Democracy

Forcing MPs to take an oath of allegiance to the monarchy undermines democracy
As long as being an MP means pledging loyalty to an unelected head of state, our parliamentary system will remain undemocratic, writes Kate Flood

The media wants to demoralise Corbyn’s supporters – don’t let them succeed
Michael Calderbank looks at the results of yesterday's local elections

West Yorkshire calls for devolution of politics
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
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?’
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
Katie Ghose of the Electoral Reform Society looks at the democratic deficit in devolution

Can England learn from Scotland?
Isobel Lindsay suggests some lessons from Scotland for devolution campaigners in England

Localism without politics
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
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?
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
Plan C are fundraising £3000 to help rebuild Kobane after ISIS attacks and to support the political revolution in Rojava, writes Paul Higgins

Higher aspirations: politics beyond the ballot box
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
Without pessimism of the intellect, optimism of the will is useless, writes Luke Cooper

‘Don’t mourn, organise’ – OK, but how?
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’
James O'Nions spoke to Left Unity parliamentary candidate Simon Hardy about his campaign – and the party’s prospects

A new Magna Carta
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
Red Pepper speaks to Lisa McKenzie, the candidate taking Class War to Tory Essex

When Greens govern
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?
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
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
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’
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
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
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
Join us at the House of Commons, Thursday 26 June

Young people the latest target in Labour’s lurch to the right
Labour's austerity-inspired welfare proposals will penalise young adults for circumstances beyond their control, writes Andrew Dolan

Summer event: the Spark
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
'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
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
'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'