From Neil Kinnock to Nick Clegg, calls to democratise the House of Lords have been around for decades. At first glance, the argument appears compelling. A natural and necessary step for the evolution of British democracy. Why should, in a modern political system, any legislative body, responsible for representing the people and scrutinising the laws that will affect our lives, remain unelected? Yet this instinct, while understandable, risks overlooking the distinct and valuab

Reminiscent of the UK’s 2003 Stop The War demonstrations , where hundreds of thousands gathered to (unsuccessfully) oppose the Iraq War, the most recent wave of ‘No Kings’ rallies in the US saw demonstrations attended by over eight million Americans . Loudly and proudly criticising the administration of President Trump, there were several incredible photos (available here ). Focusing heavily on ICE, democratic freedom, and US republicanism, it was that last feature from which

In international politics today, the epithet ‘realism’ has become common currency. It carries with it a rhetorical confidence – a name which suggests prophecy of truth amongst alternatives which are deceptions. But as proclaiming a realist position has become something of a fashion nowadays, we must beware the fashion victims; those who don ill-fitting articles because they bear the right label, and wear its most ridiculous accessories without any sense of the motifs and subs

Content Warning: sexual themes of inter alia violence In February of this year, the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner’s recommendations in their report into sexual exploitation and trafficking via adult service websites was met with a nuanced and unemotional response from sex worker-focused charities and organisations, such as National Ugly Mugs . The Commissioner highlighted enduring issues; there were weak verification controls, weak reporting systems, instances of thi

September of last year marked Zack Polanski’s irruption into the highest echelon of British politics. The Green’s new leader, imbued with the gifts of personality, pitch and popularity, bestowed upon the party an attribute they had yet to enjoy – a brand. Polanski has swiftly turned himself into the Greens’ main asset; sharper than his predecessors, more media-savvy, more combative and far less embarrassed by the prospect of harnessing populism for his party’s good. Polanski,

In the aftermath of the Cold War, scholars such as Francis Fukuyama argued that liberal democracy represented the final stage of ideological evolution, famously framing it as “the end of history.” However, what was celebrated as the final and best form of human government began to buckle under its own contradictions almost as soon as the Berlin Wall fell. “The end” became the starting point for a new political reordering, characterised by the rise of anti-liberal and, eventu

Since October 2023, the passive observer has witnessed seemingly unending cruelty and bloodlust exerted by the Israeli war machine. The state’s obtrusive expansion, retaliation and settlement policies have been in place practically since its inception, of course, but these have happened largely away from the public eye. The American, European or global audience has been aware, perhaps even against the actions of state, yet the public consensus on the Israeli regime has been a

Mexican democracy is the result of a long, complex, and painful historical struggle. It did not emerge overnight, nor was it a generous concession from those in power, but rather the fruit of decades of citizen pressure, political mobilisation, persecution, repression, and, in some cases, bloodshed by those demanding free elections and plural representation. Therefore, the recent attempt at electoral reform promoted by President Claudia Sheinbaum raised alarm bells : it was n

I had the opportunity to attend An Evening With Zarah Sultana at the University of Surrey, graciously hosted by Amelie Abass . As I entered the building, socialist campaigners unaffiliated with the university passed out pamphlets outside, which promised alliances with trade unions, standing up to Reform, and not much more. That seemed to be an appropriate introduction to the night. Zarah Sultana, the MP for Coventry South since 2019, formerly of Labour Party fame, is now kno

If you follow mainstream Irish and Northern Irish press, you may have noticed an uptick this past year in articles referencing “Irish reunification” or “border poll”. There is a push by aligned Irish nationalist parties , academics , and VCS groups for a border poll as soon as possible. Some supporting arguments have been opportunistic – members of the SDLP argued during last year’s “Reform-o-mania” that Northern Ireland needed to exit the UK to escape the prospect of a Far

Democratic Governor of California Gavin Newsom, the frontrunner to be the next President of the United States , can do many things other politicians can’t. He can wear denim jeans and apply copious amounts of hair gel without looking like a fool, for example. What he doesn’t do, however, is break any moulds in the sense that he doesn’t add another ‘ism’ to American political vernacular. Though this article's headline refers to ‘Newsom(ism)’, those brackets are important becau

Every Thursday, I embark on a cross-London journey from South West to North West London, for a jazz choir that I love being a part of. All members are older than me, with the second youngest member of the group being our thirty-something Musical Director, a music teacher at a special needs primary school. Being the choir baby has its perks, but London’s youth at large are restless. We make up 53% of London, but London doesn’t work for us . Radical political change is unavoid

In recent weeks, eyes and ears have been focusing on the Middle East. Starmer’s hesitancy to go in behind the Americans and Israelis with all guns blazing has gone down well with the public, and his opposition to the right of him have taken a real misstep. It is a safe bet to assume that he will see a small rise in his favourability ratings in the coming weeks. However, Starmer would be foolish to think that this uptick will steady the ship. Whilst this has all been going on

“I’m not going to start a war. I’m going to stop wars.” These were the words of Donald Trump, the self-described “President of Peace”, as he railed against America’s interventions in foreign lands instead of “fixing the roads in this country…fixing our highways, our tunnels, our bridges, our hospitals.” America First! He promised his voters, vowing to improve the lives of ordinary Americans above all else. And yet, barely a year into his second presidency, a combination of T

Politics have become quite boring today. This is not to say that the news is uneventful – five minutes of doomscrolling will quickly put paid to that idea. And the humanitarian cost of it all is mounting rapidly in a crescendo that should alarm us all. But for the most part the politics in the West today continues to conform to a number of routines and rituals that contain little new within them; they are ripples from stones already dropped into the pond. We can see this in

The epithet “they are all as bad as each other” has increasingly become a mantra up and down the country, much to the dismay of canvassers and candidates alike. Green, Tory, Labour, and Reform voters may individually have starkly disparate grievances, but most seem to feel that politics and politicians don’t seem to work for them. If one word were to sum up the national mood, it would undoubtedly be apathy. It is apathy that has led both major political parties to reach their

There is a pervasive sense of societal fracture these days. Politics has become defined by dramatic narratives of battle between the Greens and Reform UK based on story rather than rooted in reality. Culture seems increasingly guided by a furious rejection of tradition, establishment, and imperialist pasts, or a righteous confabulated nostalgia for them. Compare Kneecap with a far-right AI generated rapper , or indeed the culture of the Oscars with the culture of “Looksmaxxi

‘In a digital era, entertainment often becomes collective memory. Real names are not fictional tools. They belong to real lives.’ – that was Daryl Hannah in an essay written in the New York Times last week, responding to Ryan Murphy’s characterisation of her in his new show ‘Love Story’, which follows the life and death of Carolyn Bessette and John F. Kennedy Junior. Hannah , who gained worldwide attention from her role in the 1982 film ‘Blade Runner’, dated JFK Jr. o

Last week, India’s Supreme Court rejected a repeat petition for 2-3 days of monthly menstrual leave for female workers and students. Lawyer Shailendra Mani Tripathi had previously filed it in February 2023 and July 2024, and the most recent rejection was filed by Justices Surya Kant and Joymala Bagchi. They had based their decision on the assumption that, if menstrual leave was put into effect, women would face increased barriers in the workplace. Kant stated that women who

I was driving in the suburban Newtownabbey area just north of Belfast recently. I went up past the Ballyduff estate, on my way to Larne or Carnlough, I forget. My attention was drawn to some flags on lampposts, at a crossroads, which I didn’t recognise. I have learnt to tune out the various assortment of flags. The Union Jack, The Ulster Banner, Orange Order flags, flute band flags, State of Israel, or even Danish flags. However, this flag drew my attention. They were four br