Tag Archives: Labour Party

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

Īvn F’rāź sz Brexit hz feld. Ẃ w’nt Starmr?

(Transcription of an Observer article of 28 May 2023)

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

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.

Instroduction to Ñspel

"House by the Railroad," Edward Hopper, 1925

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

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)

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

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.

***

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

Instroduction to Ñspel

"House by the Railroad," Edward Hopper, 1925

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

Ɖ Gardịn vy on Sūnac n ɖ strîcs: msrīdñ ɖ mūd v ɖ neśn

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

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

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.

Instroduction to Ñspel

"House by the Railroad," Edward Hopper, 1925

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

Ɖ Gardịn vy on Lebr’z dīṿluśnplanz: rījnl iniqoḷti z a blît

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

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

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.

Instroduction to Ñspel

"House by the Railroad," Edward Hopper, 1925

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

Ɖ Gardịn vy on Modi’z India: ɖ denjr v xportñ Hindu śoṿnizm

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

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

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.

Instroduction to Ñspel

"House by the Railroad," Edward Hopper, 1925

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

Brexit hz md Britn ɖ sic man v Yṛp agn

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

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

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.

Instroduction to Ñspel

"House by the Railroad," Edward Hopper, 1925

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

Ɖ Gardịn vy on ɖ Cnsrṿtivz: cǎntdǎn t oblivịn

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

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

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.

Instroduction to Ñspel

"House by the Railroad," Edward Hopper, 1925

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

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)

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

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.

Instroduction to Ñspel

Fṛm ɖ Gardịn: Truss is on an economic rampage with no mandate – so why is Starmer resisting electoral reform?

‘The Daily Mail gravely warns that “scrapping first-past-the-post could put the Tories out of power for a generation”.’ Keir Starmer and Liz Truss. Composite: Getty Images
‘Ɖ Dêli Meil grevli wornz ɖt “scrapñ frst-past-ɖ-post cd pt ɖ Tōriz ǎt v pǎr fr a jeṇreśn”.’ Cir Starmr n Liz Trus. Comṗzit: Geti Iṃjz

Trus z on an ic̣nomic rampej wɖ no mandet – so ẃ z Starmr rzistñ ilectṛl rform?

(Transcription of an article published in the Guardian on 25 September 2022)

Bérli enwn votd fr slaśt taxz, n fevrz śǎrd on ɖ rić. Yt ɖ Lebr līdrśp stl ʈncs a rigd votñsistm cn b yzd fr pṛgresiv endz

John Harris

Jon Haris, Súnde 25 Sptmbr 2022

Ʈancs t ɖ fībrîl stet v ɖ Cnsrṿtiv parti, Wsminstr poḷtics sīmz t b loct intu ɖ tṛjectri v a rapidli dfletñ b’lūn. Poḷsiz n big îdīaz zūm intu ɖ fōrgrǎnd n jst az qcli rsid; miṇstirịl c’rirz rîz n fōl in onli a fy yirz. Ɖ onli constnts sīm t b a ppćl sns v crîsis n ɖ fīlñ ɖt, no matr hǎ bad it gts, Tori guvnmnt rmenz Britn’z dfōlt pziśn. Amd rseśn, mǎntñ poṿti n ɖ prospect v a strlñcrîsis, olmst nwn evr mnśnz a glẹrñ sistmfełr: ɖ fact ɖt w r rūtīnli guvnd bî ppl wɖ onli ɖ flimziist v ilectṛl mandets, f ɖe hv wn at ol.

Ɖ reḷvnt numbrz r starc. Ʈri yirz ago, Boris Jonsn léd ɖ Cnsrṿtiv parti t a “landslîd” ilex́nvicṭri n 80-sīt Comnz mjoṛti wɖ ɖ s’port v 29% v ɖ ilectṛt. Az f h ɖen hd pǎr bynd eni rstrent, h set abt trayñ t le west t enʈñ ɖt got in hiz we. Ẃn hiz misrūl bcem tù mć īvn fr hiz ǒn parti, h wz rplest bî Liz Trus, swept intu ofis bî 82,000 Tori membrz, hu repriznt a tîtanic 0.3% v ol votrz.

Trus’z viźn v slaśt taxz, dīreğletd enṭprîz̦onz, an īvn mor unfetrd Siti V Lundn, n fevrz śǎrd on ɖ rić mt b mor chiṛnt ɖn hr prīdisesr’z flelñ oṗtynizm, bt bynd Tori parti membrz, hu votd fr it? Ʈri yirz ago, ɖ Cnsrṿtivz ofrd ɖ ilectṛt a viźn v a nyli activ stet n an unrilentñ foc̣s on ɖ YC’z ic̣nomic iniqoḷtiz n imbaḷnsz: t qot fṛm ɖer maṇfesto, “miłnz mor invstd evri wīc in sayns, scūlz, aprenṭśps n infṛstrucćr ẃl cntrolñ dét”. Bʈ ɖoz plejz r nǎ ded: ɖ îdīa v guvnmntspendñ rīśepñ ɖ icoṇmi hz bn sîdlînd bî dīreğleśn n taxcuts, n ɖ Tōriz r sudnli telñ s ɖt scîroc̣tñ public borowñ z nʈñ t wuri abt.

Ɖ impreśn v a jîgantic hanbreic trn z cnfrmd bî ɖ end v ɖ ban on fracñ – smʈñ ɖ Tori maṇfesto sd wd hapn onli f it wr pruvd t b sef. Ɖ hol unhinjd pacij ofrd bî Trus n hr guvnmnt śrli ćîmz wɖ an īvn smōlr mnoṛti v ɖ ilectṛt ɖn ɖ wn ɖt pt Jonsn in pǎr, bt sć z ɖ deṃcratic graṿti ɖt Cnsrṿtizm maṇjz t dfî: ilex́nz nǎ fīl lîc mir pōzz fr breʈ bfr ẃćvr Tori cbal z cuṛntli in ćarj gts on wɖ dwñ ẃtvr it wonts.

T stet ɖ blîndñli obvịs, ɖ votñsistm ɖt līdz t ɖz ǎtcumz z hoplisli brocn. Bcz ɖ Tōriz’ s’port z īvnli spred arnd nonŕbn Ñgḷnd, it tc arnd 38,000 vots t ilect a Cnsrṿtiv MP in 2019. Fr Lebr, huz s’port z incrisñli clustrd in sitiz, ɖ figr wz 51,000. Ɖ Lib Dems, mnẃl, got wn sīt fr evri 334,000 vots cast, ẃl ɖ Grīnz’ solitri MP, Caṛlîn Lūc̣s, sat atop a mǎntin v 865,000.

Clirli, frst-past-ɖ-post z ifctivli rigd. It z ɖ rīzn ẃ Tori guvnmnts cn stl lord it ovr Scotḷnd n Wêlz, n ɖrfr a ci factr in ɖ freyñ v ɖ YC (yńnists òt t olso b alarmd at hǎ mć ɖ sistm asists ɖ SNP, huz vots p’ MP r abt 26,000).

Morovr, ʈancs t parḷmntri ẃipñ, ɖ xistñ votñsistm opnz ɖ we fr abṣlut pǎr t b capćrd bî smōl Tori fax́nz, ẃl matrz v hyj naśnl importns r subɉgetd t intrnl batlz – ẃć z ɖ besic stori v ɖ last six yirz v p’liticl hisṭri, startñ wɖ Devid Camṛn’z stypid dsiźn t cōl ɖ Brexit reḟrendm.

Frst past ɖ post olso criets a msplest imij v ɖ public ɖt w tù ofn mstec fr riaḷti. Last wīc ɖ lêtist Britiś sośl-attydz srve rvild plenti v strîcñ fîndñz: in 2011, fr xampl, 42% v rspondnts sd ɖt iṃgreśn wz “bad fr ɖ icoṇmi”, bt ɖt figr hz sins fōḷn t 20%. Mor ɖn haf v s nǎ ʈnc it’s nt importnt t b born in Britn t b “trūli Britiś”, p fṛm 25% in 2013.

Most Britiś ppl tec a libṛl pziśn on qsćnz v sx́l orịnteśn n jndr îdntti, līvñ ɖoz hu ʈnc ɖt sć vyz “hv gn tù far” in a smōl mnoṛti. F poḷtics ofn sīmz t rvolv arnd ɖ îdīa ɖt a big ćunc v ɖ ilectṛt z soṣ́li cnsrṿtiv n fentli netivist, ɖ rîtẉd tilt v ɖ votñ sistm hz a lot t d wɖ it. Pt anɖr we, ɖr z a rīzn hardli enwn woćz GB Nyz.

N so t Lebr. Last wīc bròt līct dītelz v ɖ parti’z consttyśnl rvy, léd bî Gordn Brǎn, ẃć wl apaṛntli rec̣mnd rplesñ ɖ Hǎs v Lordz wɖ an ilectd senit, ny pǎrz fr ɖ YC’z dvolvd guvnmnts, n mor bsdz. Ɖz ʈñz wd hardli b unwelcm, bt ɖ ci elimnts v ɖs ptiklr stori r clir: ɖ absns v enʈñ in Brǎn’z rvy abt hǎ w ilect ɖ Comnz, n ɖ līc’s rɖr sspiśs tîmñ.

Poulñ sjsts ɖt 83% v Lebr membrz nǎ s’port ilectṛl rform. In ɖ bildup t its confṛns ɖs wīc, abt 140 cnstitẏnsipartiz hv sbmitd mośnz cōlñ fr xacli ɖt. Unls bacrūm fixz gt in ɖ we, a reẓluśn pṛpozñ a ny votñsistm śd b dbetd on Munde afṭnun.

Last yir, a cōl fr pṛporśnl repriznteśn wz dfitd ʈancs t ɖ big yńnz – bt Ynisn n Ynît hv sins śiftd ɖer pziśn, n ɖ ppl in ćarj v an umbreḷgrūp cōld Lebr fr a Ny Dmocṛsi sǎnd confidnt ɖt ɖs yir śd si ɖer sîd win. An unḍstandñ v ɖ cōzl linc btwn ǎr endlis naśnl crîsīz n ɖ we w ilect ǎr MPz sīmz t hv wrct its we intu ɖ parti’z c’lectiv soul, n sć big Lebr figrz az ɖ Wlś frst ministr, Marc Drêcḟd, n ɖ Gretr Manćestr mẹr, Andi Brnm, nǎ s’port Lebr’z rformrz.

Unforćṇtli, Cir Starmr n hiz alîz stl si ćenjñ ǎr sistmz v pǎr n poḷtics az an iṛtetñ dstrax́n, n r clirli teṛfaid ɖt eni convseśnz abt cọliśnz n partnrśps wl b a gift t ɖ Tōriz. So Brǎn’z rport wl b frenzidli tōct p, ẃl eni s’xesfl pro-PR mośn wl b ignord. Ɖ Lebr līdr hz olrdi prīemtivli rūld ǎt eni mnśn v votñ rform in ɖ parti’z nxt maṇfesto, a stans cupld wɖ hiz yźl insistns ɖt h wl nt b “dwñ eni dīlz gwñ intu ɖ ilex́n or cmñ ǎt v ɖ ilex́n”.

In uɖr wrdz: ǎr sistmz v pǎr cn b tncrd wɖ bt nt funḍmnṭli ćenjd. Sć z yt anɖr sriyl aspect v ǎr poḷtics: ɖ fact ɖt a parti ɖt nǎ sīmz oṿẃlmñli in fevr v clozñ Britn’z hyj deṃcratic gaps z stl léd bî ppl hu ʈnc ǎr brocn ilectṛl mśīṇri cn b yzd fr pṛgresiv endz.

Wɖ gd rīzn, ɖ Dêli Meil grevli wornz ɖt “scrapñ frst past ɖ post cd pt ɖ Tōriz ǎt v pǎr fr a jeṇreśn”, bt Lebr’z līdrśp sīmz t wont t ple bî ɖ yźl rūlz: jeḷsli gardñ ɖ parti’z custmri rǒl az Wsminstr’z runr-up, n hopñ ɖt it wl cari on gtñ its custmri trn in pǎr wns evri 15 or 20 yirz. Ɖr z a prîs t pe fr ɖt stubņis, n w r siyñ it mor vividli ɖn evr: unhinjd poḷtics n ɖ prospect v yt anɖr unrepriznttiv Tori clīc rīcñ haṿc.

Instroduction to Ñspel

Fṛm Đ Gardịn │ If Labour doesn’t fight our broken electoral system, it could be out of power for ever

London mayor Sadiq Khan launching his campaign for re-election, March 2020. Photograph: Andy Rain/EPA
Lundn mẹr Sadiq Cān lōnćñ hiz campen fr riilex́n, Marć 2020. Foṭgraf: Andi Ren/YPA

F Lebr dz’nt fît ǎr brocn ilectṛl sistm, it cd b ǎt v pǎr fr evr

(Transcription of a Guardian article of 18 March 2021)

Priti Ptel’z ćenjz t meṛl ilex́nz intrenć ɖ unfer frst-past-ɖ-post sistm ɖt fevrz ɖ Cnsrvtivz

Poli Tônbi, 18 Marć 2021

Ɖs cuntri z in rvrsgir. Fīl ɖ tîdl tug bcwdz in evrʈñ fṛm xtrim iniqoḷti, t rîzñ inḟntmortaḷti n a rtrit fṛm ci inṭnaśnl alaynsz. Ɖ lêtist rgreśn z ɖ homsecṛtri’z anǎnsmnt ɖt tîni steps twdz a modn votñsistm r t b stamt ǎt. Mẹrz n p’līs n crîm cmiśnrz wl b ilectd on ɖ sem rotn frst-past-ɖ-post (FPƉP) dispṛporśṇt sistm az ɖ Hǎs v Comnz n caunslz.

Untl nǎ ɖoz ilex́nz hv bn run on a supḷmntri-vot sistm, oḟrñ a frst n secnd ćôs: f no canddet gts ovr haf v frst prefṛnsz, ɖ top tū canddets hv a runof, cǎntñ secnd prefṛnsz v ɖ luzrz, gaṛntiyñ ɖ winr’z apruvl bî ovr haf ɖ ilectṛt.

Ɖs sistm hz opnd ɖ dor t indpndnts n smōlr partiz. A votr cd risc ćuzñ Grīn or Ycip frst, wɖ a bacstop secnd ćôs t cīp ǎt ɖer most hetd opśn. Ɖs rpresiv muv wl cut ǎt ny-cmrz, s’krñ ɖ dyoṗli v ɖ tū old partiz. Ẃ d ɖt, ẃn YGuv poulñ śoz 44% v ppl in Britn wont t ćenj t a mor pṛporśnl sistm, agnst 28% opozd? Ppl wel unḍstand ɖ cnspiṛsi t dnî ɖm ćôs: caunslz sć az Havnt in Hampśr ilect onli Tori caunslrz, ɖo 54% votd uɖ̇wz.

Ẃ wd ɖ Tōriz rvrt t FPƉP? Pyr jerimanḍrñ. W cn soulsrć fr dīpr rīznz fr ɖ Cnsrvtivz’ cntinywñ dominns in Wsminstr, bt ɖ gretist cōz z FPƉP ilex́nz. Ɖ guvnmnt z aboḷśñ secnd prefṛnsz bcz Tori canddets r ɖ secnd ćôs v mni fywr votrz. Ɖ rît drouv ǎt, via Brexit, a pṛporśnl sistm fr ɖ Yṛpiyn parḷmnt bî abandnñ it: nǎ ɖe drîv it ǎt v ɖ rmenñ ilex́nz ɖt xpoz hǎ ppl vot wns frìd fṛm ɖ FPƉP stretjacit. A ʈrd v ppl wr forst t vot tacticli in ɖ jenṛl ilex́n v 2019.

Ol ɖs ɖ Tōriz unḍstand, n Lebr mst tù: ǎt v ɖ last 20 ilex́nz sins 1950, 19 hv hd a mjoṛti v votrz ćuzñ partiz t ɖ left v ɖ Tōriz, yt ɖ Cnsrvtivz hv sizd pǎr tū-ʈrdz v ɖ tîm. Boris Jonsn wún hiz 80-sīt mjoṛti on a jst 1.3% incris in votśer ovr T’rīza Me’z lost mjoṛti in 2017.

Cǎntñ vots bî cnstitẏnsi hlps ɖ mor jịgraficli dsprst Tōriz, az Lebr vots r consntretd incrisñli in ŕbn eriaz, dnayñ a naśnl deṃcratic rzult. Ɖt’s ẃ it tc 50,835 vots t ilect a Lebr MP, bt onli 38,264 t ilect a Tori, 336,038 fr a Libṛl Deṃcrat n a śocñ 865,697 fr a Grīn.

Ɖs z’nt jst a Britiś fnominn. A 2015 pepr in ɖ Britiś Jrnl v P’liticl Sayns faund ɖt, in istabliśt dmocṛsiz sins ɖ secnd wrldwor, “cuntriz wɖ mjoṛterịn rūlz mor ofn ilect cnsrvtiv guvnmnts ɖn ɖoz wɖ pṛporśnl-repriznteśn ilectṛl sistmz… Mjoṛterịn sistmz hv a sbstantiv cnsrvtiv bays.”

Ɖt’s ẃ no Tori MPz bac a pṛporśnl sistm fr ɖ Comnz, acordñ t ɖ Ilectṛl Rform Ssayti. Instd ɖ parti jerimandrz bî planñ t brñ in ÎD rqîrmnts at poulñsteśnz, a YS rîtwñrz’ we t bar purr votrz, ɖ non-drîvrz, non-pasportholdrz n rentrz frīqntli muvñ rezidns. It stamps on atmts t gv 16-yir-olds ɖ vot ɖt ɖe hv loc̣li in Scotḷnd n Wêlz. Litl eḟt z invstd in updetñ ilectṛl rejistrz, az Lebr votrz r at most risc v xcluźn. Ɖ nxt bǎnḍri ćenjz bî 2024 wl criet mor Tori sīts in ɖ sǎʈ, az Lebr pîlz p westd ŕbn vots.

A devstetñ rport fṛm Cumṗs xpozz ɖ nir-imposbiḷti v Lebr winñ alon at ɖ nxt ilex́n. W Dvîd, Ɖe Concr, bî Gres Barnit n Nìl Lwsn, śoz Lebr nǎ nīdz at līst a 10.52% swñ, gretr ɖn in 1945 n 1997. Ɖs grim anaḷsis śd b cmpulsri rīdñ fr evri Lebr MP, membr n s’portr. Ɖs mcs an iṛfytbl ces fr a páct v sm cnd btwn ol sntr n sntr-left partiz. Ɖ rport fîndz ɖer 2019 maṇfestoz rmarcbli similr. It mt tec opn prîṃriz, stand-asîdz or, at ɖ vri līst, tacticl ilex̣́nirñ. Ɖr r vrć̣li no LibDem-Lebr contests, az olmst ol LibDem wiṇbl sīts cnfrunt Tori MPz. A pṛgresiv alayns winñ jst wns on a platform cmitd t ilectṛl rform wd ćenj ɖ p’liticl lanscep fr evr. N, v cors, ɖ Tōriz nǒ it.

Cir Starmr inḍcets opņis t rform. Lebr hz mni mor MPz in fevr v pṛporśnl repriznteśn nǎ ɖn in ɖ darc dez ẃn dîṇsorz sć az Jac Strw stopt Toni Bler fṛm impḷmentñ Rô Jncinz’ cmiśn on PR. Gordn Brǎn z hedñ a consttyśnl rvy, radicl on dīṿluśn n ɖ Hǎs v Lordz, bt ɖ parti nīdz t tec ɖ plunj fr PR or it wl nvr b in pǎr t ćenj enʈñ. Start mcñ ɖ brōdr ces nǎ bî vsifṛsli opozñ ɖ guvnmnt’s atmt t riimpoz FPƉP on ɖz ilex́nz. Hir’z ɖ ćôs fr Lebr: śer pǎr most v ɖ tîm, or b ǎt v pǎr most v ɖ tîm – or, poṣbli, fr evr.

Poli Tônbi z a Gardịn coḷmnist

***

MOR ARTICLZ Fṛm Đ Gardịn

Instroduction to Ñspel