EU politics
The National: Salmond slams EU leaders over Spanish state’s violence in Catalonia
There are still those who speak truth to the EU´s political elite. Thelinked speech is well worth reading. Read here
National Politics
Deregulation
Miriam Stewart – Leaking water, draining finance: the case for putting water in public hands
In the middle of a heatwave and drought, it’s not just the leakage allowed by private water companies (as much as people actually use), but the money they drain from a vital piece of our […]
Corruption
Bill Mitchell: The neoliberal ‘progressives’ and their bankster mates are becoming rattled
The “Third Way” social democrats in Europe and “liberal democrats” in the US are politically bankrupt. Their only assets are the donations from financial institutions and international corporations, but as we saw with Hilary Clinton, […]
Corruption
This is Money: Fury at United Utilities as it pays £180m dividend while planning to impose a hosepipe ban on customers
This is the sort of predatory capitalism being promoted by the EU neo-liberalism. Utilities should be privatised as the private sector is “more efficient”. This is just half the story. In the end the state […]
EU politics
Christopher Bickerton and Lee Jones – The EU’s Democratic Deficit: Why Brexit is Essential for Restoring Popular Sovereignty
Following the Brexit referendum it has been very convenient for the British left to portray the Leave voters as reactionary, misogynist, racists. On their side of the barricade the leftists stood with the great and […]
Austerity
counterfire: Brexit and the left, two years on
Here is the take on Brexit by the British socialists: Read here
EU politics
VilaWeb: The Spanish eccentricity
To understand Spain´s diplomatic disaster regarding extradition proceedings against Catalan leaders following the independence referendum, one has to understand its judicial system. The Spanish judicial system is highly politicised, an institution inherited from Franco´s fascist […]
Austerity
Owen Jones – The hard right can only be defeated from the left, not from the centre
It is a paradox: the centre-right and centre-left parties with their neo-liberal policies have lost democratic credibility and have opened the gates to the ultra-right and fascist parties. These same political elements are now supposed […]
EU politics
Claudio Milano – Overtourism: a growing global problem
Residents of tourism hotspots are fighting back. Shutterstock Claudio Milano, Ostelea – School of Tourism and Hospitality; Joseph M. Cheer, Monash University, and Marina Novelli, University of Brighton The summer holidays are in full […]
National Politics
Quinn Slobodian and Dieter Plehwe: Neoliberals Against Europe
Why nationalists can appear nationalistic and anti-EU , but still be solid neo-liberals. This somewhat lengthy paper analyses what the rightist populist political parties beyond their rhetoric really stand for. Read here