Category: Politics

Trump trumped

Eric Gates

Those who remember the 1960s and 70s may recall a Soviet leader called Leonid Brezhnev. He began with the iron fist that was expected of Soviet rulers, but his grip on power began to slip after he suffered a heart attack in 1975, and his health progressively deteriorated until his death in 1982. By the […]

33 per cent of young people favour authoritarianism – now what?

James Patrick

Rejuvenating our democracy is the ONLY sensible solution Britain’s electoral system has driven a full third of young people towards authoritarianism. Only fundamental reform can reverse this dangerous trend, and restore faith in democracy. Last week, there was much to celebrate for 18-year-olds up and down the country. A-Level results were published on Thursday, and […]

What is ‘Far-Right’? Why we need to be able to call it out now

Mark E Thomas

There is no simple, agreed definition of far-right, but we urgently need one: We know what ‘right-wing’ means – and we have many examples of people we know are right-wing but who draw the line at extremist policies; A reasonable definition of far-right can draw on that distinction; and We need to be clear about this now, because […]

Peaceful protesters in Exeter demand ‘Stop starving Gaza’

Philippa Davies

Friday, July 25, 6pm in Exeter city centre. Shops and cafes closing their doors for the evening, people heading home from work, others on their way to pubs and bars for the start of  the weekend. None of them could miss the large crowd in Bedford Square, just off the main street, where hundreds of […]

Tolpuddle Martyrs’ Festival and EU opinions

Phil Lucas

For 51 weeks of the year, Tolpuddle is a sleepy, picturesque village nestling quietly in the South Dorset countryside – but for one weekend each July, it erupts! The Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival is loud, busy, musical, thoughtful and, often, offers an insightful celebration of trade unionism. It is held in remembrance of the events that […]

It’s big news for our democracy…but there’s one glaring omission!

Mark Kieran

Today [July 17 2025] marks a historic moment for British democracy. The Government has published its long-awaited Strategy for Elections, announcing the most significant package of democratic reforms in a generation. There’s genuine progress to celebrate, but also a glaring omission that we cannot ignore. The good news: democracy getting a 21st century upgrade The […]

How the LibDems and Greens could permanently save the country from Reform UK

Ewan Hoyle

Standing aside candidates works against the far-right. The vast majority of voters don’t want them in power, and so will go along with whatever actions are suggested to keep them out. Proof of concept: In France in 2022, the left, centre-left and Greens formed an electoral alliance, and reformed an alliance under a different name […]

Happy birthday, America

Eric Gates

July 4 is traditionally celebrated as Independence Day in the United States, to commemorate the ratification of the Declaration of Independence by the Second Continental Congress, to establish the United States of America.  249 years ago, the formal vote, taken on July 2 by delegates of the 13 colonies, established the United States as a […]

What is happening to America?

Mark E Thomas

As Trump implements Project 2025 at pace, can Americans and the rest of the world count on the USA remaining a democracy in other than name? Many people have grave reservations about Donald Trump’s policies – for example the Budget, which the US Congressional Budget Office says will cost the poorest families around $1,600 per year over the years […]

When do we shout ‘Fascist!’?

Mark Kieran

Twice this week, I found myself wrestling with the same uncomfortable question about use of the label “fascist”. First, it came up in a WhatsApp group with fellow democracy campaigners. Then, listening to the latest episode of ‘The Rest is Politics US‘, I heard hosts Katty Kay and Antony Scaramucci clash over the same issue: […]

Why “move fast and break things” is a danger to democracy

Mark Kieran

Democracy’s slow-and-stable safeguards are features, not bugs. Silicon Valley’s defining mantra – “move fast and break things” – emerged from Facebook’s early culture, celebrating rapid iteration, aggressive risk-taking, and a willingness to disrupt in the name of innovation. It revolutionised tech, enabling energetic start-ups with fresh ideas to topple established giants who had grown stale […]

Reform UK is on the march. That’s why I created Reform Watch

Jack Dart

I launched Reform Watch because I’ve seen what happens when movements like Reform UK are allowed to expand without challenge. Across Europe and beyond [most notably in the USA], we’ve witnessed populist parties rise by distorting the truth, attacking democratic safeguards, and presenting themselves as the sole voice of “ordinary people”. What begins as anti-establishment […]

We need to talk about Reform UK and MAGA…

Tan Smith (@Supertanskiii)

Not enough people are linking Reform & MAGA. It’s time to correct that by talking about Nigel Farage, MAGA money, and a US PR firm with direct ties to Bannon. It’s not patriotism and pints. it’s a shared plan and international far-right coordination. Grab a cup of tea and strap in… Farage received logistical, media […]

Standing up to big money in our politics

Mark Kieran

On June 2, the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Fair Elections held a joint event with Transparency International UK and the APPG on Anti-Corruption and Responsible Tax. The message was clear: it’s time for anonymous billionaires and oligarchs to stop buying up politics. Britain is long overdue for campaign finance reform: In 2023, the UK reached […]

Poland: Donald Tusk’s liberal camp lost yet another election. Why?

Tomasz Oryński

It is yet another time when I turned out to be right, but it does not bring me any joy. Donald Tusk’s party’s candidate, Rafał Trzaskowski, lost the presidential elections to his opponent, Karol Nawrocki, an “independent” candidate supported by PiS. Why did that happen, what do The Civic Platform (Platforma Obywatelska – PO) make […]

We don’t need no education!

Mike Zollo

I used to work in an environment in which the attitude of some senior colleagues was to disrespect and undervalue the knowledge and skills of those who worked for them, on the basis, apparently, that “I didn’t need it to get to where I am!”. That seems to describe a certain US president. It is […]

The Farage paradox

Jon Danzig

Someone commented: “Farage is committing political suicide by aligning with Trump. He needs to distance himself from the ‘orange aubergine’ if he wants British votes.” 𝗠𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗿: That’s the paradox. 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻’𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗺𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 – because his brand is built on the Trump playbook. Nationalism, scapegoating, culture wars, anti-media attacks, climate denial – it’s all […]

Meanwhile, in Absurdistan – Poland turns right

Tomasz Oryński

The preliminary exit polls published just minutes after the first round of presidential elections surely gave some people in Poland a proper scare. As for me: being a pessimist again paid off. My prediction turned out to be correct again. The most stressed must be those who believed that those elections were to be just […]