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
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Socialism can reverse Scottish Labour’s decline
JOHN SINGER and ENAS MAGZOUB argue that putting forward working-class candidates committed to a national care service, rent controls and bringing key services under public ownership is the best way to rebuild the party
ANGUS REID explains the significance of Cuba’s egalitarian in letter and spirit Family Code and the pertinent lessons it holds for democracies anywhere in the world
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NICK WRIGHT considers how the isolation of Israel and a new film on the controversial Italian communist leader are creating new reference points for Italy’s left
CARLOS MARTINEZ says Cuba’s achievements in the face of a criminal blockade are startling, but the island’s future if the United States succeeds in crushing it looks bleak
AMNON BROWNFIELD STEIN reports that far-right MPs who mobbed the event organised by Hadash may have helped raise awareness of the brutality of the Israeli right
IN THE Scottish Labour Party we face two crucial votes over the next six weeks: no doubt the leadership election will gather the most attention, but it is our internal selection for the ranking on the regional lists which could dramatically and meaningfully change the face and fortunes of the Labour Party in Scotland.
In 1999 Labour won 53 MSPs from the constituencies and only three additional members from the regional lists.
The additional list system, where votes are subtracted according to the number of constituencies won, is supposed to balance representation.
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