News & Insight

22 December 2015

Next year ministers will seek views on devolving the main disability benefit for pensioners to English councils. This is a big deal for the architecture of the welfare state, even though the news came in a low-key half paragraph, published...

21 December 2015

In the 1950s, as Labour struggled to recover from the defeat of Clement Attlee’s post-war government, Richard Crossman observed that the party had lost its way not only because it lacked a map, “but because it thinks maps unnecessary for experienced travellers.” As Labour seeks...

16 December 2015

As a member of a political party which puts equality at the forefront of its mission, I found the latest Fabian Society report on women’s diversity in the Labour Party depressing, if not entirely shocking. The Fabian’s discussion paper - one...

16 December 2015

“Women are very poorly represented at all levels of the Labour Party, particularly at the top. Why then, when the principle of equality is at the very centre of socialism, has the Labour Party failed so dismally to practice what...

15 December 2015

Much of the discussion during the leadership debate and since has hinged on the party’s approach to aspiration. John Prescott ridiculed the use of the term, whilst Peter Mandelson said that it is core to Labour’s offer and its ability...

11 December 2015

John McDonnell’s elevation to shadow chancellor startled him as much as anyone. He talks to Mary Riddell about his unexpected journey from crusader of the left to leading the battle to regain Labour’s economic credibility.