Category: Neo-liberalism
Rachel Reeves on the hard times ahead
Rachel Reeves says that there are difficult choices ahead, that the poor have to make sacrifices and thanks for her new clothes. Liverpool rallies for Gaza
https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/liverpool-rallies-gaza
People take part in a march for Palestine in Liverpool to coincide with the Labour Party Conference, September 21, 2024 Photo: Neil Terry / neilterryphotography.co.uk 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
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy says that UK is suspeding 30 of 350 arms licences to Israel. He also confirms the UK government’s support for Israel’s Gaza genocide. 
Vote For Genocide Vote Labour. Morning Star: Labour’s zombie economics must be challenged in Liverpool
https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/labours-zombie-economics-must-be-challenged-liverpool
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer delivers a speech during a reception in 10 Downing Street, London, to mark 40 years of London Fashion Week, September 16, 2024 …
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
Keir Starmer, Angela Rayner and Rachel Reeves wear the uniform of the rich and powerful. They have all had clothes bought for them by multi-millionaire Labour donor Lord Alli. CORRECTION: It appears that Rachel Reeves clothing was provided by Juliet Rosenfeld. 
Keir Starmer says pensioners can freeze to death and poor children can starve and be condemned to failure and misery all their lives. Starmer Risks Conference Rebuke on Winter Fuel Cut as Unite plans to force a vote
Unite’s leader Sharon Graham SIR KEIR STARMER is facing a possible Labour rebuke over his deeply unpopular plans to cut winter fuel benefits for pensioners.
The party’s largest affiliate, Unite, will try to force a vote on the issue at Labour’s conference, which opens in Liverpool on Sunday.
Unite’s motion also calls for the scrapping of the Treasury’s fiscal rules, which have placed the new government’s spending plans in a strait-jacket.
It urges Labour to borrow more to invest in public services and infrastructure and says that “workers and communities voted for change — a better future, not just better management and not cuts to the winter fuel allowance.”
Calling for a U-turn on the winter fuel cut, the motion added: “We need a vision where pensioners are not the first to face a new wave of cuts and those that profited from decades of deregulation finally help to rebuild Britain.”
The attitude of other affiliated unions will be critical to the success of the motion, which will have to leap procedural hurdles to be debated, something submissions from large unions usually accomplish.
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