Blog

10 Years Since the Egyptian Revolution

The fall of Hosni Mubarak a decade ago was a triumph for popular mobilisation, but also a lesson – even powerful protests like those in Tahrir Square can't produce transformation without a clear political vision.

How to Save the High Street

The terminal decline of Britain's high streets is a consequence of towns built around consumption. We urgently need a new model based on community – one which puts public space before private profit.

The Diggers’ Green Roots

During the English Civil War, a band of radicals set out to make the world a common treasury. But the Diggers weren't just pioneering socialists – they were forerunners of the environmental movement too.

Local Government’s Existential Crisis

Since 2010, the Tories have cut annual funding for local government by £15 billion – half of the total frontline budget. The result: mass closure of facilities, decay of our social infrastructure and a wave of council bankruptcies.

Bill Gates Can’t Save the World

Bill Gates is splashed on magazine covers across the world this week with his plan to solve climate change. But his new book ignores the fact that the same system which made him rich is the one killing the planet.

R. H. Tawney’s Ethical Socialism

R. H. Tawney was one of the most influential radicals of 20th century Britain. Today, his ethical socialism is often claimed by moderates – but, unlike them, he was committed to deep social transformation.

We Can’t All Be Max Bygraves

Trevor Griffiths' 1975 play 'Comedians' took a serious look at what makes us laugh, and why. In a political era where comedians, journalists, and politicians are often the same people, it has something to teach us.