Angela Rayner’s benefits in kind
Rachel Reeves on the hard times ahead
Liverpool rallies for Gaza
https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/liverpool-rallies-gaza
THOUSANDS of peace protesters marched through Liverpool on the eve of Labour conference to demand a ceasefire in Gaza and an end to arms sales to Israel.
One of the biggest demonstrations seen in Liverpool in years, the 15,000-strong crowd brought together activists from across the country with a strong local turnout and wound its way through the city centre to a rally at the Pier Head.
There, suspended Liverpool Labour MP Ian Byrne said that “serious violations of international law” are being carried out by Israel.
“The siege of Gaza is a war crime,” he said, adding that “corporations which send arms to Israel are complicit in these crimes.”
Mick Whelan, general secretary of train drivers’ union Aslef, told the rally: “We don’t want 30 arms licences for Israel cancelled, we want them all cancelled.
“War crimes are being committed every single day.”
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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/liverpool-rallies-gaza
Morning Star: Labour’s zombie economics must be challenged in Liverpool
https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/labours-zombie-economics-must-be-challenged-liverpool
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Starmer has worked to undo the steps taken by his predecessor Jeremy Corbyn to empower Labour members, reducing conference to its status under Tony Blair, an extended rally for loyalists to cheer the all-powerful leader.
The crackdown on members’ democratic rights was welcomed by right-wing MPs who resented efforts to make them accountable to the grassroots under Corbyn, but now extends to MPs themselves. They are cast from the back benches for defying the whip — unprecedented authoritarianism in a parliamentary party and one that has left it so cowed that just one MP dared to side with the labour movement and the public in voting against winter fuel cuts.
MPs will only find the courage of their convictions when pressure other than that of the whip’s office is brought to bear — pressure from the trade unions which founded their party and from the constituents who can kick them out.
Defeating Reeves on winter fuel payments at conference might not change government policy right away — but it will encourage the gathering revolt we need.
https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/labours-zombie-economics-must-be-challenged-liverpool
