Lucy Powell’s supposedly dissenting campaign — suggesting her victory was not the ‘soft-left’ rebellion some have claimed, says SOLOMON HUGHES
Plaid Cymru’s spokesman on health and social services MABON AP GWYNFOR, in the second article of a two-part series, argues that Labour’s contempt for voters and backward-facing approach have led to widespread mistrust in Wales
It is rather strange that Labour continues to give prestigious roles to inappropriate, controversy-mired businessmen who are also major Tory donors. What could Labour possibly be hoping to get out of it, asks SOLOMON HUGHES
Deep disillusionment with the Westminster cross-party consensus means rupture with the status quo is on the cards – bringing not only opportunities but also dangers, says NICK WRIGHT


