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
JUST when I thought Boris Johnson and his Tories’ response to the pandemic could not get any worse, any more idiotic, any more hypocritical, the buggers have proved me wrong.
Over the pandemic PM Johnson has pronounced: “We are prepared for any eventuality;” “An oven-ready solution;” “One pair of gloves is two items of PPE;” “Stay alert, control the virus, save lives;” “World-beating test, track and trace package;” “It is our patriotic duty to visit reopened pubs;” “A moon-shot;” “A circuit breaker;” and so many more.
Lexicographers have declared a new verb — to testiculate — to wave your arms vaguely about like Johnson as you talk absolute bollocks.
From summit to summit, imperialist companies and governments cut, delay or water down their commitments, warn the Communist Parties of Britain, France, Portugal and Spain and the Workers Party of Belgium in a joint statement on Cop30
The government cracking down on something it can’t comprehend and doesn’t want to engage with is a repeating pattern of history, says KEITH FLETT
The Labour Party proposal to scrap benefits for those unable to work will be debated in Parliament next Tuesday, and threatens the most vulnerable in our society. ALAN MORRISON presents some responses in poetry


