Tag Archives: Labour Party

Fṛm Đ Gardịn: Labour losing voters over Gaza matters – whether it hurts electorally or not

‘Patience with Keir Starmer’s position is running out.’ Photograph: Murdo MacLeod/The Guardian
‘Peśns wɖ Cir Starmr’z pziśn z runñ ǎt.’ Foṭgraf: Mrdo McLaud/Ɖ Gardịn
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Lebr luzñ votrz ovr Gaza matrz – ẃɖr it hrts ilectṛli or nt

Transcription of a Guardian article of 30 October 2023

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Cir Starmr’z rspons hz xpozd a parti ǎt v tuć wɖ, n īvn cntmtẏs v, its grasrūts

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Nesrine Malik
Nesrīn Malic

Munde, 30 Octobr 2023

Caʈi hd votd Lebr ol hr lîf. Ɖen ś hŕd an LBC inṭvy wɖ Cir Starmr. In it, h wz asct f it wz “aproprịt” ɖt Izrel śd bsij Gāza, cutñ of pǎr n wōtr. “I ʈnc Izrel dz hv ɖt rît,” Starmr rplaid. Caʈi imīɉtli rzînd fṛm ɖ parti, ẃć ś jônd ʈri yirz ago ẃn Starmr wz ilectd līdr. “Ɖs hz bn ɖ last strw,” ś tlz m. Prīvịs strwz, ś sz, includ a raft v poḷsiz ɖt Lebr hd wōtrd dǎn, n Tori poḷsiz ɖt Lebr wd nt rpil. Bt Lebr’z pziśn on ɖ sīj v Gāza hz cild of ɖ litl feʈ ś hd left.

Wɖ ɖt wn inṭvy n hiz rspons t its fōlǎt, Starmr hz demnstretd t sm Lebr votrz nt jst hiz fełr t ingej wɖ hǎ stroñli ɖe fīl, bt a wîdr, mor periḷs vulnṛbiḷti in hiz p’liticl project: a hartlis intranzijns ɖt ʈretnz t xōst ɖ gdwil so far xtndd t him.

Peśns z runñ ǎt, īvn amñ hî-profîl Lebr figrz. Sdīc Cān, Andi Brnm n Anas Sarwar hv ol brocn rancs wɖ ɖ Lebr līdrśp n cōld fr a sīsfîr. Az Izreli forsz step p grǎnd oṗreśnz in Gāza n ɖ hymaṇterịn sićueśn groz īvn mor despṛt, on ɖ cardz z nt jst a Lebr-parti rvolt bt a votrbôcót.

Ɖ cnsistnsi in ɖ pziśn v sevṛl Lebr votrz I spouc t ovr ɖ past fy dez z strîcñ. Ɖ mn asrśn: ɖe wl nt b votñ fr ɖs Lebr parti. Ɖ rīzn: ɖ parti crost a lîn bî ifctivli indorsñ Izrel’z cilñ n bsijñ v sviłnz. Ɖ lanḡj v a fînl rec̣nñ cem p a lot: “a red lîn”, “a lîn in ɖ sand”, “ɖ strw ɖt brouc ɖ caml’z bac”, a “masc hz slipt”. N ɖ angr z bî no mīnz secterịn. “It’s īzịr t frem it az a Mŭzlim iśu,” sz Caḷm, a membr hu hz left ɖ parti. “It’s nt a Mŭzlim iśu. It’s a hymn wn.”

Lebr’z damijliṃteśn rspons dd litl bt intrenć ɖs vy v an untruswrɖi, sinicl līdrśp. It tc Starmr dez t adres hiz LBC coments, n ɖen, bzarli, h clemd ɖt h nvr sd ɖm at ol. Ɖen ɖr wz hiz vizit t a mosc n Izlamic sntr in sǎʈ Wêlz, a saṇteśn x’sîz ɖt bacfîrd epicli. On sośl mīdia, Starmr postd iṃjz v smîlñ congrignnts, seyñ h hd “rpitd ǎr cōlz fr hosṭjz t b rlist, mor hymaṇterịn ed t entr Gāza, fr wōtr n pǎr t b swićt bac on, n a rnyd foc̣s on ɖ tū-stet s’lūśn”. A stetmnt iśùd bî Sǎʈ Wêlz Izlamic Sntr via ɖ Mŭzlim Caunsl v Wêlz rjctd Starmr’z vrśn v hǎ ɖ mītñ wnt, stresñ ɖt hiz “sośl mīdia post n iṃjz grevli misreprizntd ǎr congrignts n ɖ nećr v ɖ vizit”.

Ɖ dbācl z simbolic v ɖ tondefnis n rmotnis v ɖ upr rancs v ɖ Lebr parti. Ɖ episod left ɖoz involvd trōṃtîzd n unwilñ t coment frɖr on ɖ matr, ẃć mīnz ɖ sveṛti v ɖ afṭmaʈ hz nt bn fŭli graspt. Hvr, I spouc t Azim Āmed, ɖ secṛtri jenṛl v ɖ Mŭzlim Caunsl v Wêlz, n h tld m v a cḿṇti nǎ īvn mor angri at Lebr, bcz v hǎ ɖ vizit wz instṛmnṭlîzd; n v ɖ rzultñ damij t ɖ rleśnśp btwn locl partirepriznttivz n Wsminstr. “It’s riyli unḍmaind trust in poḷtiśnz az a hol,” h tld m. Fīlñz ran hî nt jst bcz v a “prínsipld abstract p’liticl standpônt. Ɖr r ppl in Wêlz hu hv hd ɖer faṃliz cmplitli wîpt ǎt in Gāza. Smtmz, ɖ dgri v seṗreśn fṛm smwn hu hz daid z tū dgriz, ʈri dgriz. Ɖs z ppl wurid abt ppl.”

Wn sīńr Lebr-parti membr dscrîbd ɖ reẓgneśn v Lebr caunslrz in rspons t ɖ parti’z pziśn on Gāza az “śecñ of ɖ flìz”. Ɖs aproć hz brōdli caṛcṭrîzd Lebr’z aproć t ɖ dsntñ vyz it hz atribytd en masse t a cranci left, bt it sīmz incrisñli risci ẃn a hî-octen p’liticl ivnt galṿnîzz ppl acrs a deṃgrafic profîl ɖt z tù larj t b so īẓli dsmist. S’leca, anɖr votr lost t Lebr in ɖ past tū wīcs, tlz m v an atṃsfir in hr locl eria in Hacni ẃr ppl r îdnṭfayñ wɖ ɖ Paḷstîn iśu ʈru “difṛnt inṭsx́nz” az it drwz in “grīnz, feṃnists n a brōdr libṛl cọliśn”. Mnẃl, poulñ rvilz a p’liticl istabliśmnt dṛmaticli at odz wɖ ɖ cuntri az a hol, in ẃć 76% r in s’port v a sīsfîr. Ɖt’s a lot v flìz.

Ɖr r uɖr riscs. “Ɖ grǎnd z śiftñ vri qcli,” Azim tld m. It’s bn so loñ sins Lebr hz bn in guvnmnt in ɖ YC ɖt “mni yuñ ppl d’nt īvn hv an xpirịns v ẃt ɖt mt lc lîc”. F ɖe form a stroñ neġtiv vy v ɖ parti nǎ, “ɖt rlayns on biyñ ɖ onli vaybl oltrṇtiv z nt a sef calkleśn at ol”.

Ɖr r sînz ɖt Lebr, practist nǎ in ɖ art v fiġrñ ǎt hu it cn śec of wɖt hrtñ its riilex́nćansz, z bginñ t cać on. In adiśn t Starmr’z atmt t rvrs hiz pziśn, ɖr hv bn mītñz wɖ Lebr MPz n caunsļīdrz. Bt it w’nt b inuf. Winñ ovr ɖoz ɖt hv ćect ǎt z abt mor ɖn Gāza. It’s abt adresñ ɖ growñ impreśn v Lebr az a parti incrisñli ǎt v tuć wɖ, n cntmtẏs v, its grasrūts, bʈ in poḷsi oḟrñ n ton.

Wns ɖt impreśn tecs hold, eni apilz t vot fr ɖ lesr v tū īvlz wl nt land. Ɖt risc wl nvr b fŭli graspt bî a parti constntli rdysñ protest t a numbrz x’sîz, a flìcalkleśn. I am tld bî a sīńr Lebr insîdr ɖt ɖ Paḷstîn iśu z olrdi biyñ aṇlîzd sol̦i in trmz v ẃć Mŭzlim sīts cd swñ awe fṛm Lebr, n ẃr wîld-card canddets cn swūp in, campen n win on ɖs sngl iśu, az Jorj Gaḷwe dd in ɖ past. Ɖ hop z ɖt ɖz r prospects unlîcli t cm t pas in a mtirịli daṃjñ we.

Bt let s fr a momnt rlis ǎrslvz fṛm ɖ tiṛni inflictd bî ɖ desṗreśn t gt rid v a c’lamiṭs Tori guvnmnt, n Lebr’z dmand ɖt w mst simpli hold ǎr nozz n folo its līd in ordr t aćiv ɖt end. Cnsrnz n fṛstreśnz abt Gāza stl matr, īvn f ɖe d’nt śo p in ɖ poulz, or f Lebr winz enwe. Akześnz ɖt eni objx́nz t ɖ Lebr project inebl ɖ Toriz xpoz a liṃtd, śruncn unḍstandñ v ẃt libṛl dmocṛsi z fr. It’s abt votñ, v cors, bt it’s olso abt cnsnt, abt ɖ fact ɖt votrz r riyl ppl wɖ fīlñz n visṛl rsponsz ɖt ɖe canot b xpctd t ńtr in ɖ srvis v a p’liticl sistm ɖt felz t repriznt ɖm, n ɖen blemz ɖm fr it.

Hold ppl t ransm az ɖe witnis a vast injustis prṗtretd n ɖe mt jst x’sîz ẃt ɖe si az ɖer onli mīnz v oʈntic p’liticl xpreśn. “It’s qt rer fr m t fīl ɖs mć angr twdz poḷtiśnz,” Franc, anɖr parti s’portr hu wl nǎ nt vot Lebr, tld m ẃn I asct him f h hz ʈt abt hǎ hiz abstnśn mt hlp ɖ Toriz, “so I’m gwñ t hīd ɖt.” It z a dámñ indîtmnt v ɖ Lebr parti ɖt ɖs rspons wl probbli b vyd nt az a moṛl rît, bt az a lux̣́ri.

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Instroduction to Ñspel

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"House by the Railroad," Edward Hopper, 1925

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Fṛm Đ Obzrvr: Brexit is the villain in accidental death of the economy

‘The actors change but the roles remain the same’: Sunak has continued Johnson’s legacy on Brexit. Photograph: WPA/Getty Images
‘Ɖ actrz ćenj bt ɖ rǒlz rmen ɖ sem’: Sūnac hz cntinyd Jonsn’z leġsi on Brexit. Foṭgraf: WPA/Geti Iṃjz
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Brexit z ɖ viḷn in axdntl deʈ v ɖ icoṇmi

(Transcription of an Observer article of 6 August 2023)

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Lîc caṛctrz in Dario Fo’z fars, w cmplen abt, bt toḷret, ɖ most daṃjñ p’liticl scandl v ǎr tîm

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William Keegan
Wiłm Cīgn

Súnde, 6 Ōġst 2023

At ɖ bginñ v ɖ frst Ʈaćr guvnmnt (1979-83), ɖ icoṇmist Jon Ceniʈ Galbrêʈ rout ɖt Britn wz ɖ prfict ples t conduct ɖ dybịs muniṭrist xperimnt rec̣mndd bî hiz felo icoṇmist Miltn Frīdmn. Ɖs wz bcz olɖo Galbrêʈ (rîtli) ʈt ɖ poḷsi wz crezi, Britiś “flém” wd si s ʈru, n ɖ tolṛnt neśn wd nt “tec t ɖ strīts”.

Ɖs meṃri cem t mînd rīsntli ẃn I wz at ɖ rvîvl v ɖt gret 1970z clasic Axdntl Deʈ v an Aṇcist. Dario Fo n Franca Rame’z fars hz bn updetd bî Tom Bazdn, n z a fîv-star trîumf. Ɖ meṃri wz ivoct bî ɖ sntṛl caṛctr, ɖ “meńac”, dclerñ: “Scandl z t ssayti ẃt cnfeśn z t ɖ sinr. It’s a cʈarsis [ɖt] fixz nʈñ: ɖ hostîl invîrnmnts, ɖ suij in ɖ sīz, ɖ piṛjz fr p’liticl donrz. N ẃt’s ɖ rzult? D w arest enwn? Cn w ćenj enʈñ? V cors nt … In glorịs dmocṛsiz sć az ǎrz, w gt t mon abt it instd.”

Ɖ most glẹrñ xampl v ɖs public tolṛns n monñ z v cors – wêt fr it – Brexit. Ɖ damij mǎnts, bt ɖr hz bn nʈñ in ɖ śep v a public inqîri or a royl cmiśn intu ẃt z indybitbli ɖ bigist n most daṃjñ p’liticl n ic̣nomic scandl v ǎr tîm.

Az ɖ “meńac” obzrvz: “Ɖ actrz ćenj, v cors, bt ɖ rǒlz rmen ɖ sem.” Ɖ miscrịnts hu cónd ɖ neśn – Boris Jonsn; Mîcl “Ppl hv hd inuf v xprts” Gov; Nîjl “Hǎ I luv ɖ lîmlît” F’rāź; Dańl “Brexit wl nt mīn līvñ ɖ sngl marcit, n ʈancs fr ɖ pirij” Hann; n a cast v ʈǎzndz – jst cari on śemlisli, ẃl ɖer rplesmnts, Riśi Sūnac n co, tec p ɖ banr, n Cir Starmr, wns a nobl rmenr, ofndz hiz naćṛl folowrz bî rūlñ ǎt rījônñ ɖ YY or īvn ɖ sngl marcit.

Ǒ, d’nt wuri, I am tld. Wns ɖe r in – f, az wîdli xpctd, ɖe win – Lebr wl mnd rleśnz wɖ ɖ YY. Bt, hañ on a minit: unls sm amezñ ivnt ocŕz, ɖr z unlîcli t b an ilex́n fr at līst anɖr yir, jrñ ẃć tîm Brexit wl rīc mor n mor damij, nt līst t ɖ cuntri’z fiscl pziśn.

Ẃć brñz s t ɖ topic ɖt hz bn doṃnetñ ɖ ic̣nomic nyz in ɖ past wīc: ɖ hî levl v inṭrestrets w r promist fr ɖ fōrsiybl fyćr on acǎnt v ɖ guvnmnt’s n ɖ Banc v Ñgḷnd’z dtrṃneśn t brñ ɖ ret v infleśn dǎn t 2% wɖn ẃt z noun az ɖ “fōrcastpirịd” – 18 munʈs t tū yirz – īvn at ɖ cost v rseśn.

Nǎ, ẃn ɖe r nt tayñ ɖmslvz p in sttisticl nóts, mî felo icoṇmists fṛm tîm t tîm rmînd s ɖt ẃt īc̣nomics śd riyli b abt z ɖ qoḷti v lîf. Mî frend Emos Witztum, in hiz mońmntl wrc Ɖ Btreyl v Libṛl Īc̣nomics, argyz forsḟli ɖt tù mć atnśn z peid t ic̣nomic groʈ, n nt inuf t a fer distṛbyśn v ic̣nomic rzorsz. “Distṛbyśn” hz v cors bn ɖ stuf v p’liticl dbet fr decedz, bt lîf z nt gwñ t gt eni īzịr f ǎtpt stagnets or fōlz, ẃć, bî deḟniśn, it dz jrñ a rseśn.

Ɖ teribl ʈñ z ɖt aftr imbarcñ on a nīdlis poḷsi v osteṛti fṛm 2010, n ɖen biyñ brǎbìtn intu a reḟrendm ɖe òt t rgret fr ɖ rest v ɖer livz, īvn ɖ non-mnaycl Toriz hv dn mć t dminiś ɖ qoḷti v lîf in ɖs cuntri.

Ẃ z infleśn so mć gretr a ʈret hir ɖn in ɖ YS or ɖ YY? Bcz v Brexit n its impact on ɖ cost v livñ. Indd, impndñ frɖr incrisz in ɖ cost v importñ fūd fṛm ɖ YY r olrdi frîṭnñ ɖ guvnmnt intu dleyñ ɖ nxt bǎt v byṛcratic reğleśnz rqîrd bî ɖ foli v Brexit.

Wn fînl, non-Brexit, xampl v nīdlis inṭfiṛns in ɖ qoḷti v lîf. In comn wɖ mni ppl v a srtn ej, I lîc bcñ trenticits fṛm a riyl prsn in a riyl ticit ofis. Indd, I am mć imprest bî ɖ cntińl flo v rsrć ẃć inḍcets ɖt sć sośl inṭćenjz r gd fr wn’z qoḷti v lîf.

Bt ɖr z anɖr pônt: in an ej ẃn corṗreśnz hv fūld “cnsymrz” intu ʈncñ ɖt ɖe śd d ɖ wrc on ɖ inṭnet, it z mć mor saṭsfayñ – n ifiśnt – t rlî on xprts t advîz wn wɖ travl arenjmnts. Yt w r tld ɖt ɖ guvnmnt hz instructd ɖ trencumṗniz t bgin clozñ ol ɖer ticit ofisz.

I īvn hŕd an ofiśl seyñ on ɖ Tde program ɖt ɖs wd b an impruvmnt in ifiśnsi n wd fri stāf t b on ɖ platform t hlp “custmrz” wɖ qiriz. Hǎ pasinjrz wd b ebl t gt on t ɖ platform wɖt a ticit fṛm ɖ clozd ticit ofis wz nt xplend.

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Instroduction to Ñspel

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"House by the Railroad," Edward Hopper, 1925

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Fṛm Đ Gardịn: After 44 years, Labour is expelling me. And my MP and activist friends are asking: who will be next?

Labour leader Keir Starmer at County Hall, London, 27 June 2023. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA
Lebr līdr Cir Starmr at Cǎntihōl, Lundn, 27 Jūn 2023. Foṭgraf: Stefan Rousseau/PA
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Aftr 44 yirz, Lebr z xpelñ m. N mî MP n acṭvist frendz r ascñ: hu wl b nxt?

Transcription of a Guardian article of 30 June 2023

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Ɖr sīm t b bŭliz at ɖ top hu d’nt unḍstand plŭṛlizm. Ɖe si onli tru b’livrz n sworn eṇmiz

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Neal Lawson

Nìl Lwsn, Frîde, 30 Jūn 2023

Last Frîde an īmeil fṛm ɖ Lebr parti – v ẃć I’v bn a membr fr 44 yirz – brouc mî p’liticl hart. Ɖe rout coldli t tel m ɖt bac in Me 2021, I’d cmitd a crîm: rītwītñ a Lib Dém MP’z cōl fr sm votrz t bac Grīn canddets in locl ilex́nz, acumṗnid bî mî sjsćn ɖt sć crosparti cooṗreśn reprizntd “grounup pṛgresiv poḷtics”. Mî puniśmnt? Xpulśn.

Ẃ dd I se ɖt, ẃ on rʈ am I biyñ xpeld fr it, n ẃt mt it mīn fr ɖ fyćr v ǎr poḷtics? I sd it fr tū rīznz. Frst, bcz ɖ pṛgresiv mjoṛti in ǎr cuntri z ʈwortd bî ɖ ilectṛl sistm. Vots on ɖ rît g olmst xclusivli t ɖ Toriz, bt ɖ pṛgresiv vot z olwz split btwn Lebr, Lib Démz n Grīnz. Undr frst past ɖ post (FPƉP) ɖ Cnsrṿtivz win on a mnoṛti v ɖ vot, agn n agn. Cooṗreśn btwn pṛgresivz jst mcs sns.

Bt ɖ riyl rīzn I sd it z bcz cooṗreśn z ẃt ppl d ẃn ɖe hv brōdli śerd golz bt brñ difṛnt atṛbyts n îdīaz t ɖ tebl. In evri aspect v ǎr dêli lîvz, w s’xid ẃn w wrc rspctḟli wɖ uɖrz. It’s cōld plŭṛlizm, n it seḷbrets ǎr difṛnsz in ɖ śr-fîr nolij ɖt eni fyćr wrʈ hvñ z wn w ngośiet wɖ uɖrz rɖr ɖn wn impozd on s.

Ɖ Lebr parti wz fǎndd on ɖ prínsipl v plŭṛlizm: it wz a feḍreśn v tredyńnz n soṣ́list ssaytiz ɖt cooṗretd fr a comn prṗs. Its iniśl ilectṛl brecʈru cem in 1906 bcz ɖ Libṛl parti std asd in 30 sīts. Ɖ spîn v Lebr’z rmarcbl 1945 maṇfesto cem fṛm ɖ Libṛl mîndz v Jon Mênard Cīnz n Wiłm Beṿrij. N ɖen, bfr 1997, Toni Bler n Padi Aśdǎn forjd a stroñ bond t gt ɖ Toriz ǎt n uśr a ny Britn in.

Tde Lebr caunslrz wrc hand in hand wɖ Grīnz n Lib Démz t dfnd cḿṇtiz fṛm Tori cuts. In Wêlz Lebr runz ɖ cuntri s’xesḟli in alayns wɖ Plaid Cymru, ɖ Wlś naśṇlists.

Ɖs rịlistic n hopfl poḷtics z ɖ hart n soul v Lebr. It fîndz mīnñfl xpreśn nǎ in ɖ oṿẃlmñ bacñ v membrz n yńnz fr pṛporśnl repriznteśn (PR), so ɖt ol vots cǎnt īqli n ɖus būst ɖ Lib Démz n ɖ Grīnz at ɖ xpns v ɖ Toriz. It sjsts a wrld in ẃć Lebr dz az wel az poṣbl bt nz ɖt guṿnñ wɖ uɖrz z betr ɖn luzñ alon. Ɖs z ẃr I stand – on ɖ śoldrz v jaynts sć az Jon Smiʈ, Nìl Ciṇc, Robin Cc, Mo Mǒḷm n tde, Ed Miḷband n Andi Brnm. So, ẃ yz an uncntnśs twīt fṛm ovr tū yirz ago t trî t xpel m?

Ɖ rīzn z ɖt ɖ parti-mśīn z no longr run in ɖs loñ n rić spirit v plŭṛlizm. It hz bn capćrd bî a clīc hu si onli tru b’livrz or sworn eṇmiz. Ɖe r bhevñ lîc plêgrǎnd bŭliz, yzñ ppl’z desṗreśn t gt rid v Toriz n ɖ liṃteśnz v ɖ votñsistm t infors diṣplin intrṇli n xtrṇli. Ol ɖs z fast amǎntñ t an abysiv rleśnśp in ẃć frst past ɖ post gvz membrz no rịlistic oltrṇtiv parti t līv fr, n ɖ votrz nẃr els t pt ɖer cros. PR z ɖ rùt t a pṛgresiv snć̣ri, bt fr ɖ Lebr mśīn ɖt wd mīn sacṛfîsñ its doṃnirñ pǎr: most v its bhevyr nǎ oriɉnetd in ɖs paṛnôd, top-dǎn we v p’liticl ʈncñ.

It dz’nt sīm t matr t ɖ clīcs at ɖ top ɖt īvn mîldli radicl poḷsiz r biyñ junct or wōtrd dǎn – fṛm rentcntrolz t ɖ £28bn-a-yir grīn trnziśn – or ɖt Lebr’z līdr ćuzz ɖ Rūṗt Mrdoc paʈ t pǎr ovr ɖ pṛgresiv-mjoṛti rùt. Ɖe bat awe sjsćnz ɖt īvn f Lebr rūl wl b betr ɖn ɖ Cnsrṿtivz, it wl nt b gd inuf t dīl wɖ a prṃcrîsis wrld, n its śeci hold on pǎr cd denjṛsli pev ɖ we t oʈoṛterịn popylizm. Mor ɖn enʈñ, ɖ mśīn dz’nt cer f ɖr’z an absns v hop in its project: it dz’nt matr ẃt y ʈnc or fīl, so loñ az y obījntli s’port it.

I fīl a dīp sadnis ɖt I’v traid t d mî bit t mc Lebr a mor hopfl, ambiśs, jenṛs n cmpaśṇt ples, n evrʈñ hz cm t ɖs end. I fīl ɖ hrt v siyñ mî MP n acṭvist frendz caud bî ɖ fir ɖt ɖe me b nxt; ɖt ɖe mst wōc sm arbitrri lîn ɖt cīps ɖm constntli woćñ ɖer bacs. I fīl śoct ɖt ɖ fax́ṇlizm I wornd agnst at ɖ start v ɖ yir in ɖz pejz hz tecn its rvnj n priti mć pruvd ɖ pônt: it’s a peti tiṛni. It wl b trajic f ɖs z ɖ culćr Lebr tecs intu guvnmnt, bcz it wl fel. N it’s nt partibyṛcrats hu wl pe ɖ prîs, bt ɖ neśn.

Poḷtics cn b bytifl or brūtl. It cn b a ples v drīmz n hop, c’lectiv indevr, jeṇroṣti n luv. Or it cn dnî ol ɖoz ʈñz. In hiz aḷgoricl ple Ɖ Crūṣbl, abt ɖ MCarʈiît wićhunts in ɖ YS, Arʈr Milr raits: “Y nǒ in ol yr blac harts ɖt ɖs b frōd … Y r pŭlñ Hevn dǎn!”

Lebr’z prṣktrz n wićfîndrz r’nt ɖ bst v ɖ parti, jst ɖ ppl hu cuṛntli hapn t b at ɖ top. Ɖe r hard bt britl. Inevitbli, lîc ol bŭliz, ɖe hv t b jenṛsli bt frmli std p t, untl ɖe unḍstand ɖer ǒn inṣkṛtiz n cn start t hīl. T mî akzrz, I ɖrfr snd mî luv.

Y cn fît olmst enʈñ bt ɖ zîtgîst, ɖt inevitbl spirit ɖt śeps ǎr lîvz. Tde, in ɖ fes v inorṃs ćaḷnjz n oṗtyṇtiz, ol w hv z ǎr inṭcnctidnis n ǎr śerd hymaṇti. Pluralism, ɖt ugli bt pǎrfl wrd, z ɖ fors ɖt wl śep enʈñ ɖt z pṛgresiv. Bcz it z rît, it z gd, bcz it wrcs n ppl olmst evrẃr nǒ it. Ɖs vri hymn truʈ z ɖ oṗzit v ɖ mesij I wz snt in ɖt cold n clinicl īmeil. Smẃr in ɖer harts, I sspct ɖ ppl hu rout it nǒ ɖt az wel.

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Nìl Lwsn z d’rectr v ɖ cros-parti campen orġnîześn Cumṗs

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Instroduction to Ñspel

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"House by the Railroad," Edward Hopper, 1925

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Fṛm ɖ Gardịn │ Cold, cynical and paranoid: if this is Labour in opposition, what will it look like in power?

Illustration by Matt Kenyon
Iḷstreśn bî Mát Céńn
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Cold, sinicl n paṛnôd: f ɖs z Lebr in opziśn, ẃt wl it lc lîc in pǎr?

(Transcription of a Guardian article of 11 June 2023)

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Cir Starmr’z parti z pśñ ɖ îdīa ɖt y cn psy pṛgresiv endz ʈru nasti mīnz t its limit

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John Harris

Jon Haris, Súnde, 11 Jūn 2023

On bʈ ɖ rît n left v ɖ Lebr parti, wn articl v feʈ hz olwz sīmd t b set in ston: ɖ îdīa ɖt y cn psy pṛgresiv drīmz yzñ no end v sculduġri n nastinis, n nvr wuri abt ɖ contṛdix́nz. Ẃɖr ɖe hv bn Blerîts, Brǎnîts, dsîplz v Jeṛmi Corbin or srvnts v Cir Starmr, a srtn cnd v Lebr hî-up hz olwz ʈrîvd on a loɖñ n mstrust v ɖer intrnl eṇmiz, n a drîv t sīz cntrol v ɖ parti mśīn. Ẃt ɖs inteilz z olwz ɖ sem: manic aṗraćics – men, yẓ́li – stōcñ arnd parti oḟsz, despṛtli trayñ t fix ɖ s’lex́nz v parḷmntri canddets, n dspnsñ of-ɖ-record brīfñz abt ẃćvr figrz r dīmd redi fr liqdeśn.

Bt on ɖs scor, az Boris Jonsn cōzz yt mor Tori ceos, n Lebr’z ćansz v līdñ ɖ nxt guvnmnt s’lidfî, ɖ cuṛnt līdr n hiz tīm sīm t b in a līg v ɖer ǒn. Frst cem ɖ wɖdrwl v ɖ Lebr ẃip fṛm Corbin. Jst ovr a wīc ago, Jêmi Driscl, ɖ ilectd mẹr v ɖ Norʈ v Tîn eria, wz cept ǎt v ɖ runñ t līd ɖ ny norʈ-īst rījn, wɖ no ofiśl noṭficeśn v ẃ, or eni rît v apil (ɖ rīzn gvn t ɖ mīdia z hiz apiṛns at an arts ivnt alñsd ɖ film d’rectr Cén Lǒć, xpeld fṛm ɖ parti bcz v hiz membrśp v ɖ pṛscrîbd orġnîześn Lebr Agnst ɖ Wićhunt, ẃć clemd ɖt aḷgeśnz v Lebr antīseṃtizm wr “p’liticli motvetd”).

Fr ɖ past yir, mnẃl, les hî-profîl storiz hv bn pîlñ p abt xcluźnz fṛm parḷmntri śortlists n meḍlñ in locl partiz. Az evidnst bî ɖ Driscl n Corbin cesz, ɖ ppl arnd Starmr ofn frem ẃt ɖe r dwñ in trmz v rūtñ ǎt antīseṃtizm. Bt ɖe olso fil ɖer “dy dilijns” ćarjśīts wɖ an are v uɖr alejd trnzgreśnz. In dwñ so, ɖe nt onli ćīpn ɖer ces, bt pônt t wn iniscepbl cncluźn: ɖt ẃt z gwñ on z olso abt sqośñ enʈñ n enwn dīmd îɖr tù left-wñ or in eni we dis’bīdịnt.

Ɖr z no incnsistnsi in s’portñ Lebr’z nyfǎnd intolṛns v anti-Juiś preɉdis, ẃl olso wunḍrñ ẃ unriletd – n cmplitli trîḟlñ – akześnz r olso sáitd, agn n agn, n boġlñ at a parti so nglectfl v bʈ dy proses n cnsistnt standdz. Bhevyr flagd az probḷmatic hz includd lîcñ twīts bî ɖ formr Lebr poḷsićīf Andru Fiśr n ɖ Grīn parti MP Caṛlîn Lūc̣s, n gvñ an onlîn ʈumz-up t ɖ Okpî muvmnt, ẃć fedd awe a deced ago. In Miltn Cīnz, ɖ rīznz gvn bî ɖ parti fr xcludñ a wd-bi parḷmntri canddet includd lîcñ wn twīt bî Nic̣la Strjn seyñ ɖ Scotiś frst ministr hd rcuvrd fṛm Covid-19, n anɖr ɖt cōld Starmr a “prat”.

A nyli rcrutd Lebr acṭvist in ɖ Corniś sīt v Cambōrn n Redruʈ wz cntactd abt past twīts xpresñ fevṛbl opińnz abt sīńr Grīn-Parti poḷtiśnz – n nt jst rūld ǎt v ɖ locl canddet s’lex́nproses, bt xpeld fṛm ɖ parti (“Cafc̣esc insaṇti,” ś sd, nt unrīzṇbli). Fr uɖrz, ẃtvr ɖ tōc fṛm parti insîdrz abt ɖ nīd fr “compitnt n pṛfeśnl” canddets, ɖr hv bn onli ɖ lîtist slaps on ɖ rist: ɖ ẃît līdr v Barcñ n Daġnm caunsl, Daṛn Rodwél, joct at a blac hisṭri ivnt ɖt h hd ɖ “wrst tan poṣbl fr a blac man”, bt rmend on a locl parḷmntri śortlist aftr biyñ clird v eni roñduwñ, n z nǎ a cnfrmd Lebr canddet, rīsntli hŕd sjstñ ɖt ppl śd b ivictd fṛm sośl hǎzñ f ɖer ćildṛn d nt inform on ppl hu cmit nîfcrîm.

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‘Only the lightest slaps on the wrist.’ Darren Rodwell. Photograph: Mark Kerrison/Alamy
‘Onli ɖ lîtist slaps on ɖ rist.’ Daṛn Rodwél. Foṭgraf: Marc Cerisn/Aḷmi

Nǎ, az lūmñ bǎnḍrićenjz inteil a ny brst v s’lex́ncontests, ɖ storiz r mulṭplayñ. In sǎʈ Wêlz, fr xampl, tū sitñ MPz hd t rīsntli unḍgo a s’lex́ncontest fr a ny cnstitẏnsi spanñ ɖ cuṛnt sīts v Merthyr Tydfil n Rhymney n Cynon Vali. Ɖ rzult wz nʈñ f nt pridictbl: Starmr’z śado Wêlz ministr, Jeṛld Jǒnz, dfitd ɖ leftwñr Beʈ Wintr, hu sz ɖ contest wz “bldozd” ʈru in a fortnît, wɖ no in-prsn hustñz. Lîc Driscl, ś sz ś wl b “tecñ advîs n sǎndñz in ɖ dez ahd abt mî nxt steps”, bt ɖ mśīn grîndz on.

Bynd ɖ itrnl batl btwn Lebr’z rît n left, ɖ uɖr ʈñ ɖt sīmz t incŕ ɖ roʈ v ppl at ɖ top z membrz n acṭvists biyñ frendli twdz uɖr partiz. In ɖ Ćrwél district v Oxfdśr, ɖ rzults v Me’z caunsl ilex́nz mnt ɖt ɖ locl Lebr parti cd hv formd a cọliśn wɖ ɖ Lib Démz, Grīnz n locl indipndnts, bt ngośieśnz apaṛntli fél apart aftr an inṭvnśn bî ɖ parti’z naśnl-xektiv cmiti, handñ pǎr t a mnoṛti Tori admiṇstreśn.

In ɖ homcǎntiz bura v Hartsmir, mnẃl, ɖ locl parti z stl awêtñ ɖ NXS’z dsiźn on ẃɖr or nt t apruv its dīl wɖ ɖ Lib Démz, ẃl Lebr’z rījnl ofis hz sspndd tū locl acṭvists fṛm peid jobz in ɖ parti orġnîześn, n wɖdrwn ɖ partimembrśp v tū uɖrz. Ɖer alejd crîm, ẃć ɖe strenẏsli dnî, z orġnîzñ an “unoʈ̇rîzd ilectṛl páct” wɖ anɖr parti – in uɖr wrdz, trayñ t max̣mîz Tori losz.

In Wsminstr, ɖr z wn uɖr elimnt v ɖ līdrśp’s bhevyr: a brīfñculćr huz toxiṣti z incrisñ fast. Rīsnt targits v Lebr’z ẃisprrz hv includd ɖ śado homsecṛtri, Ivét Cūpr, hr cabiṇt colīg Ed Miḷband n ɖ Gretr Manćestr mẹr, Andi Brnm. “Ẃnvr I g ǎt ɖr wɖ smʈñ poẓtiv, ɖ neġtiv Wsminstr brīfñ mśīn smhǎ flics intu gir,” sz Brnm. Mni Lebr ppl sīm t b mizṛbli cīpñ ɖer hedz dǎn, in ces ɖe, tù, cm t ɖ atnśn v ppl hu cd yt brñ ɖer p’liticl c’rirz t an abrupt end. It ol fīlz lîc ɖ oṗzit v ɖ c’lectiv dtrṃneśn n xîtmnt ɖt òt t b cohirñ az ɖ nxt ilex́n aproćz, n promts wn obvịs qsćn: f ʈñz r ɖs ugli ẃn Lebr z in opziśn, ẃt wl hapn f it acć̣li tecs pǎr?

Ẃn h ran fr līdr, Starmr clemd t b’liv in xacli ɖ cnd v poḷtics ɖt h n hiz ppl nǎ apir t b set on dstroyñ. H wontd, h sd, t naśṇlîz ytiḷtiz, scrap tyiśnfiz n pt p incmtax fr hî rnrz; at arnd ɖ sem tîm, h wz filmd aśurñ Driscl ɖt h wontd t “yṇfî ɖ parti”, stop its fax́nz “tecñ lumps ǎt v ć uɖr” n criet “an invîrnmnt in ẃć ppl cn rspctḟli dis’gri n cm tgɖr”. It z hard t cīp p wɖ smwn so sriyli ćenɉbl. Bt h n hiz ppl sīm t ʈnc ɖe cn act wɖ cmplit impyṇti, on ɖ besis ɖt enwn hu wonts a ćenj v guvnmnt wl sn hv t pt ɖer X in ɖ yźl box.

Pt anɖr we, it z onli ǎr crŭcid ilectṛl sistm ɖt indǎz Lebr wɖ its p’liticl mnoṗli, n gvz ɖ fixrz n aṗraćics ɖer pǎr. A lot v ppl in ɖ parti sīm t unḍstand ɖt – ẃć z part v ɖ rīzn ẃ last yir’z Lebr confṛns votd t trnsform poḷtics bî imbresñ pṛporśnl repriznteśn. Starmr n hiz ppl, az y me rcōl, indcetd ɖt ɖ dsiźn wd b ignord, n rtrnd t ɖ biznis at hand: cmand, cntrol, n a cnd v pǎr so cold n sinicl ɖt y smtmz wundr f it hz eni content at ol.

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Instroduction to Ñspel

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"House by the Railroad," Edward Hopper, 1925

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Fṛm Đ Obzrvr: Even Farage says Brexit has failed. Why won’t Starmer?

Keir Starmer on visit to Scotland last week. Photograph: Euan Cherry/PA
Cir Starmr on vizit t Scotḷnd last wīc. Foṭgraf: Ywn Ćeri/PA
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Īvn F’rāź sz Brexit hz feld. Ẃ w’nt Starmr?

(Transcription of an Observer article of 28 May 2023)

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Az evri sectr cǎnts ɖ mǎntñ cost v ǎr caṭstrofic brec wɖ Yṛp, Lebr mst fînd its nrv

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William Keegan
Wiłm Cīgn

Súnde 28 Me 2023

Ẃt d mî frendz ɖ ḿziśnz Stñ, Jon Eʈ̇rij n Tom MGinis (v ɖ Manfridz) hv in comn, apart fṛm ḿzic? Ɖe hv rīsntli tld m ɖe r witṇsñ frst-hand ɖ fṛstreśnz v Brexit: los v ɖ beṇfits v frīdm v muvmnt, n ɖ byṛcratic damij inflictd on wn v ɖs cuntri’z wîdli rec̣gnîzd streñʈs, nemli ɖ crietiv arts.

In ɖs ɖe r jônd bî most Britiś mańfacćrrz n membrz v ɖ hosṗtaḷti inḍstri. Ɖz r struġlñ t fînd rplesmnts fr ɖ YY wrcrz hu hv bn md t fīl unwelcm n hv bn ifctivli bánd, or votd wɖ ɖer fīt. Ol ɖer wd-bi imployrz ʈnc Brexit z hyjli daṃjñ t ɖer rspctiv bizṇsz, n wd lîc t rvrs it.

Morovr, ɖe canot unḍstand ẃ ɖ Lebr parti z biyñ so wet on ɖ iśu. Wn hírz ɖ vy ɖt Cir Starmr z pleyñ a cōśs n clevr gem. Bt wn olso hírz ɖ vy ɖt, fr ol ɖ eḟts v Starmr n śadoćanslr Rećl Rīvz t cnvins ɖ public ɖt Lebr hz a viźn, ɖs viźn z cmñ acrs az biyñ smẃt blŕd, n misṭli cnfyzñ.

At a tîm ẃn opińnpoulz śo ɖt clir mjoṛtiz v rspondnts ʈnc Brexit wz a mstec, n wn v ɖ prîm culprits, ɖ igrījs Nîjl F’rāź, admits ɖt “Brexit hz feld”, Lebr sīmz teṛfaid v sizñ ɖ oṗtyṇti v a p’liticl lîftîm, n simpli gwñ fr rījônñ.

Bfr w cntiny, it śd b notd ɖt, inevitbli, F’rāź blemz evrwn bt himslf fr ɖ dzastr v Brexit, n śoz no sînz, az yt, v flfilñ hiz promis t “liv abrōd” f Brexit pruvd t b ɖ dzastr it indybitbli z.

Ɖ ultiṃt îṛni, az ɖ formr YY cmiśnr fr comṗtiśn Mario Monti rmîndd s in ɖ Fînanśl Tîmz, z ɖt “ɖ beṇfits v sć a s’xesfl project [ɖ sngl marcit], huz peṛnts wr tū Britiś poḷtiśnz (prîm̦inistr Marġrit Ʈaćr n cmiśnr Arʈr Cǒfīld) wd ivnć̣li b gvn p bî ɖ YC az part v Brexit”.

I canot rfren fṛm rmîndñ ppl v ǎr Brexitr prîm̦inistr Riśi Sūnac’s Frôdịn slip in pôntñ ǎt t ɖ ōcẉd sqod in ɖ Norɖn Îriś Deṃcratic Yńnist parti ɖt bî biyñ in ɖ YC n ɖ sngl marcit ɖe hd ɖ bst v bʈ wrldz.

It z a comn rfren ɖt “ʈñz r gwñ t pot” n “nʈñ sīmz t b wrcñ proprli” – an xaɉreśn, phps, bt an unḍstanḍbl wn. Bt wn ʈñ z abundntli clir: ppl cn no longr blem ɖ YY fr ɖer trublz. Yirz v osteṛti n nglect r caćñ p wɖ s.

Ẃć brñz s bac t Lebr. I cmnd ɖ vy v Trevr Grīʈm v Royl Lundn: “Ẃl ɖr wz’nt a ‘Brexit diṿdnd’ ɖr wd srtnli b a ‘rvrsñ Brexit’ diṿdnd. Eni parti cmñ in t ofis wɖ a creḍbl promis t jôn ɖ sngl marcit, or ultiṃtli ɖ YY, wd b ebl t bes ɖer tax n spendñ planz on a sgnificntli larjr icoṇmi wɖ OBR apruvl” – a refṛns t ɖ Ofis fr Bujit Rsponsbiḷti’z wîdli axptd calkleśn ɖt ɖ macroec̣nomic cost v Brexit rîzz t abt 4% or £100bn a yir.

Ɖ oltrṇtiv, sz Grīʈm, z ɖ “osteṛti marc tū” olrdi pnsld in fr ɖs guvnmnt’s planz fr public spendñ śd it win ɖ nxt ilex́n.

Nǎ, ɖ damij biyñ cōzd bî Brexit z mǎntñ viẓbli bî ɖ de. Mî tū objx́nz t ɖoz poḷtiśnz n coḷmnists hu se it wl b yirz bfr w cn rījôn r, frst, ɖ damij z gaṛntìd t intnṣfî ẃn ɖ nxt stej v ɖ barịrz t tred cmz intu fors at ɖ end v ɖs yir, n, secnd, ɖr r stl ultṛrîtwñ Brexitrz hu r trayñ t infors ɖ abandnmnt v ʈǎzndz v YY lwz, ẃć wd mc it ɖt mć mor dificlt t ngośiet rientri. So far īvn Brexitr Sūnac hz wordd ɖm of on most iśuz, bt ɖoz YRG fnatics r stl hard at it.

Aftr ɖ sirñ xpirịns wɖ ɖ 2016 reḟrendm, ppl wuri abt ɖ gosts ɖt mt ri’pir f ɖr z anɖr. Bt ẃ boɖr? Edẉd Hīʈ sīmz t b rmembrd prinsipli fr ɖ ʈri-de wīc v 1973-74 n biyñ bròt dǎn bî ɖ mainrz. Bt h olso gz dǎn in hisṭri fr x’sîzñ ɖ līdrśp t tec s intu ẃt wz ɖen ɖ Yṛpiyn Ic̣nomic Cḿṇti in 1973 – it wz Haṛld Wilsn hu hld a reḟrendm in 1975 t recnsîl ɖ disidnts in ɖ Lebr parti. Msz Ʈaćr dd nt fīl ɖ nīd t hold a reḟrendm in 1986 ẃn w jônd ɖ sngl marcit.

In mî vy, Starmr śd cm ǎt stroñli, n sn, fr rientri. H śd mc it an ilex́n iśu, ẃl haṃrñ hom ɖ mǎntñ costs v a Brexit ćampịnd bî a felñ n toṭli dscredtd Cnsrṿtiv-Brexit parti.

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Instroduction to Ñspel

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"House by the Railroad," Edward Hopper, 1925

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Fṛm Đ Gardịn: There is a way to oust the Tories, and stop them ever rising again. Why won’t we do it?

‘Ẃ w’nt Cir Starmr n Lebr’z old gard … g wɖ ɖ flo v last wīc’s rzults?’ Ɖ Lebr līdr teḷfonz votrz on poulñ de, 4 Me 2023. Foṭgraf: Stefan Rousseau/PA
‘Ẃ w’nt Cir Starmr n Lebr’z old gard … g wɖ ɖ flo v last wīc’s rzults?’ Ɖ Lebr līdr teḷfonz votrz on poulñ de, 4 Me 2023. Foṭgraf: Stefan Rousseau/PA
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Ɖr z a we t ǎst ɖ Toriz, n stop ɖm evr rîzñ agn. Ẃ w’nt w d it?

(Transcription of a Guardian editorial of 9 May 2023)

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Nǎ ɖ dust hz setld on ɖ locl ilex́nz, cǎnt ɖ rîtwñ vots n ɖen ɖ pṛgresiv wnz, n si ẃ PR z mor vîtl ɖn evr

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Neal Lawson

Nìl Lwsn, Tyzde 9 Me 2023

Amd ɖ p’liticl sǎnd n fyri stl rvrḅretñ aftr ɖ sêizmic locl ilex́nz in Ñgḷnd, ɖr z a qaytr bt dtrmind nôz eṃnetñ fṛm ɖ cǎntiz n śîrz. It z ɖ sǎnd v a ny poḷtics, best nt on hybris or partitrîḅlizm bt a b’lif ɖt, in ɖz complex, fast-muvñ tîmz, onli cros-parti cooṗreśn cn win pǎr n yz it ifctivli.

In Hartsmir n Bracnl, in Luis n Weṿli, acrs ɖ Lundn cḿtr blt in Suri, Cnt, Hartfdśr, Susix n mor, pṛgresiv-parti acṭvists rfyzd t b bìtn bî an ilectṛl sistm ɖt z stact agnst ɖm.

Ɖer s’xes wz drivn bî tū simpl facts. Frst, on ɖ rgresiv sîd v ɖ baḷtpepr ɖr wz onli wn ples t pt yr X, on ɖ pṛgresiv sîd, at līst ʈri. Tîrd v splitñ ɖ vot n letñ ɖ rît ʈru on a mnoṛtiśer v ɖ vot, acṭvists hv bn wrcñ undr ɖ redar t foc̣s ẃr ɖe cn win. Ɖs dīp tacticl campenñ ɖen alînz wɖ unpresdntd levlz v tacticl votñ, n ɖ rzults fr ɖ Toriz wr devstetñli bad.

Secnd, ɖ alarmñ bt comn nolij ɖt w liv in a prṃcrîsis wrld v ic̣nomic, jioṗliticl, tecṇlojicl n clîṃt ceos. W nīd an indyrñ n trnsforṃtiv ny pṛgresiv cnsnss, lîc ɖt v 1945, bt, unlîc ɖt postwor setlmnt, it’s nt gwñ t cm fṛm a sngl-parti sors bt a multiparti’layns.

Ẃt brñz ɖs obvịs ilectṛl n guṿnñ poḷtics tgɖr z, v cors, pṛporśnl repriznteśn (PR). Ɖ ofr t ćenj ǎr votñsistm galṿnîzz ɖ letnt pṛgresiv mjoṛti in ǎr cuntri n enśurz ɖ Toriz cn nvr guvn agn wɖt a mjoṛti v ɖ cuntri bacñ ɖm. It ofrz ɖ posbiḷti v a loñ-trm n stebl cọliśn t tec on ɖ rībildñ v ɖ NHS, alñ wɖ ʈǎzndz v ny aforḍbl homz n ɖ rês t net ziro.

N yt ɖs ny poḷtics v cooṗreśn z haṗnñ dspt partilīdrz, nt bcz v ɖm. Sadli, Lebr z ɖ bigist bloc wɖ its līdrśp rpitidli clemñ PR w’nt b in its maṇfesto ẃl rjctñ cooṗreśn.

Ɖs cd b ilectṛl suisîd. Ol ɖ sīńr poulñpundits pridict Lebr wl strugl t win a mjoṛti at ɖ nxt jenṛl ilex́n. Wɖ ɖ locl rzults sjstñ a naśnl-iqivḷnt līd v jst sevn psntijpônts, evrʈñ pônts t a huñ parḷmnt. T pt ɖs in pspctiv, Ed Miḷband dd betr n wnt on t lūz in 2015, n in 1996 Ny Lebr wz 14 pônts ahd v ɖ Toriz.

Last wīc bròt a starc rmîndr v ɖ absrdti v Lebr nt bacñ PR. In ɖ Bedḟd meṛl ilex́n, ɖ pṛgresiv vot wz mor ɖn 30,000, ɖ Tori vot jst 16,000. Bt ɖ Toriz wún bî 145 vots. Pṛgresivz cntiny t dvîd, n ɖ rît cntinyz t concr.

Lebr hz a ćôs. A fyćr undr ǎr cuṛnt frst-past-ɖ-post (FPƉP) votñ sistm mīnz ɖ ppl wɖ riyl inflụns r a fy swñvotrz in a fy swñsīts, pǎrfl mīdịbáṛnz hu set ɖ nyz’jnda n wlʈi donrz hu śep ɖ poḷsi ofr in ɖer inṭrests.

Ɖ oltrṇtiv z t apil t ɖ cuntri’z letnt pṛgresiv mjoṛti ɖt gz bac decedz. Last Ʈrzde, ɖs pṛgresiv vot amǎntd t ovr 60%, ẃl ɖ Toriz scord jst 29%. T moḅlîz it mīnz recgnîzñ ɖt difṛns n dîvrṣti, wɖn a brōdli comn valyset, z a streñʈ nt a wìcnis n ɖt ɖ bst fyćr z ngośietd nt impozd. Criticli it alǎz s t win ilex́nz bî spīcñ t ɖ inṭrests v ɖ sntr n left, nt ɖ rît.

Bt ẃ w’nt Cir Starmr n Lebr’z old gard tec ɖs sīmñli obvịs rùt t win, n g wɖ ɖ flo v last wīc’s rzults?

Tori HQ n its pres atacdogz wl trî t unḍmain it, prisîsli bcz ɖe fir a traficlît pinsrmuvmnt. Bt f a huñ parḷmnt sīmz most lîcli, ɖen it’s bst t priper fr it.

Hvr, Lebr’z nrṿs hîrarci sīmz wilñ t d enʈñ t mnten its mnoṗli v opziśn n ɖ dispṛporśṇt pǎr it gvz it. Ɖr cn b no ny partiz undr FPƉP bcz ɖ entribarịrz r tù hî. Rmembr, it tecs jst 50,000 vots p’ Lebr MP bt fr ɖ Grīnz ɖt’s 865,000. It z a deṃcratic obseṇti dzînd t enśur uɖr poḷtiśnz n votrz despṛt t dīl wɖ ɖ clîṃt crîsis, pṛtct sivl liḅtiz or iradcet poṿti hv nẃr els t g.

Lebr straṭjists wl b gamḅlñ ɖt ɖ Grīn n Lib Dem votśer cn b sqizd. Bt ɖz r’nt ɖ deḟrenśl dez v ɖ last snć̣ri, ppl wl fînd n vot fr ẃt ɖe si az betr oltrṇtivz.

Jrñ ɖ līdrśp ilex́n, Starmr sd: “W’v got t adres ɖ fact ɖt miłnz v ppl vot in sefsīts n ɖe fīl ɖer vot dz’nt cǎnt.” H wz rît ɖen. H c’nt b alaud t b roñ nǎ.

Ɖ stecs cd nt b hayr: ɖ sulfyṛs ẃif v rîtwñ oʈoṛterịnizm z olrdi stîḟlñ. W nīd coopṛtiv poḷtics az an act v slf-inṭrest n hop.

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Nìl Lwsn z d’rectr v ɖ cros-parti campen orġnîześn Cumṗs

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Instroduction to Ñspel

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"House by the Railroad," Edward Hopper, 1925

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In Ñspel: The Guardian view on Sunak and the strikes: misreading the mood of the nation

‘At prime minister’s questions on Wednesday, Rishi Sunak challenged Keir Starmer to back even tougher anti-strike legislation.’ Photograph: Jessica Taylor/UK Parliament/AFP/Getty Images
‘At prîm̦inistr’z qsćnz on Wnzde, Riśi Sūnac ćalinjd Cir Starmr t bac īvn tufr antīstrîc lejsleśn.’ Foṭgraf: Jesica Teilr/YC Parḷmnt/AFP/Geti Iṃjz
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Ɖ Gardịn vy on Sūnac n ɖ strîcs: msrīdñ ɖ mūd v ɖ neśn

(Transcription of a Guardian editorial of 7 Dec. 2022)

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Ɖ prîm̦inistr z sīcñ confṛnteśn wɖ ɖ yńnz in ɖ b’lif h wl rīp a p’liticl rword

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Wnzde 7 Dsmbr 2022

Ɖ  rplesmnt v ɖ haplis Liz Trus bî Riśi Sūnac wz wîdli asymd t heṛld ɖ rtrn v a “groun-up”, maṇjirịl stîl v poḷtics t Dǎnñ Strīt. Wɖ ɖ marcits dyli pḷcetd bî Jeṛmi Hunt’s ōtmstetmnt, sm sīńr Tōriz īvn bgan t wuri ɖt Sūnacịn stbiḷti n fiscl orʈ̇doxi wd b tù borñ a platform on ẃć t fes Lebr at ɖ nxt ilex́n.

Bt it trnz ǎt ɖt, ǎtsd ɖ Siti, Brítnz r’nt bord bî Mr Sūnac’s flejlñ premịrśp; ɖe r fyrịs n insrjnt. Rel n postl wrcrz, nrsz, ambyḷnswrcrz n sivl srvnts r cuṛntli planñ t g on strîc in Dsmbr. Ɖe me b jônd bî tīćrz n jūńr doctrz in ɖ ny yir. In ol, mor ɖn a miłn membrz v ɖ wrcfors me wɖdrw ɖer lebr in ɖ līd-up t Crisṃs – numbrz reṃnisnt v ɖ “wintr v discntnt” in 1978/9. Ɖs z dspt lowr levlz v yńnmembrśp n far mor strinjnt rūlz guṿnñ strîc ax́n.

Dzastṛsli, aftr biyñ buḟtd intu U-trnz on hǎsbildñ n onśor windfarmz bî intrnl parti rvolts, Mr Sūnac apirz t si ɖ strîcs az a ćans t cnfǎnd ɖoz critics hu akz him v biyñ wìc. At prîm̦inistr’z qsćnz on Wnzde, h ćalinjd Cir Starmr t bac īvn tufr antīstrîc lejsleśn, t b intṛdyst nxt yir. Az ɖ transportsecṛtri, Marc Harper, hz admitd, ɖs wl nt afct industrịl ax́n ɖs wintr, bt ɖt z nt ɖ pônt. Ɖ guvnmnt’s cuṛnt straṭji z t ẃip p a confṛnteśn wɖ ɖ yńnz in ɖ b’lif ɖt ɖ public wl b on its sîd.

Ɖs “hu guvnz?” aproć feṃsli endd badli fr Edẉd Hīʈ, hu lost an ilex́n cōld on ɖt besis in 1974. Bt Mr Sūnac no dǎt prifŕz t dwel on Marġrit Ʈaćr’z trîumf in 1979, ẃn ɖ arğmnt ɖt yńnz wr “holdñ ɖ cuntri t ransm” – a lîn rpitd bî ministrz ɖs wīc – cntribytd t a Tori landslîd. Unforćṇtli fr ɖ prîm̦inistr, ɖt wz ɖen.

Bî ɖ end v ɖ 1970z, mć v ɖ popyleśn agrìd ɖt yńnz hd bcm tù pǎrfl. Forti yirz on, az Mr Sūnac proṃsz t leɉslet t “pṛtct” ɖ public, popylr simṗʈi fr ɖ rît t strîc hz acć̣li groun sins Jūn. Ɖ rīznz fr ɖt g bynd ptiklr dspyts, n dīpr ɖn ɖ cuṛnt cost-v-livñ crîsis. Ɖr z a wîdspred n akṛt public pspśn ɖt, sins ɖ craś, ɖ cuntri hz witnist a būm in unrnd-aset wlʈ n pe at ɖ top, cmbînd wɖ stagnetñ or fōlñ riyl-trmz wejz fr olmst evrwn els. A deced v undr-invstmnt in ɖ public sectr hz olso fyld a pspśn ɖt mć v ɖ cuntri jst dz’nt wrc proprli eni mor. Rsponsbiḷti fr ɖs dsfuñśnl stet v aferz z dīmd nt t lî wɖ 1970z-stîl militnt tredyńnists, bt wɖ s’xesiv Cnsrṿtiv guvnmnts.

F onli fṛm an instñt v slf-preẓveśn, a wîz admiṇstreśn wd rec̣gnîz ɖs bacdrop n ngośiet, n compṛmîz, acordñli. Ahd v a wintŗseśn ɖt strîcs wl onli dīpn, ɖs wd olso b ɖ rît ʈñ t d fr ɖ cuntri. Bt fr nǎ, Mr Sūnac’s fiscl cnsrṿtizm mīnz h wl nt cǎntinns sć an aproć. Instd, h apirz dtrmind t f’mnt sośl strîf in ɖ hop v îṣletñ Lebr n ynîtñ hiz ǒn parti wɖ sm retro reṭric. Ɖt z msgîdd n irisponsbl oṗtynizm, nt groun-up poḷtics. It olso sirịsli msrīdz ɖ mūd v ɖ neśn.

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Instroduction to Ñspel

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"House by the Railroad," Edward Hopper, 1925

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In Ñspel: The Guardian view on Labour’s devolution plans: regional inequality is a blight

Gordon Brown (left) and Sir Keir Starmer. ‘The former Labour prime minister has produced a serious – and sweeping – set of proposals that would change the face of the country, largely for the better.’ Photograph: Jane Barlow/PA
Gordn Brǎn (left) n Sr Cir Starmr. ‘Ɖ formr Lebr prîm̦inistr hz pṛdyst a sirịs – n swīpñ – set v pṛpozlz ɖt wd ćenj ɖ fes v ɖ cuntri, larjli fr ɖ betr.’ Foṭgraf: Jen Barlo/PA
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Ɖ Gardịn vy on Lebr’z dīṿluśnplanz: rījnl iniqoḷti z a blît

(Transcription of a Guardian editorial of 5 Dec. 2022)

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Britn z hedñ in ɖ roñ d’rex́n, n radicl ćenj z nīdd in hǎ muni n pǎr wrcs

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Munde 5 Dsmbr 2022

Gordn Brǎn wonts ɖ nxt Lebr guvnmnt t win pǎr – n ɖen gv it awe. Ɖt mt xplen ẃ Sr Cir Starmr hz prezd Mr Brǎn, bt nt yt cmitd t hiz cmiśn’z rec̣mndeśnz. Yt ɖ formr Lebr prîm̦inistr hz pṛdyst a sirịs – n swīpñ – set v pṛpozlz ɖt wd ćenj ɖ fes v ɖ cuntri, larjli fr ɖ betr.

Ɖ 40 rec̣mndeśnz g far bynd ɖ vri welcm sjsćn ɖt ɖr śd b deṃcratic rform v ɖ Hǎs v Lordz on a fedṛl besis. Ɖs pṛpozl wd si ɖ slf-guṿnmnt in Scotḷnd, Wêlz n Norɖn Îrḷnd bcm part v ɖ śerd guvnmnt v ɖ YC. Ɖr r olso incuṛjñ planz t dvolv ic̣nomic pǎrz t cḿṇtiz. Mr Brǎn z rît t asc ẃ, f secnd jobz cn b bánd in ɖ YS Congres, ɖs cd nt aplî t ɖ YC parḷmnt.

Dīṿluśn śd b gvn paṛmǎnt importns in ic̣nomic dveḷpmnt. Ɖ YC z biyñ hld bac bî its form v guvnmnt, sntrd on Ẃîthōl n Wsminstr. Ɖz cntrol arnd 95% v ɖ YC’z taxreṿny n 75% v ɖ YC’z public spendñ – a far hayr consntreśn v fiscl pǎr ɖn in eni cmpaṛbl cuntri. Ɖ rzult v ɖs hz mnt ic̣nomic groʈ n pṛspeṛti consntretd in Lundn n ɖ sǎʈ-īst v Ñgḷnd. Mr Brǎn z rît ɖt ɖ YC hz bcm “ɖ most sntṛlîzd cuntri in Yṛp. Tù mni dsiźnz afctñ tù mni ppl r md bî tù fy.”

Rījnl iniqoḷti z a blît. Mr Brǎn’z rport pônts ǎt ɖt ɖ Midḷndz n ɖ norʈ v Ñgḷnd r sìn t ofr a lowr qoḷti v lîf ɖn Aḷbama – wn v ɖ purist YS stets. Cnsiḍrñ GDP p’ capita, haf ɖ YC popyleśn livz in eriaz no wlʈịr ɖn ɖ purr parts v ɖ formr Īst Jrṃni. It z hardli s’prîzñ ɖt trust in MPz n sntṛl guvnmnt dclînz ɖ frɖr awe cḿṇtiz r fṛm Wsminstr n Ẃîthōl.

Ɖ dlema fr Mr Brǎn’z ajnda z hǎ t dīl wɖ ilectd rījnl poḷtiśnz hu r îdịlojicli opozd t hiz instñts. Hiz pṛpozd s’lūśn z ɖt a ny consttyśn śd gaṛnti ny sośl rîts sć az axes t hlʈcer on ɖ besis v nīd, nt profit acrs ɖ YC. Ɖ ʈret z riyl. NHS trītmnt z pṛvîdd fri, bt ɖr z nʈñ t hindr ministrz in Lundn, Ednbra, Cardif or Belfast pṛmotñ lejsleśn t ćenj ɖt. In rtrn fr YC-wîd sefgardz, Mr Brǎn wd consttyśṇli pṛtct Scotiś n Wlś dīṿluśn, ẃć at ɖ momnt cn b rvrst bî a parḷmntri mjoṛti.

Ɖ stet plez an instṛmntl rǒl in śepñ ɖ icoṇmi. Covid-19 hlpt xplod ɖ arğmnt agnst dīṿluśn ɖt sntṛl guvnmnt z mor compitnt ɖn its locl vrśn. Ñgliś caunslz’ tst-n-tres scīmz in ɖ pandemic wr mć betr valy fr muni ɖn ɖ feld sntṛl scīm. Mr Brǎn’z ces fr rībildñ trust aftr Boris Jonsn’z trnzgreśnz agnst istabliśt p’liticl cnvnśnz z wel md. Brexit hz nt léd t votrz tecñ bac cntrol bt rɖr pmitd a pǎrgrab bî ɖ xektiv.

Sr Cir hz welcmd ɖ last Lebr prîm̦inistr’z rport, bt its apil me wen f h winz pǎr. Ɖt wd b a mstec. Ɖr z a cnsnss, Mr Brǎn nots, ɖt Britn z hedñ in ɖ roñ d’rex́n, n radicl ćenj z nīdd in hǎ muni n pǎr wrcs hir. Pasñ p on ɖ oṗtyṇti t rît ɖ cuntri wd b a historic mstec.

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Instroduction to Ñspel

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"House by the Railroad," Edward Hopper, 1925

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In Ñspel: The Guardian view on Modi’s India: the danger of exporting Hindu chauvinism

The prime minister of India, Narendra Modi, addresses a BJP rally in Mehsana, Gujarat, before state assembly elections begin on 1 December. Photograph: Ajit Solanki/AP
Ɖ prîm̦inistr v India, Narendra Modi, adresz a BJP rali in Mesana, Gŭɉrat, bfr stet’smbli ilex́nz bgin on 1 Dsmbr. Foṭgraf: Ajit Solanci/AP
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Ɖ Gardịn vy on Modi’z India: ɖ denjr v xportñ Hindu śoṿnizm

(Transcription of a Guardian editorial of 27 Nov. 2022)

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Ny Déli’z foṛn poḷsi w’nt b insyletd fṛm its dmestic poḷtics, ẃć dīṃnîz India’z 200 miłn Mŭzlimz

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Súnde 27 Nvmbr 2022

Ẃn ɖ YS stet dpartmnt rīsntli tld a cort ɖt ɖ Sǎdi Arebịn crǎnprins, Mhaṃd bin Salman, śd hv iḿṇti in a lwsūt ovr ɖ mrdr v ɖ jrṇlist Jmāl Cśogi, it portreid its arğmnt az a līgl n nt moṛl pziśn. Bî we v evidns, it pôntd t a rogz’ gaḷri v foṛn līdrz prīvịsli afordd similr pṛtx́n. Neṣlñ btwn Zimbabwe’z Roḅt Mgabe, hu, it wz clemd, asaṣnetd p’liticl rîvlz, n Cõgo’z Jozif Kabila, huz s’kṛtidītel wz akzd v asōltñ pṛtstrz in Wośñtn, wz India’z Narendra Modi.

Dropñ Mr Modi intu sć a list wz no axidnt. It z a rmîndr ɖt ẃl Ny Déli bascs in its dipḷmatic s’xes at rīsnt G20 n Cop27 sumits, it mt fînd ɖ inṭnaśnl invîrnmnt les acoṃdetñ f Mr Modi n hiz Hindu naśṇlist Baṛtīa Jnata parti (BJP) cntiny t str p hetrid t win ilex́nz. Wośñtn’z jsćr sjsts ɖt its stṛtījic partnrśp wɖ India canot b cmplitli insyletd fṛm dmestic p’liticl iśuz. Mr Modi’z fełr, az ćīf ministr v Gŭɉrat, t privnt anti-Mŭzlim rayts in 2002 ɖt left hundṛdz ded sw him dnaid a YS vīza, untl h bcem Indịn prîm̦inistr. Ɖ mesij fṛm Fogi Botm wz ɖt ɖ ban hd nt bn wɖdrwn, bt sspndd, bcz Mr Modi ran a cuntri ɖt Wośñtn wontd t d biznis wɖ.

India z cnsidrd a jioṗliticl cǎnṭweit t Ćîna n, in mni wez, an indispnsbl actr on ɖ wrldstej. Bt Mr Bîdn’z tīm apirz t si ɖ pziśn az mor cntinjnt, n wl b les tolṛnt ɖn ɖ Trump admiṇstreśn v Mr Modi’z atmts t rīmold Indịn dmocṛsi so ɖt Hinduz bcm consttyśṇli prieminnt, wɖ mnoṛtiz rdyst t secnd-clas sitiznz. Last wīc, ɖ YS Cmiśn on Inṭnaśnl Rlijsfrīdm akzd Ny Déli v a “cracdǎn on sivl ssayti n dsnt”, n “rlijsfrīdm vạleśnz”. Ɖ Indịn foṛn miṇstri hit bac at “bayst n inakṛt obẓveśnz”. Ofiślz wd d betr t rflect on ẃr ɖer cuntri z gwñ.

Ẃl a rîzñ pǎr, India’z asent dpndz on bildñ brijz wɖ uɖrz. Ɖ Midl Īst z a ci eṇji s’playr n rījnl tredpartnr ɖt s’ports 9 miłn Indịn wrcrz. India’z s’kṛti dpndz on Aṛb stets sstenñ a hostîl invîrnmnt fr terrizm. So ẃn BJP fuñśnriz md d’roġtri rmarcs abt ɖ prófit Mhaṃd ɖs sumr, Gulf stets lojd forml protests wɖ Ny Déli. Ćeisnd, ɖ Modi guvnmnt wz sprd intu ax́n – sspndñ wn parti ofiśl n xpelñ anɖr, az wel az seyñ it acordz “ɖ hîist rspct t ol rlijnz”.

Bland aśuṛnsz me nt b inuf. Ɖ intiṃdeśn v India’z 200 miłn Mŭzlimz z hîdñ in plen sît. Stet ilex́nz in Gŭɉrat bgin on Ʈrzde, wīcs aftr BJP ministrz apruvd ɖ preṃtyr rlis v 11 men cnvictd v rep n mrdr v Mŭzlim wimin n ćildṛn jrñ ɖ rayts. On ɖ campentrel last Frîde, India’z hom̦inistr clemd trubl-mcrz hd bn “tòt a lésn” in 2002. Ɖs sǎndd lîc a signl t Hindu mobz ɖt ɖe cd d az ɖe plizd.

Wuriyñli, ɖr r sînz ɖt ɖ cḿnl claśz sìn in India r biyñ copid elsẃr. In Lstr, mni sǎʈ Eźn Mŭzlimz – lîc ɖ siti’z Hinduz – hv Indịn rūts. Yt ẃn vayḷns iruptd btwn ɖz cḿṇtiz ɖs Sptmbr, esc̣letñ intu atacs on moscs n tmplz, ɖ Indịn hî cmiśn in Lundn cndemd ɖ “vayḷns prṗtretd agnst ɖ Indịn cḿṇti in Lstr n vanḍlîześn v preṃsz n simblz v [ɖ] Hindu rlijn”. Pôntidli, ɖr wz no condmneśn v Hinduz’ vayḷns agnst Mŭzlimz. Wns cerfl t pṛclem its sekḷrizm, India’z guvnmnt apirz cntnt t xport its Hindu śoṿnizm. Ɖt śd trubl evrwn.

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Instroduction to Ñspel

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"House by the Railroad," Edward Hopper, 1925

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In Ñspel: Brexit has made Britain the sick man of Europe again

Rishi Sunak at the G20 summit this month. Of the G20 economies, only Russia’s is expected to perform worse than the UK’s. Photograph: Reuters
Riśi Sūnac at ɖ G20 sumit ɖs munʈ. V ɖ G20 icoṇmiz, onli Ruśa’z z xpctd t pform wrs ɖn ɖ YC’z. Foṭgraf: Rôtrz
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Brexit hz md Britn ɖ sic man v Yṛp agn

(Transcription of a Guardian article of 27 Nov. 2022)

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Ɖ YY dd wundrz fr ɖ icoṇmi: ɖt wz ẃ w jônd. Ǎr dparćr fṛm it z nǎ ol tù obvịsli costñ s ɖt pṛspeṛti

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William Keegan
Wiłm Cīgn

Wiłm Cīgn, Súnde 27 Nvmbr 2022

Ẃn rīsntli asct on ɖ Tde program t sáit ćaptr n vrs on ɖ subjict v Brexit “oṗtyṇtiz” Mîcl Gov, ɖ secṛtri v stet fr ol sīznz, wz hoplisli ǎt v hiz depʈ.

Hvr, Gov míst a tric. Ẃt h śd hv sd, bt az a sînd-up Brexitr obvịsli cd nt, wz ɖt ɖ onli “oṗtyṇti” arîzñ fṛm Brexit wz t conduct a sạntific xperimnt t demnstret ɖt ɖ hol îdīa wz a mstec. Morovr, it wz a confidnstric on ɖ Britiś public, ɖ mjoṛti v hūm nǎ riylîz ɖt ɖe hv bn hd.

Az biznis n inḍstri strugl wɖ ɖ consiqnsz v impozñ sañśnz on ǎr abiḷti t tred wɖ ǎr larjist marcit, n sitiznz – noun t icoṇmists az “cnsymrz” – strugl wɖ ɖ hayr importprîsz impozd bî ɖ dvalyeśn rzultñ fṛm Brexit, ɖ poulz r pṛnǎnsñ ppl’z vrdict on Brexit wɖ a vnjns.

A rīsnt YGuv poul tlz s ɖt 56% v ppl ʈnc w wr roñ t līv ɖ YY n onli 32% ɖt w wr rît. Īvn 19% v ɖoz hu ǒn p t hvñ votd līv nǎ ʈnc ɖe wr roñ. Ɖ onli ej grūp cntenñ a mjoṛti stl in fevr v Brexit z ɖ ovr-65z – I hv t se ɖe r nt amñ ɖ ovr-65z I mslf bump intu, bt ɖr it z. N 88% v ɖoz hu votd Lebr in 2019 ʈnc līv wz ɖ roñ dsiźn. (Cir Starmr n śadoćanslr Rećl Rīvz plīz not!)

It z obvịs ɖt ɖ mor intelijnt membrz v ɖ Sūnac/Hunt cabiṇt hv got ɖ mesij fṛm ɖ CBI n elsẃr ɖt w nīd, fr ɖ sec v ǎr icoṇmi n ɖ jenṛl welfér, t rījôn ɖ sngl marcit. Bt ɖs z ɖ luv ɖt der nt spīc its nem, īvn ɖo it apirz ɖt attydz twdz iṃgreśn – fri muvmnt! – hv ćenjd sins 2016, ẃn ɖ igrījs Boris Jonsn, himslf v Trciś ansstri, f’mntd anti-imigṛnt fīlñ wɖ nonsns abt an iminnt flud v Trciś imigṛnts.

Sūnac hz pict p ɖ mesij ɖt ɖ comḅneśn v Brexit n ɖ ceos in ɖ Cnsrṿtiv n Brexit parti hz léd foṛn obzrvrz t cnclud ɖt Britn z sncñ fast. Acordñ t ɖ Orġnîześn fr Ic̣nomic Cooṗreśn n Dveḷpmnt, v ɖ grūp v 20 līdñ icoṇmiz, onli Ruśa z pformñ wrs ɖn ɖ YC. Yes, w wr noun az ɖ “sic man v Yṛp” untl w jônd ɖ Yṛpiyn Yńn n – ges ẃt? – w hv left ɖ YY n hv rgend ɖt dybịs steṭs.

Membrśp v ɖ YY dd gret ʈñz fr ɖs cuntri. Bʈ Lebr n Cnsrṿtiv guvnmnts fòt ɖer cornr n, on ɖ hol, got ẃt ɖe wontd. Marġrit Ʈaćr n hr rît-hand ngośietr Lord Cǒfīld pleid a blîndr in ɖ setñ p v ɖ sngl marcit, n Jon Mejr aćivd wundrz at Maastricht wɖ ɖ YC’z opt-ǎt fṛm ɖ sngl cuṛnsi. Az fr rîtwñ cnsrnz abt “evr closr” yńn, ɖe wr dyli aswejd. In esns, ẃt ɖoz ol tù influenśl līvrz aćivd wz a hol̦i uņesṣri Brexit ɖt śot ɖ icoṇmi in ɖ ft.

Ɖ Ofis fr Bujit Rsponsbiḷti calklets ɖ kḿḷtiv damij v Brexit wl b inuf t noc 4% evri yir of ǎr ptnśl GDP. Az Mîcl Sōndrz, a formr membr v ɖ Banc v Ñgḷnd’z munitri-poḷsi cmiti, hz sd: “Ɖ nīd fr taxrîzz [n] spendñcuts wd’nt b ɖr f Brexit hd’nt rdyst ɖ icoṇmi’z ptnśl ǎtpt so mć.” N ɖ Fînanśl Tîmz rīsntli rportd ɖt mni v ɖ asetmanijrz hūm Sūnac n Hunt wr trayñ t paṣfî aftr ɖ Trus-Qarteñ fiasco wr cnsrnd abt ɖ denjrz v oṿdwñ osteṛti!

It wz a formr Treẓ́ri prṃnnt secṛtri, Lord Crowm, hu obzrvd t ɖ historịn Lord Heṇsi n m wns: “Ẃt matrz z nt baḷnsñ ɖ bujit bt baḷnsñ ɖ icoṇmi.” Yt, wɖ ɖ rīsnt bujit n ɖ ćanslr’z “śoc n horr” tōc, w sīm t b bac t ɖ ira v sedomuniṭrizm. W r srtnli a loñ we fṛm baḷnsñ ɖ icoṇmi.

Ɖ icoṇmist Jim Bōl yst t se h wz sspiśs v ɖ OBE – nt ɖ Ordr v ɖ Britiś Empîr, bt ɖ ppl hu gv y Wn Big Xpḷneśn.

Fr ɖs guvnmnt, ɖ WBX fr ǎr ic̣nomic trublz wz frst Covid, ɖen Ycren. I am nt seyñ Brexit z ɖ cōz v ol ǎr probḷmz bt – mî gdnis! – it hz magṇfaid ɖm. Wɖ dy rspct t ɖ meṃri v ɖ lêt Pṛf. Bōl, I śd lîc t noṃnet Brexit az ɖ Wn Big Xpḷneśn fr ẃ ɖs icoṇmi z fẹrñ so mć wrs ɖn ɖ rest v ɖ G20.

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Instroduction to Ñspel

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"House by the Railroad," Edward Hopper, 1925

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In Ñspel: The Guardian view on the Conservatives: countdown to oblivion

Rishi Sunak, centre, is struggling to master the uncontrollable Tory ship at Westminster. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/AP
Riśi Sūnac, sntr, z struġlñ t mastr ɖ uncntroḷbl Tori śip at Wsminstr. Foṭgraf: Stefan Rousseau/AP
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Ɖ Gardịn vy on ɖ Cnsrṿtivz: cǎntdǎn t oblivịn

(Transcription of a Guardian editorial of 25 Nov. 2022)

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Ɖr z an end-v-an-ira fīl abt Tori fêṭlizm twdz Riśi Sūnac n hiz guvnmnt

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Frîde 25 Nvmbr 2022

“So bginz ɖ cǎntdǎn t oblivịn,” ɖ Lebr MP n dayrist Cris Mulin rout on Ny Yir’z De 2010, az h contmpletd ɖ cmñ jenṛl ilex́n, ẃć Lebr dyli lost. Tde, bî contrast, Britn z stl tū yirz awe fṛm its nxt ilex́n. Sć z ɖ fêṭlizm amñ ɖ cuṛnt crop v Cnsrṿtiv MPz, hvr, ɖt ɖr z olrdi an end-v-ira mūd n fīl in ɖ rūlñ parti.

Tec ɖ ces v Clǒi Smiʈ, hu holdz Norij Norʈ bî a mjoṛti v 4,738. Mz Smiʈ z onli 40, n wz in ɖ cabiṇt untl last munʈ. Hr dsiźn t step dǎn fṛm poḷtics ɖs wīc z a muv ɖt uɖrz wl olso folo. Hr colīg Wíl Rág (34, Hezl Grov, mjoṛti 4,423) z olrdi dwñ so. Mát Hancoc me b nxt ǎt v hir. Lobiyñfrmz rport an incris in dscrit job inqîriz fṛm insd Wsminstr, ẃl Cnsrṿtiv hedqortrz hz asct its MPz t claṛfî ɖer planz. Ɖs lêtist cǎntdǎn t oblivịn hz startd rli.

Ɖr r objctiv rīznz fr Tori peṣmizm. Partiget n ɖ tax-cutñ dbācl hv left lastñ damij. Ɖ cost-v-livñ crîsis z dīpr ɖn evr. Hǎshold incmz r set t dclîn fr tū yirz. Ɖ śer v ɖ ilectṛt hu ʈnc ɖ Cnsrṿtivz r maṇjñ ɖ icoṇmi badli z cuṛntli 81%. Riśi Sūnac hz betr retñz ɖn Boris Jonsn or Liz Trus bt ɖe r stl neġtiv. Ɖ Tori parti’z ǒn standñz r mć wrs. Lebr’z pouļīd z stl abt 20 pônts.

Mr Sūnac z olso struġlñ t mastr ɖ uncntroḷbl Tori śip at Wsminstr. Dybịs cabiṇt’pôntmnts – Doṃnic Raab z ɖ lêtist in ɖ spotlît rīsntli vcetd bî Gavin Wiłmsn – hv damijd hiz repyteśn. Hiz in’biḷti t cntrol ɖ parti eni betr ɖn hiz prīdisesrz z spotlit bî ɖ dsiźnz v bʈ Mr Jonsn n Mz Trus ɖs wīc t jôn a bac-bnć rvolt agnst ɖ ban on ny onśor windfarmz. Mr Sūnac hz olrdi hd t pspon a vot t fors locl caunslz t mīt hǎsbildñ targits t ẃć mor ɖn 50 v hiz MPz objctd. Mr Sūnac me hv a nominl mjoṛti v 69, bt h canot dlivr on poḷsi. Ɖs wz prisîsli ẃt dd fr Mz Trus ovr fracñ.

Ɖ nxt xampl cd b iṃgreśn. Record net mîgreśnfigrz ɖs wīc śo bʈ ɖt guvnmntpoḷsiz r nt wrcñ n ɖt ministrz d nt nǒ ẃt t d abt it. Sins iṃgreśncntrol z crūśl t sm cor Tori votrz, ministrz rspond bî mcñ wîld, undilivṛbl proṃsz. Dīporteśn t Rwanda wz (n z) wn. Ɖ lêtist emz t stop foṛn stydnts fṛm atndñ ol bt a hanfl v ilīt yṇvrṣtiz. Ɖs wd bancrupt mni coḷjz, n rvrs ɖ 2019 xpanśn v foṛn stydnts t fil ɖ c’laps in stydntnumbrz n yṇvrṣti incm cōzd bî Brexit.

Ɖ yir’z bigist ćalinj t Mr Sūnac n Tori mrāl z ptnṣ́li stl arnd ɖ cornr. Ɖ Royl Colij v Nrsñ’z strîcs in Dsmbr pit ɖ most admîrd wrcfors in Britn agnst an unpopylr guvnmnt. Ɖr cn b onli wn winr. Public opińn, olrdi noṭbli simṗʈetic t uɖr strîcñ grūps ɖs wintr, wl hardn. Fr ɖ Tori parti t start a batl wɖ ɖ nrsz wd sjst nt jst cnfyźn bt a deʈwiś.

Opziśnparti s’portrz naćṛli riact cōśsli t ɖz sînz v Cnsrṿtiv dfitizm. Ɖe fir it c’nt last. Ɖe rcōl hǎ similr hops hv bn daśt in ɖ past. Ɖe wuri ɖt Lebr hz nt yt dn inuf t sìl ɖ dīl wɖ ɖ ilectṛt. Ɖz wuriz r unḍstanḍbl. Bt ɖe me olso unḍesṭmet ɖ śift in ɖ naśnl mūd n its scel. Ɖ riyl qsćn fesñ ɖ Tori parti ɖs wintr z nt so mć ẃɖr ɖe cn rcuvr bt ẃɖr, in ɖer cuṛnt stet, ɖe cn nǎ hold on untl 2024 at ol.

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Instroduction to Ñspel

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"House by the Railroad," Edward Hopper, 1925

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Fṛm ɖ Gardịn: Labour must be bold and strike the killer blow – or the Tories will rise again

‘There needs to be an offering not just for those sick of the Tories.’ L to R, Rachel Reeves, Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner during prime minister’s questions. Photograph: Jessica Taylor/UK Parliament/AFP/Getty Images
‘Ɖr nīdz t b an oḟrñ nt jst fr ɖoz sic v ɖ Tōriz.’ L t R, Rećl Rīvz, Cir Starmr n Anɉla Rênr jrñ prîm̦inistr’z qsćnz. Foṭgraf: Jesica Teilr/YC Parḷmnt/AFP/Geti Iṃjz
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Lebr mst b bold n strîc ɖ cilrblo – or ɖ Tōriz wl rîz agn

(Transcription of an article published in the Guardian on 9 October 2022)

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A rer oṗtyṇti hz imrjd t pin ǎr mni crîsīz nt jst on ɖ Cnsrṿtiv parti, bt ɖ intîr cnsrṿtiv îdioḷji

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Nesrine Malik

Nesrīn Malic, Súnde 9 Octobr 2022

Fîṇli, an ax́n-páct episod v Britiś poḷtics hz drwn t a cloz. It startd rufli at ɖ tîm v Riśi Sŭnac n Sajid Javid’z reẓgneśnz in rli Jlî, foloud bî Boris Jonsn’z reẓgneśn, a Tori līdrśp rês, a ny prîm̦inistr, a sêizmic minibujit, strlñ tancñ, a confidnt pformns bî ɖ Lebr parti n inevitbli a guvnmnt U-trn. Ɖ ǎtcm hz bn a dṛmatic śift in ɖ poulz twd Lebr. It wl b tū yirz bfr Brítnz cn xpres ɖer vyz in a jenṛl ilex́n, so a qsćn hañz in ɖ er – ẃt nǎ?

In ɖ îz v pṛgresivz ɖ ansr z clir: Lebr winz, v cors, n ɖ Tōriz hed intu cold xîl. Xpcteśn hz morft intu fact n nǎ okpîz ɖ spes btwn ɖ preznt n fyćr. Bt f a wīc z a loñ tîm in poḷtics, ɖen tū yirz z sevṛl lîftîmz. Ɖr z a risc ɖt, in ɖs momnt v oṗtyṇti, Lebr misz ǎt on mcñ ɖ sort v sstemic ćalinj ɖt cd, ɖt śd, snd ɖs c’lamiṭs Tori parti intu oblivịn, n nt mirli intu a cornr t rīgrūp.

Ɖr r hints ɖt ɖ Lebr parti z bginñ t riylîz ɖt it cn no longr cǎnt intîrli on biyñ popylr bî dfōlt. Ɖt ɖr nīdz t b an oḟrñ nt jst fr ɖoz sic v ɖ Tōriz bt olso ɖoz trnd of bî ɖ lac v śarp, mīnñfl contrast btwn ɖ tū. Īvn sm v ɖ most dis’fctd n ełnetd membrz fṛm ɖ left v ɖ parti I spouc t aftr ɖ Lebr confṛns sīmd xîtd n hartnd bî ɖ ny poḷsiz pṛpozd, ptiklrli ɖt v a Gret Britiś Eṇji cumṗni ǒnd bî ɖ public. Bt ɖs z stl nt inuf v a ny viźn t capćr ɖ neśn’z c’lectiv imaɉneśn. N ɖt z bcz ɖr hz nt bn inuf v a rec̣nñ wɖ ɖ oṛjin v ɖ dzastrz ɖt hv bfōḷn ɖ cuntri ovr ɖ past ʈri decedz – v ẃć Brexit n ɖ cuntri’z unpriperidnis fr Covid r nt eṗsodz, bt simtmz.

Ɖ parti’z straṭji z t fix ẃt ɖ Tōriz hv run dǎn, bt axpt ɖ arenjmnts n prizrv ɖ infṛstrucćr in ẃć ɖt dclîn hz ocŕd. It z a badli tîmd tmidti; in riaḷti, ẃt z nīdd z ɖ ijx́n v ɖ prîṿt sectr intîrli fṛm eni relm ɖt pṛvîdz besic nīdz sć az śltr, cer fr oldr ppl, ɖ eṇji w nīd t cīp worm n cc ǎr fūd. Nt, az Lebr’z depyti līdr, Anɉla Rênr, pṛpozd, mirli mcñ śr ɖt public contracts r wel x’ktd, az f ɖ Lebr parti wr pićñ itslf az a betr srvispṛvîdr t a Britiś sitizn hu z abv ol els a custmr.

Ɖ parti foc̣sz, telñli, on xpandñ hom ǒnrśp rɖr ɖn sośl hǎzñ. Ɖ neśn z a marcitples, wn ɖt Lebr wl fines t betr srv its claynt, ɖ dzrvñ “wrcñ ppl” – a caṭgri ɖt z xcluźnri at bst, n sinistr at wrst: pśñ ǎt ɖoz hu wrc unpeid or r unebl t wrc dy t sicnis, cẹrñ or ej. Lebr’z targit z a clas ɖt z wɖn snifñdistns v a morgij, wɖ a reğlr incm, rɖr ɖn ɖoz in gig implômnt, or lîfloñ prîṿt n sośl hǎzñ rentrz. A d’rect lîn lincs ɖs priceriat t Starmr’z strongist rīsnt ʈīm – ɖt v a rić huz wlʈ ɖ Tōriz r akzd v pṛtctñ. Agn, Lebr hz míst a tric; ɖ qsćn òt nt t b hǎ t tax ɖm aproprịtli, bt ẃ ɖe wr ebl t akḿlet so mć wlʈ.

On iṃgreśn n culćr, ɖ parti’z top lînz n poḷsi lc nt onli lîc bad poḷtics, bt olso pur straṭji. F yr criṭsizm v Tori iṃgreśnpoḷsi z ɖt it z nt dportñ ppl ifiśntli inuf, az ɖ śadoćanslr, Rećl Rīvz, argyd last wīc, ɖen ɖ rît wl ʈanc y fr prîmñ votrz fr ɖer evr-mor pôzṇs n pyṇtiv poḷsiz. F yr petrịtizm z gwñ t b xclūsiv n yoct t Britn’z insttyśnz v oʈoṛti n lw n ordr – ɖ armd forsz, ɖ p’līs, ɖ royl faṃli – ɖ picćr v ɖt cuntri z olwz gwñ t b pentd mor vividli bî ɖ rît.

Cnvnśnl sntrgrǎnd wizdm z ɖt mcñ tù mni îdịlojicl muvz wl scer votrz huz unḍstandñ v poḷsi z mīdietd mnli ʈru a rîtwñ pres. Betr t brñ ɖm alñ jntli n ɖen tec of ɖ masc ẃn in pǎr. Yt wer ɖ masc fr loñ inuf n it īts intu ɖ fes.

Ɖ ǎtcm z a parti cnstrictd in ɖ oltrṇtivz it cn pṛvîd. Ɖ riyl risc z felñ t imbarc on an ic̣nomic n culćṛl rīśepñ v ɖ cuntri ẃn ɖ grǎnd z frtîl. Ɖ steṭs qo, az dfndd bî ɖoz wɖ a vstd inṭrest in it, z simpli nt wrcñ. Ɖ YC nīdz t b gîdd awe nt jst fṛm ɖ rît, bt fṛm its unḍraitrz; fṛm ɖ s’preṃsi v capitl n ɖ s’preṃsi v ɖ netiv, ɖrfr enśurñ ɖt ɖ Cnsrṿtivz r no longr ɖ parti ɖt bst rflects ɖ cuntri. Ɖt involvz an antagnizm wɖ ɖ Siti, ɖ pres n, yes, wɖ parts v ɖ ilectṛt.

Ɖ denjr z nt in dwñ tù mć, bt dwñ tù litl. T yz a frêz ɖt ɖ ny parti v fiscl rsponsbiḷti śd aprīśiet, ɖ Lebr parti z līvñ muni on ɖ tebl. Ɖ sort v spnteńs grasrūts orġnîzñ w hv sìn arnd ɖ cost v livñ, Covid n refyjī crîsīz śoz a neśn ɖt ǎtṗformz its p’liticl ǎtcumz.

Ɖr z a votrcọliśn ɖt cn b crietd, nt mirli totd p fṛm swñvotrz n ɖ rtrn v ɖ “red wōl”, bt v a dispṛt numbr v grūps n ejz arnd nośnz v soḷdaṛti n incluźn. Ɖs cọliśn wd mc p a mjoṛti, az larj n az galṿnîzd az ɖoz hu votd fr Brexit popylizm. “Ɖ prinsipl probḷm wɖ ɖ nośn v ilectbiḷti”, ɖ formr Gardịn coḷmnist Gari Yúñ wns obzrvd, z ɖt it “sjsts ɖ we ppl si ɖ wrld at eni gvn momnt canot b ćenjd ʈru arğmnt n actvizm n instd irects bordrz fr ẃt z pmisbl dscuśn.”

Az loñ az w ste wɖn ɖoz bordrz, darcnis lrcs, no matr ɖ poulz. I c’nt hlp bt ʈnc v ɖ film Fōḷn, in ẃć a fōḷn enjl pzesz ɖ bodiz v hymnz, muvñ ʈru ɖm t rīc haṿc on Rʈ. Confidnt in ɖ pǎr v its imortaḷti, ɖ spirit tōnts hymnz trayñ t vanqiś it bî sññ ɖ cōṛs t an Irma Toṃs soñ: “Tîm z on mî sîd, yes it z.” Ɖ forsz v ɖ Tori rît cn rzîd in ɖ bodi v Lebr, cn īvn drw eṇji fṛm it, unls ɖe r rjctd intîrli. Untl ɖen, tîm z on ɖer sîd, yes it z.

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Instroduction to Ñspel