Wes Streeting and the history of ‘the middle class’ Socialist historian KEITH FLETT unpacks the term currently being flung about by the Labour right as an insult and finds its popular association with ‘being a lefty’ is anything but assured in reality
Features | Monday 18th Mar 2024 British governments have a long history of repressing protest, but protests continue
Thursday 22nd Feb 2024 Britain: a country of conflict and turmoil As the cost-of-living crisis deepens, large strikes once again become the norm and the Tories remain in permanent crisis, KEITH FLETT recalls 1974 — when organised labour brought down a government
Tuesday 06th Feb 2024 1649: the forgotten part of Our Island Story KEITH FLETT shines a light on the moment when parliamentary democracy laid down its first roots
Monday 08th Jan 2024 The importance of historical memory The rich and powerful would not only prefer to forget certain episodes of history but will actively do what they can to make sure they are buried, says KEITH FLETT
Friday 22nd Dec 2023 How Marx and Engels spent their Christmas Reading the fathers of communism’s letters from over a century-and-a-half ago, we find that far from being against festive fun, they were all feasting, drinking and giving presents, explains KEITH FLETT
Tuesday 12th Dec 2023 The left and the 1923 general election Socialist historian KEITH FLETT looks at Britain’s first Labour government, where political timidity followed Establishment fears of radical reform
Monday 27th Nov 2023 Labour, elections and war: the case of 2001 and 2005 It’s not just ‘the Muslim vote’ but a general opposition to war from the whole electorate that Labour should be wary of — even the Lib Dems have come off better better in the past, writes KEITH FLETT
Tuesday 14th Nov 2023 Has the 20th century ended yet? The idea of the ‘short 20th century’ was based on an assumption that crises like the one that exploded 50 years ago were increasingly rare — instead, they’re increasingly common, writes KEITH FLETT
Tuesday 31st Oct 2023 If protests didn’t work they wouldn’t try to ban them As huge demos once again hit the streets of Britain in defence of Palestine, we must recognise that ours is an era where street politics is increasingly vital, explains socialist historian KEITH FLETT
Wednesday 18th Oct 2023 Labour, war and opposition Socialist historian KEITH FLETT looks at the Labour Party’s inconsistent attitude to war over the last century, and what we can do to shape it
Monday 02nd Oct 2023 Liz Truss and the markets: could it happen to a left government? History shows that any diversion from ‘economic orthodoxy’ is likely to lead to pushback from Establishment forces, cautions KEITH FLETT