TTIP - the mask slips
18 October 2015
“I do not take my mandate from the European people,” said EU trade commissioner Cecilia Malmström in an interview when challenged about the extent of opposition to the transatlantic trade treaty.
News/Views
Campaign to fight new threat to research funding
18 October 2015
A grassroots organisation of scientists and supporters of science and research in Britain is warning of plans for huge cuts to the science budget – and vowing to campaign against them.
Born free - now in chain
17 October 2015
In what appears to be the first case of a free school being forced to accept an academy sponsor, Grindon Hall Christian school in Sunderland looks set to be pushed into the arms of the Bright Tribe academy chain.
US and allies' troops to stay in Afghanistan
17 October 2015
The US government now intends to keep US troops in Afghanistan beyond President Obama’s departure from office in January 2017, breaking his promise to end the war on his watch.
No British intervention in Syria!
12 October 2015
The Cameron government wants to bomb Syria, and so do all too many Labour MPs. But any British intervention would inflame a very dangerous situation – tossing a laser-guided missile into what is already a powder keg.
Lights out on Teesside steel making
12 October 2015
On 12 October the liquidator of SSI Redcar announced the death of that steelworks. Over 2,000 workers will lose their jobs directly at the plant and more will be out of work as a result. This signifies a threat to Britain’s whole steel industry.
Here comes another crash
12 October 2015
The US Federal Reserve is preparing to raise interest rates, even though this would destabilise already fragile economies across the world – which are being told to prepare for a rise in corporate failures.
Electoral Commission ignored as new roll is pushed through
12 October 2015
Against the advice of the independent Electoral Commission, the government has reduced the time frame for establishing the new electoral roll. The move is likely to reduce the number of voters in non-Conservative areas.
Council procurement policies under attack
12 October 2015
In yet another attack on civil liberties, the government has announced plans to to change the law so that councils may only disinvest, boycott or adopt sanctions if the action is in line with government policy.
Osborne eyes local government pensions, again
12 October 2015
The new National Infrastructure Commission has less to do with planning than with stealing money from workers’ pension funds to do what the government should be doing anyway, and isn’t.
The downward march of the makers
12 October 2015
New figures from the Office for National Statistics show that production and manufacturing output in three months to August 2015 were 9.4 and 6.5 per cent, respectively, below the levels reached in the first quarter of 2008.
Agreement at National Gallery
5 October 2015
Striking museum staff met outside the National Gallery today (5 October) and went back in to work together after 100 days on strike since February.