Labour Hub

The Welsh economy Other parties’ economic policies do not address the structural problems Wales faces, argues Mike Hedges AM. The Conservatives’ economic strategy is to cut the Welsh government’s income while increasing expenditure. This would be more credible if they produced a balanced budget. Reform’s policy appears similar but with substantial tax cuts for the very rich and unrealistic savings. The Plaid Cymru economic strategy is to give everyone everything they ask for and ask the rest of the British taxpayers to pay for it.

The Welsh economy

Other parties’ economic policies do not address the structural problems Wales faces, argues Mike Hedges AM. The Conservatives’ economic strategy is to cut the Welsh government’s income while increasing expenditure. This would be more credible if they produced a balanced budget.…

“The lack of housing is such a fertile source of human misery” How, and why, did the Labour leadership prevent a debate on council housing? Martin Wicks investigates. For the fourth year running, housing has been kept off the agenda of the Labour Party Conference. This was no accident. The Labour leadership has sought to prevent a debate. The main instrument for stopping resolutions which the leadership doesn't want debated is their unofficial faction, Labour to Win.

“The lack of housing is such a fertile source of human misery”

How, and why, did the Labour leadership prevent a debate on council housing? Martin Wicks investigates. For the fourth year running, housing has been kept off the agenda of the Labour Party Conference. This was no accident. The Labour…

New Research Confirms Issue of School Meal Debt in England New research from Aberlour Children's charity confirms that school meal debt is an issue for many children and families across schools in England. As a result of this research, the influential charity is now calling on the UK Government to recognise school meal debt as an indication of financial hardship for families and include clear actions in the upcoming child poverty strategy to end school meal debt and hidden school hunger.

New Research Confirms Issue of School Meal Debt in England

New research from Aberlour Children's charity confirms that school meal debt is an issue for many children and families across schools in England. As a result of this research, the influential charity is now calling on the UK Government to…

KPMG fined £710,937.50 for dud audit of N Brown Group.

Failed to perform proper accounting checks.

Fines are just another cost of doing Nelsonian audits, passed to other customers

Audits by big firms are worthless, but highly profitable. Partners collect millions, exploit state guaranteed market.

UK accounting watchdog to ease its probes of audit firms FRC’s proposals follow sustained complaints from the industry about lengthy investigations

There is parade of dud audits, auditors let lying dogs sleep.

UK accounting regulator is changing the rules.There will be fewer investigations.

People will be deceived, fees will keep rising.

There is no transparency about the conduct of audits.

Regulators work for the industry.
archive.ph/YCz1V

Starmer faces cabinet revolt over Budget tax rises driving wealthy away ‘The trouble is we have crossed a line in trying to encourage aspiration. The non-dom change and the VAT on school fees have sent the opposite message,’ minister tells The Independent

Starmer faces cabinet revolt over tax rises that could drive wealthy away. Ridiculous.

Capital gains, dividends taxed at lower rates than wages.

Poorest 20% pay higher proportion of income in tax than the richest 20%.

16m live in poverty. Millions rely on food banks.

End tax perks of the rich.

Scaling up Seattle Jonathan Rosenblum introduces his new book, published today. Anyone with a shred of humanity and a degree of political engagement must be wondering today, “What’s the way forward? How do we fight i…

My article in @labour-hub.bsky.social -
Political activists on both sides of the Atlantic must chart a new path forward: Break free of the establishment parties, and build new movements, ones that fight for our interests and are accountable to working people.

labourhub.org.uk/2025/10/07/s...

Jenrick 'not seeing white people' is straight out of the Trump playbook Communities up and down Britain show we have integrated successfully - now that is under assault from politicians on the right

Me for @theipaper.com on the importation of an alien culture to Britain: Trumpism

inews.co.uk/opinion/robe...

Labour left swings behind Lucy Powell for Deputy Leader In a ballot of Momentum members, 74% have voted to recommend a tactical vote for Lucy Powell to be Deputy Leader of the Labour Party. While members were denied the opportunity to vote for a socialist candidate in Bell Ribeiro-Addy, who fought a proudly principled campaign earlier in the process, Momentum recognises that a victory for Powell is the better of the outcomes on offer.

Labour left swings behind Lucy Powell for Deputy Leader

In a ballot of Momentum members, 74% have voted to recommend a tactical vote for Lucy Powell to be Deputy Leader of the Labour Party. While members were denied the opportunity to vote for a socialist candidate in Bell Ribeiro-Addy, who fought…

Scaling up Seattle Jonathan Rosenblum introduces his new book, published today. Anyone with a shred of humanity and a degree of political engagement must be wondering today, “What’s the way forward? How do we fight in the political arena?” In my country, Trump and the billionaires control the levers of power, our neighbors are being kidnapped, imprisoned, and deported, and bosses are gleefully busting unions while Elon Musk and his confederates loot the public treasury.

Scaling up Seattle

Jonathan Rosenblum introduces his new book, published today. Anyone with a shred of humanity and a degree of political engagement must be wondering today, “What’s the way forward? How do we fight in the political arena?” In my country, Trump and the billionaires control the…

Barry Gardiner calls on 'supine' Government to demand release of constituent Aaron White, 'kidnapped' my Israeli forces from m.v. Alma on its way to deliver food and medical aid to Gaza Wembley Matters: a news and information blog about environmental and social justice in the London Borough of Brent & beyond edited by Martin Francis

Barry Gardiner calls on 'supine' Government to demand release of constituent Aaron White, 'kidnapped' my Israeli forces from m.v. Alma on its way to deliver food and medical aid to Gaza
wembleymatters.blogspot.com/2025/10/barr...

Saturday’s mass arrests of peaceful protesters – an eye-witness report Hackney Palestine Solidarity Campaign (HPSC) supporter joined a “witness circle” at Trafalgar Square on Saturday afternoon 4th October as police arrested 488 people for holding placards declaring opposition to genocide and support for the proscribed group Palestine Action. This is an account of what they witnessed during the first two hours of the fourth such London protest, organised by Defend Our Juries (DoJ).

Saturday’s mass arrests of peaceful protesters – an eye-witness report

Hackney Palestine Solidarity Campaign (HPSC) supporter joined a “witness circle” at Trafalgar Square on Saturday afternoon 4th October as police arrested 488 people for holding placards declaring opposition to genocide and…

A massive rally in the Netherlands demanding their govt impose sanctions on Israel & to stop being complicit in Israels genocide.

Step Vaessen reports

Leaving the ECHR won’t fix illegal migration Half-baked tales of rulings turning on chicken nuggets are no basis for cutting Britain adrift

Tories and Reform want to quit the European Convention on Human Rights.

Since 1980, the ECHR court has heard 29 cases of immigrant deportation. UK won 16. No defeats in the last 5 yrs.

Quitting ECHR won't fix illegal immigration, will destroy our freedoms and rights.
archive.ph/eMg3O

Thatcherism Today Mark Perryman calls time on the forthcoming Thatcher Centenary. Margaret Thatcher's 13th October 2025 centenary is a moment to reflect on how she, or more accurately 'Thatcherism', so decisively shaped the 1980s - and for ever more too, the post-war consensus she deconstructed and to date never to return. The Labour historian Jim Fyrth describes what framed this consensus that had previously so decisively shaped British society and economy 1945-79: “A mixture of Socialist, Labour, Keynesian, Fabian/Liberal and anti-Fascist ideas that was strongly anti-establishment and anti-capitalist, and was hostile to those who were held responsible for poverty and unemployment and for appeasement of the Fascist dictators.”

Thatcherism Today

Mark Perryman calls time on the forthcoming Thatcher Centenary. Margaret Thatcher's 13th October 2025 centenary is a moment to reflect on how she, or more accurately 'Thatcherism', so decisively shaped the 1980s - and for ever more too, the post-war consensus she deconstructed…

News from Ukraine bulletin 165 (6 October) DOWNLOAD THE BULLETIN HERE AS A PDF In this week’s bulletin: Ukrainian PoWs face repeat trials/ Europe’s gas purchases fuel Putin’s war/ Russian economy depends on war/ Free imprisoned journalists …

Our bulletin #165: Ukrainian PoWs face repeat trials/ Europe’s gas purchases fuel Putin’s war/ Russian economy depends on war/ Free imprisoned journalists – parliamentarians/ More evidence of Russian torture and cruelty/ & more ukraine-solidarity.org/2025/10/05/n...

High fares hurt working Londoners and students, and exacerbate social isolation – new briefing London’s high public transport fares obstruct access to employment opportunities, education and reasonable living standards, a briefing published today by Fare Free London shows. Working Londoners spend many extra hours a week – and, in some cases, many extra hours a day – commuting, to avoid expensive trains and use cheaper but slower buses. Students tangle with trade-offs between housing costs, which are lower outside the capital, and travel costs that are much higher.

High fares hurt working Londoners and students, and exacerbate social isolation – new briefing

London’s high public transport fares obstruct access to employment opportunities, education and reasonable living standards, a briefing published today by Fare Free London shows. Working Londoners spend…

Speeches from the dock by Russia’s political prisoners A new book published this week showcases ten people who were jailed for opposing Putin’s war on Ukraine. Voices Against Putin’s War: Protesters’ defiant speeches in Russian courts, published this week by Resistance Books, brings the spirit of anti-war resistance to an international audience. The book includes speeches in court by ten people who opposed Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine, and were arrested, tried and handed long jail sentences for doing so.

Speeches from the dock by Russia’s political prisoners

A new book published this week showcases ten people who were jailed for opposing Putin’s war on Ukraine. Voices Against Putin’s War: Protesters’ defiant speeches in Russian courts, published this week by Resistance Books, brings the spirit of…

Massive immigration raid on Chicago apartment building leaves residents reeling: 'I feel defeated' The Department of Homeland Security said federal agents with Border Patrol, the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives arrested 37 people in the raid.

Massive immigration raid on Chicago apartment building leaves residents reeling: 'I feel defeated' chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...

How Western Media Whitewashed Israel’s Mass-Abduction of Activists Over 450 members of the aid flotilla to Gaza are now being held by Israel in an “anti-terror” prison in the Negev desert

How Western Media Whitewashed Israel’s Mass-Abduction of Activists – Byline Times bylinetimes.com/2025/10/04/h...

Our appeal to fund vehicles and aid for frontline defenders and rescue workers in eastern Ukraine closes TONIGHT, 8.56pm

We've hit our target, + a sizeable donation from GMB union: but the more we raise the more aid we can provide. Please donate + share: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-defen...

Global Sumud Flotilla participants kidnapped and detained An update from Adalah, an independent human rights organization and legal centre for Arab Minority Rights in Israel. Over the past 24 hours, Adalah attorneys met with 331 participants of the Global…

Global Sumud Flotilla participants kidnapped and detained
An update from Adalah, an independent human rights organization and legal centre for Arab Minority Rights in Israel.
labourhub.org.uk/2025/10/04/g...

Being pro-Palestinian is not being anti-Jewish.

Just as being pro-Jewish is not being anti-Palestinian.

Irresponsible language and framing from the Home Secretary.

It is perfectly right that people both protest the Gaza genocide and mourn the Manchester attack.

Ecuador: National strike against Noboa’s neoliberal policies met with brutal repression Ecuadorians are resoundingly resisting the Daniel Noboa government’s neoliberal policies, despite heavy police and military repression, reports Ben Radford.

Ecuador: National strike against Noboa’s neoliberal policies met with brutal repression www.greenleft.org.au/2025/1439/wo...

Palestine – build BDS everywhere! Matt Willgress looks at the way ahead after Labour Conference expressed opposition to all arms sales to Israel. Israel’s assault on Gaza has killed over 66,000 Palestinians, injured more than 160,000 and displaced over 90% of the population. This was the context to both the recent TUC Congress and this week’s Labour Conference speaking up for Palestine, passing motions that revealed the total complicity of the Starmer-led Government in Israel’s war.

Palestine – build BDS everywhere!

Matt Willgress looks at the way ahead after Labour Conference expressed opposition to all arms sales to Israel. Israel’s assault on Gaza has killed over 66,000 Palestinians, injured more than 160,000 and displaced over 90% of the population. This was the context…

A catalogue of Tory disasters – but how much is changing under Labour? Mike Phipps reviews What Went Wrong with Britain?: An Audit of Tory Failure, edited by Steven Kettell, Peter Kerr and Daniela Tepe, published by Manchester University Press. The sense of frustration and despair about the state of modern Britain shared among the editors of this book was such that they originally thought of calling it WTF is Wrong with Britain?

A catalogue of Tory disasters – but how much is changing under Labour?

Mike Phipps reviews What Went Wrong with Britain?: An Audit of Tory Failure, edited by Steven Kettell, Peter Kerr and Daniela Tepe, published by Manchester University Press. The sense of frustration and despair about the state…

Israeli forces are minutes away from illegally intercepting the Global Sumud Flotilla.

One of the ships - the Ohwayla - sails under a UK flag. Onboard are humanitarians with vital aid, demanding a humanitarian corridor.

The Labour government must act NOW to protect UK citizens.

🌹 Great to see activists at our joint fringe event with CLPD, discussing how we can organise for a transformed, democratic Labour Party.

Thanks to @brianleishmanmp.bsky.social @richardburgon.bsky.social @jessicabarnard.bsky.social Gemma Bolton and @mineshparekh.bsky.social for their contributions.

Tommy Robinson's 'Unite the Kingdom' Rally Was Sponsored by a Convicted Fraudster Allegedly Behind Cryptocurrency ‘Rug Pulls’ The far-right rally was bankrolled by a convicted fraudster alleged to be behind two cryptocurrency scams, Byline Times can reveal

Tommy Robinson's 'Unite the Kingdom' Rally Was Sponsored by a Convicted Fraudster Allegedly Behind Cryptocurrency ‘Rug Pulls’ – Byline Times bylinetimes.com/2025/10/01/t...

Labour conference has passed a motion that recognises Israel’s genocide taking place in Gaza, and calls for the government to commit to a full arms embargo and end UK-Israeli military cooperation.

Our members have taken a stand against genocide; now the government must too.