The Tories introduced the 50% strike ballot threshold to make industrial action harder. MATT WRACK argues that a Labour government has no justification for leaving it on the statute book
THE recent photograph of Ian Murray rehearsing for the announcement of the launch of the “Independent Group” of MPs tells us all we need to know about the real intentions of Scottish Labour’s centrists.
Although not fronting up this attempt to oust Richard, everybody knows that Ian Murray MP is part of the centrist drive to replace Richard and move Scottish Labour to an uber-unionist, economically conservative position, seeking support from “liberal” unionists. If it is successful, it will embolden those around Starmer to pursue the same agenda in the rest of the UK.
But this coup really is literally “headless.” Who, for example, is it that the centrists want to take over? Those calling for Richard Leonard to go in public – an unattractive mixture of ambitious MSPs, political relics from the House of Lords and even an old football commentator clearly nostalgic for the days when people thought what he said (about football mind you) mattered – none of these can tell you.
Scotland's Labour leader cannot continue to evade responsibility for the party's decline, argues LAUREN HARPER
Can Andy Burnham’s programme deliver a productive economy – or merely a softer version of capitalism, asks VINCE MILLS
The new Scottish Parliament looks set to continue a cycle of managerial tinkering while public services face the axe, writes STEPHEN LOW


