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
IS THERE some “siege mentality” in the Corbyn camp? A defensiveness, a tendency to see criticism as illegitimate. Maybe even a touch of paranoia sometimes?
Of course there is — because Jeremy Corbyn and his supporters have been under siege. Relentlessly. For over three years. Like it says in Catch-22 — just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean they aren’t after you.
What should we do about it? Well, one way to relieve a siege mentality: relieve the siege.
With ‘Your Party’ holding its founding conference in Liverpool this weekend, JEREMY CORBYN speaks to Morning Star editor Ben Chacko about its potential, its priorities — and a few of its controversies too
CWU leader DAVE WARD tells Ben Chacko a strategy to unite workers on class lines is needed – and sectoral collective bargaining must be at its heart
From Gaza complicity to welfare cuts chaos, Starmer’s baggage accumulates, and voters will indeed find ‘somewhere else’ to go — to the Greens, nationalists, Lib Dems, Reform UK or a new, working-class left party, writes NICK WRIGHT


