Westminster
Coverage of Parliament, Whitehall and Southside.
Photo: Miguel Mendez
Photo: Miguel Mendez
Of political parties claiming socialism to be their aim, the Labour Party has always been one of the most dogmatic – not about socialism, but about the parliamentary system
Ralph Miliband
One thing I’ve learnt… is how shallow, facile, ill-informed many of the supposedly well-informed major commentators are in our media. They shape a debate that is baseless and narrow
Jeremy Corbyn
Ralph Miliband’s thesis that the Labour mainstream tended to reject any kind of political action which fell, or which appeared to them to fall, outside the framework and conventions of the parliamentary system, remains apposite.
However, the inverse of this is arguably also true – that the left, partly in despair at the actions of the mainstream, has placed an emphasis on extra-parliamentary means. While this emphasis is both understandable and wholly necessary, in vacating the parliamentary space to the same mainstream it opposes, the left has helped to perpetuate the state of affairs Miliband correctly identified in the early 1960s.
Meanwhile, coverage of Westminster – the opaque and often impenetrable sphere of Parliament, Government, the Civil Service and the lobbying industry – is dominated by a closed clique of predominantly conservative journalists. At its least toxic their reporting is narrow and ill-informed – at its worst it is willingly misleading and obfuscatory. We seek to provide a corrective to this.
New Socialist operates under no illusions as to the limitations of parliamentary action. However, we recognise the centrality of Parliament to mainstream political discourse and believe firmly that the left must engage practically (e.g. by supporting the election of more left MPs) and critically (through clear-eyed, informed reporting and analysis).
To this end, we invite contributions that will:
- Highlight and celebrate the contribution of left parliamentarians, both within Parliament and outside of it
- Provide rapid rebuttals to inaccurate and misleading reporting by the Lobby
- Help to build a radical programme for parliamentary, electoral and governmental reform
- Expose and explain Westminster’s more obscure or arcane aspects such as the legislative process, the influence of the lobbying industry and the machinery of government
Send pitches to [email protected]
Editors:
.
articles
Editorial: The Sacking of Rebecca Long-Bailey
The sacking of Long-Bailey requires a drawing of a firm line. Socialist Campaign Group members on Labour's front bench should resign.
by
The Editors
/
June 25, 2020
/
Westminster
Neither Holborn & St Pancras nor Ashton-under-Lyne but independent socialism
To begin the era of Starmer and Rayner by taking sides in a battle between two non-socialists would be a mistake. The left needs to develop an independent socialism.
by
Nicky Hutchinson
/
May 13, 2020
/
Westminster
Editorial: Chris Williamson
The decision not to readmit Williamson offers a sliver of hope that the left of the Party, and its apparatus, may yet be able to tackle antisemitism.
A Curse On Both Your Brexits
Both the Conservative and Labour Party have found themselves divided over Brexit, but neither calls for a People's Vote or 'Lexit' are an adequate response to an insurgent nationalism
by
Jules Joanne Gleeson
/
April 4, 2019
/
Westminster
From Revolting Housewives to Big Problems: Women, Class and Politics
To claim that working-class women don't do politics is to overlook past and present experience of how, and what happens when, they do.
Questions for Centrists
To get further than vapid statements about ‘change’ and ‘politics being broken’, centrists must ask themselves some fundamental questions about beliefs and strategy.
Good Riddance
The departure of seven Labour MPs from the party, with the possibility of more to follow, offers Labour an historic opportunity to resolve a fundamental identity crisis.
by
The Editors
/
Feb. 18, 2019
/
Westminster
Do we really need a StateBook?
Corbyn’s digital speech is a good start, but we should look to redecentralise the web rather than build new social media monopolies.
Richard Burgon on Arise Festival, Trump and Stephen Yaxley-Lennon
An interview with Richard Burgon MP: 'We need to be ready for a general election whenever it comes'
by
The Editors
/
July 25, 2018
/
Westminster
This Government Must Stop Separating Families
The US government is not the only government separating migrant families - the UK government is also complicit in this, and it must end
by
Diane Abbott MP
/
July 4, 2018
/
Westminster
When we go into government, we all go into government together
We have the potential to rewrite history if we understand the magnitude of the situation we find ourselves in.
A House of Lords of the left? Corbynism and parliamentary reform
Do plans for an elected Lords go far enough or should the Labour leadership look to ideas around full abolition and the creation of a Citizen's Assembly?
'Old White Men?' Labour and the Question of Representation
Left-wing women have long struggled to feel fully represented in parliamentary politics.
by
Eve Livingston
/
Nov. 28, 2017
/
Westminster
Social Murder, Productivity Crisis & Irresponsible Technology Policy: The 2017 Budget
Wednesday’s budget was more striking for the economic indicators and forecasts produced by the Office for Budgetary Responsibility than for any of its specific policies.
A preview of the week in Parliament
This week in Parliament: ten minute rule bill on medical cannabis, a debate on supported housing and the publication of a bill on the energy cap.
by
oidptg
/
Oct. 9, 2017
/
Westminster
This week in Parliament: Theresa May's creeping despotism
Through fairly obscure means and made possible only by the support of the DUP, May's creeping despotism is set to skew Parliament's weak legislative scrutiny function even further.
by
oidptg
/
Sept. 11, 2017
/
Westminster
This Week in Parliament: Blacklisting and the Old Right's Venezuelan concern
Parliament returns today after the long summer recess. While Parliament is sitting, we will be looking to highlight interesting items on the agenda.
by
oidptg
/
Sept. 5, 2017
/
Westminster
Interview with Danielle Rowley MP
“Nowhere is more important to delivering another Labour government than Scotland,” commented Jeremy Corbyn ahead of embarking on his tour of marginal constituencies north of the border earlier this week.
by
The Editors
/
Aug. 25, 2017
/
Westminster
The Champion Problem
This episode serves as a timely reminder that having cemented the left of the Labour Party into the leadership, our work is far from over.
by
Hayley Masi
/
Aug. 22, 2017
/
Westminster
Democratic Socialism: Why the Left should demand a new Constitution
Even if Bernie Sanders in 2016 and Jeremy Corbyn in 2017 did not win their respective elections, they showed that democratic socialism is back as an electorally viable proposition.
The Myth of "Decent Tories"
Ever since Jeremy Corbyn was elected leader of the Labour Party, commentators have revelled in the idea that this left a vacant space in the political centre ground, waiting to be occupied by the right party.
by
Tommy Hodgson
/
Aug. 8, 2017
/
Westminster
Labour & Immigration
After two years of internal battles and a hostile right-wing media, Corbyn’s team shifted the debate on some of the country’s biggest issues in a way many thought unimaginable.
by
Maya Goodfellow
/
Aug. 6, 2017
/
Westminster
Labour Party Conference: Call for Contributions
This September, thousands of Labour Party members - including constituency and trade union delegates from across Britain - will descend upon Brighton for this year’s Labour conference.
by
The Editors
/
Aug. 4, 2017
/
Theory and Strategy,
Conference 2017,
Westminster,
Beyond Westminster,
Culture
Reshuffle 2: The Maintenance of the Malcontents
Earlier this week, Corbyn announced a second tranche of post-election appointments to the shadow front bench.
by
oidptg
/
July 8, 2017
/
Westminster
Reproductive Justice and the 2017 General Election—What Could Have Been
I've been a Labour member and activist for around a decade, and one of the most common refrains I've heard on the doors over the years is that politicians can't be trusted: all the parties are the same.
Notes on the Reshuffle
Earlier this week Corbyn quietly announced a reshuffle of his Shadow Cabinet.
A Vow of Silence? A Chronicle of Internal Attempts to Sabotage the Labour Election Campaign
Throughout the election campaign, New Socialist kept a record of what we argue amounted to attempts at sabotage of the Labour Party’s election campaign.
The State of the New PLP
A hugely significant but largely unremarked upon aspect of last Thursday’s election result is the fact that the parliamentary left has grown.
Editorial: The Sacking of Rebecca Long-Bailey
The sacking of Long-Bailey requires a drawing of a firm line. Socialist Campaign Group members on Labour's front bench should resign.
by
The Editors
/
June 25, 2020
/
Westminster
Neither Holborn & St Pancras nor Ashton-under-Lyne but independent socialism
To begin the era of Starmer and Rayner by taking sides in a battle between two non-socialists would be a mistake. The left needs to develop an independent socialism.
by
Nicky Hutchinson
/
May 13, 2020
/
Westminster
Editorial: Chris Williamson
The decision not to readmit Williamson offers a sliver of hope that the left of the Party, and its apparatus, may yet be able to tackle antisemitism.
A Curse On Both Your Brexits
Both the Conservative and Labour Party have found themselves divided over Brexit, but neither calls for a People's Vote or 'Lexit' are an adequate response to an insurgent nationalism
by
Jules Joanne Gleeson
/
April 4, 2019
/
Westminster
From Revolting Housewives to Big Problems: Women, Class and Politics
To claim that working-class women don't do politics is to overlook past and present experience of how, and what happens when, they do.
Questions for Centrists
To get further than vapid statements about ‘change’ and ‘politics being broken’, centrists must ask themselves some fundamental questions about beliefs and strategy.
Good Riddance
The departure of seven Labour MPs from the party, with the possibility of more to follow, offers Labour an historic opportunity to resolve a fundamental identity crisis.
by
The Editors
/
Feb. 18, 2019
/
Westminster
Do we really need a StateBook?
Corbyn’s digital speech is a good start, but we should look to redecentralise the web rather than build new social media monopolies.
Richard Burgon on Arise Festival, Trump and Stephen Yaxley-Lennon
An interview with Richard Burgon MP: 'We need to be ready for a general election whenever it comes'
by
The Editors
/
July 25, 2018
/
Westminster
This Government Must Stop Separating Families
The US government is not the only government separating migrant families - the UK government is also complicit in this, and it must end
by
Diane Abbott MP
/
July 4, 2018
/
Westminster
When we go into government, we all go into government together
We have the potential to rewrite history if we understand the magnitude of the situation we find ourselves in.
A House of Lords of the left? Corbynism and parliamentary reform
Do plans for an elected Lords go far enough or should the Labour leadership look to ideas around full abolition and the creation of a Citizen's Assembly?
'Old White Men?' Labour and the Question of Representation
Left-wing women have long struggled to feel fully represented in parliamentary politics.
by
Eve Livingston
/
Nov. 28, 2017
/
Westminster
Social Murder, Productivity Crisis & Irresponsible Technology Policy: The 2017 Budget
Wednesday’s budget was more striking for the economic indicators and forecasts produced by the Office for Budgetary Responsibility than for any of its specific policies.
A preview of the week in Parliament
This week in Parliament: ten minute rule bill on medical cannabis, a debate on supported housing and the publication of a bill on the energy cap.
by
oidptg
/
Oct. 9, 2017
/
Westminster
This week in Parliament: Theresa May's creeping despotism
Through fairly obscure means and made possible only by the support of the DUP, May's creeping despotism is set to skew Parliament's weak legislative scrutiny function even further.
by
oidptg
/
Sept. 11, 2017
/
Westminster
This Week in Parliament: Blacklisting and the Old Right's Venezuelan concern
Parliament returns today after the long summer recess. While Parliament is sitting, we will be looking to highlight interesting items on the agenda.
by
oidptg
/
Sept. 5, 2017
/
Westminster
Interview with Danielle Rowley MP
“Nowhere is more important to delivering another Labour government than Scotland,” commented Jeremy Corbyn ahead of embarking on his tour of marginal constituencies north of the border earlier this week.
by
The Editors
/
Aug. 25, 2017
/
Westminster
The Champion Problem
This episode serves as a timely reminder that having cemented the left of the Labour Party into the leadership, our work is far from over.
by
Hayley Masi
/
Aug. 22, 2017
/
Westminster
Democratic Socialism: Why the Left should demand a new Constitution
Even if Bernie Sanders in 2016 and Jeremy Corbyn in 2017 did not win their respective elections, they showed that democratic socialism is back as an electorally viable proposition.
The Myth of "Decent Tories"
Ever since Jeremy Corbyn was elected leader of the Labour Party, commentators have revelled in the idea that this left a vacant space in the political centre ground, waiting to be occupied by the right party.
by
Tommy Hodgson
/
Aug. 8, 2017
/
Westminster
Labour & Immigration
After two years of internal battles and a hostile right-wing media, Corbyn’s team shifted the debate on some of the country’s biggest issues in a way many thought unimaginable.
by
Maya Goodfellow
/
Aug. 6, 2017
/
Westminster
Labour Party Conference: Call for Contributions
This September, thousands of Labour Party members - including constituency and trade union delegates from across Britain - will descend upon Brighton for this year’s Labour conference.
by
The Editors
/
Aug. 4, 2017
/
Theory and Strategy,
Conference 2017,
Westminster,
Beyond Westminster,
Culture
Reshuffle 2: The Maintenance of the Malcontents
Earlier this week, Corbyn announced a second tranche of post-election appointments to the shadow front bench.
by
oidptg
/
July 8, 2017
/
Westminster
Reproductive Justice and the 2017 General Election—What Could Have Been
I've been a Labour member and activist for around a decade, and one of the most common refrains I've heard on the doors over the years is that politicians can't be trusted: all the parties are the same.
Notes on the Reshuffle
Earlier this week Corbyn quietly announced a reshuffle of his Shadow Cabinet.
A Vow of Silence? A Chronicle of Internal Attempts to Sabotage the Labour Election Campaign
Throughout the election campaign, New Socialist kept a record of what we argue amounted to attempts at sabotage of the Labour Party’s election campaign.
The State of the New PLP
