Democracy
It’s time to overhaul the House of Lords
18 March 2019 When even Peers are rising up for reform, something’s in the air, writes Nancy Platts. Our movement should get behind it
Without an overhaul of Westminster, Corbyn’s vision for the economy won’t last
9 October 2018 Britain's institutions aren't designed for real democracy. Nancy Platts argues that we can't build socialism in a rigged system.
In and against the state
1 October 2018 Labour needs to develop a socialist strategy that goes beyond a single election manifesto. Leo Panitch and Sam Gindin look at the challenge of state transformation
‘For A Left Populism’: An interview with Chantal Mouffe
22 September 2018 Michael Calderbank spoke to Chantal Mouffe about why she thinks the time is right for a left populism
Politics goes far beyond the Westminster bubble. We need to build power from the bottom up.
19 September 2018 Ruairidh Paton introduces The World Transformed festival. "For us, politics is so much more than meetings, votes and the Westminster bubble. Politics is everywhere – in our workplaces, classrooms and communities."
Chartism for the 21st Century: Why trade unions are backing an overhaul of Westminster
19 April 2018 Nancy Platts argues for a radical reshaping of our voting system.
Vote Leave whistleblowers reveal fundamental flaws in our democracy
29 March 2018 The allegations that Vote Leave broke campaign spending rules raise worrying questions about our democracy that go right to the very top, writes Jon Trickett MP
Where I’m calling from
5 February 2018 Ian Martin, a member of the Yorkshire-based Same Skies Collective rethinks devolution and regional democracy through through the frames of hegemony and intersectionality, asking if geography has been sufficiently understood as a driver of privilege and exclusion.
Stop romanticising the royal family
29 November 2017 Frustrated at the idea of another royal wedding? You're not alone. Joana Ramiro argues we should stop idealising a fundamentally undemocratic institution.
Don’t blame it on the bots
28 November 2017 Liberal elites are using Russian interference to minimise their own political failures, writes Matt Turner
Defend democracy – don’t repay your debts.
1 November 2017 Our dependence on debt means that banks wield ever-greater power over our lives, writes Daniel Edelstyn.
Forcing MPs to take an oath of allegiance to the monarchy undermines democracy
16 June 2017 As long as being an MP means pledging loyalty to an unelected head of state, our parliamentary system will remain undemocratic, writes Kate Flood
Power for the People
10 June 2017 In commemoration of the 30th anniversary of Bernie Grant's election to parliament, Ayo Wallace explores the life and legacy of his radical representation of Tottenham's black communities.
The media wants to demoralise Corbyn’s supporters – don’t let them succeed
5 May 2017 Michael Calderbank looks at the results of yesterday's local elections
A Progressive Alliance is a win for the left
29 April 2017 Laying out the case for Labour's leadership of a Progressive Alliance, Jeremy Gilbert argues that far from posing a threat to the Left, the Progressive Alliance offers a golden opportunity to end Tory rule and build a 21st century government committed to social justice
Brighton isn’t just talking about a progressive alliance – we’re making it a reality
27 April 2017 The Greens have stood down in Brighton Kemptown to clear the way for Labour, and the Lib Dems won’t stand in Brighton’s other seat, Green-held Pavilion. Davy Jones, who would have been the Green candidate in Kemptown, says this shows the way forward
West Yorkshire calls for devolution of politics
19 April 2017 When communities feel that power is exercised by a remote elite, anger and alienation will grow. But genuine regional democracy offers a positive alternative, argue the Same Skies Collective
Portsmouth’s smeargate: dirty politics in the age of austerity
21 April 2016 Democracy takes a hit as local politicians play dirty against anti-cuts campaigners, write Sarah Cheverton and Tom Sykes
‘How can you decant people from estates then make deals with developers to build luxury apartments?’
19 April 2016 Andrew Dolan spoke with Amina Gichinga of Take Back the City about doing politics differently and righting Labour's wrongs in London
Let the people in
27 February 2016 Katie Ghose of the Electoral Reform Society looks at the democratic deficit in devolution
Can England learn from Scotland?
26 February 2016 Isobel Lindsay suggests some lessons from Scotland for devolution campaigners in England
Localism without politics
25 February 2016 Jonathan Davies asks whether devolution can be reclaimed from the neoliberal elites and ‘austerian realists’
Balancing Britain: the ‘Northern Powerhouse’ and the search for alternatives
24 February 2016 Despite concerns over the government’s devolution plans, there is a broad consensus that localism is a good thing. Craig Berry examines the ‘Northern Powerhouse’ narrative – and what an alternative might look like
Powerhouse or power failure?
23 February 2016 Although they are being promoted as a route towards more even regional development, the government’s devolution plans risk dividing the UK even further. Rachel Laurence and Adrian Bua of the New Economics Foundation introduce this special issue of Red Pepper
Solidarity with Rojava: 3K in 31 Days
3 December 2015 Plan C are fundraising £3000 to help rebuild Kobane after ISIS attacks and to support the political revolution in Rojava, writes Paul Higgins
Conventional wisdom: our chance to redraw the British state
5 October 2015 Jeremy Corbyn has said that he wants to organise a constitutional convention. We should seize the opportunity, writes Dan Hind
My support for Jeremy Corbyn is about much more than ‘reclaiming Labour’
17 July 2015 Hilary Wainwright says she is backing Jeremy Corbyn for Labour leader as part of a transition to organisation beyond parliamentary politics
Higher aspirations: politics beyond the ballot box
8 June 2015 As with the Scottish referendum, electoral defeat can be transformed into political success. A new movement is rising, says Hilary Wainwright
After the election: picking up the pieces
14 May 2015 Without pessimism of the intellect, optimism of the will is useless, writes Luke Cooper
‘Don’t mourn, organise’ – OK, but how?
9 May 2015 The left must re-think its strategy and methods of organisation after the election, writes Michael Calderbank – not just throw ourselves back into the same schemes that aren't working
Left Unity: ‘It will take time to establish a credible left party in Britain, but it’s possible’
27 April 2015 James O'Nions spoke to Left Unity parliamentary candidate Simon Hardy about his campaign – and the party’s prospects
A new Magna Carta
21 April 2015 Scotland’s radical independence movement should be a wake-up call for the British left, argues Anthony Barnett. The time is ripe for a return to the call for constitutional reform
The pitchforks are coming
21 April 2015 Red Pepper speaks to Lisa McKenzie, the candidate taking Class War to Tory Essex
When Greens govern
21 April 2015 What are the chances of the Greens disappointing their supporters if they get into government? High, if the experience of their sister parties elsewhere in Europe is anything to go by, suggests Joseph Healy
How red are the Greens?
21 April 2015 What lies behind the Green surge – and to what extent can they be considered a new vehicle for the left? Andrew Dolan reports
How a hung parliament could lead to a new anti-austerity alliance
21 April 2015 The right is horrified by the rise of the SNP – because it raises the prospect of a progressive coalition, argues Hilary Wainwright
Don’t believe the claims about Tower Hamlets – the devil is in the detail
16 December 2014 Rabina Khan, cabinet member for housing in Tower Hamlets council, defends its record in the face of government-led attacks
Labour once again refuses to break with ‘business as usual’
20 November 2014 Labour's links to PricewatehouseCoopers is yet another sign of a party unwilling to break from 'business as usual' and of a political system captured by corporate interests, writes Andrew Dolan
The long shadow of the 1970s
5 November 2014 The 1970s marked a turning point in left fortunes worldwide and the origins of today’s neoliberal ascendancy. A Red Pepper roundtable with Hilary Wainwright, Andy Beckett, John Medhurst and Suresh Grover looks back
Independence without borders
16 August 2014 Introducing Adam Ramsay's new book, '42 reasons to support Scottish Independence', Hilary Wainwright outlines the radical case for independence.
Event: The radical case for Scottish independence
23 June 2014 Join us at the House of Commons, Thursday 26 June
Young people the latest target in Labour’s lurch to the right
19 June 2014 Labour's austerity-inspired welfare proposals will penalise young adults for circumstances beyond their control, writes Andrew Dolan
Summer event: the Spark
15 May 2014 A week of workshops, films, discussions, poetry, music, art and more, looking at the fight for social justice in the UK and around the world to take place in June
Jeremy Hardy thinks… about characters
17 February 2014 'Today’s politicians are boring. Perhaps that’s why they get away with so much'
Brighton & Hove’s council tax referendum: the pros and cons
5 February 2014 Ed Jones looks at the rights and wrongs of a referendum on whether to raise council tax by 4.75 per cent in order to protect services
Jeremy Hardy thinks… about voting
19 December 2013 'The thing that surprises me is not that Westminster politics are found to be boring, but rather that so many journalists find them so interesting'
A voice for the north
2 June 2012 Paul Salveson pushes for devolution in the north of England
Jeremy Hardy thinks… about the jubilee
30 May 2012 'Do we really want the bother of an elected president? Isn’t a Windsor a familiar and convenient alternative?'
Why I resigned from the Green Party
12 April 2012 Joseph Healy, a founder member of the Green Left, explains why he left the Green Party of England and Wales
Audio: May elections – Jenny Jones interview
10 April 2012 Jenny Jones, the Green Party candidate for London mayor, speaks to Red Pepper's Tim Hunt and Michael Calderbank
