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SubscriptionsSection: Argument
Honestly held opinions and provocative argument based on current events or our recent reports.
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Government Refuses to Reveal Taxpayer Cost of Secret COVID Subsidy for Its Wealthy Press Friends
Just how much cash have ministers given Murdoch, the Mail and Co to help them through the pandemic? Brian Cathcart investigates
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UK Politics Stands at a Crossroads – Which Path Will the Conservatives Choose?
Robert Saunders assesses whether war in Ukraine will result in British governance rolling-back its recent destructive tendencies – or whether it will further retreat into them
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‘We are Here at the Invitation of the Legitimate Government’: Providing Air Support to Ukraine
Kyiv-based Paul Niland considers the options available to help Ukraine put an end to Vladimir Putin’s military machine once and for all
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Putin’s Invasion of Ukraine Reveals the Moral and Intellectual Rot of the ‘Anti-War’ Left
CJ Werleman argues that, though their arguments had relevance decades ago, analysts of US imperialism such as John Pilger and Noam Chomsky, are no guides to the present
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Brexit was a Victory for British Putinism – Why were those who Got It Right Vilified?
Anthony Barnett details what he has learnt from the work of journalists such as Carole Cadwalladr and Byline Times’ co-founder and executive editor Peter Jukes about the threat to British democracy hiding in plain sight
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Could Ukraine Mark a Turning Point for Western Democracy?
After years of turning a blind eye to Vladimir Putin’s aggression, the West finally appears to be uniting against him – as Ukraine continues to pay the cost
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Ukraine’s Refugees and Racialised Borders
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has laid bare the contradictory position of central and eastern Europeans within the racial hierarchies that structure Europe’s border regimes, argue Dr Charlotte Galpin and Professor Sara Jones
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Conservatives Cannot Fix a Cost of Living Crisis of their Own Making
The Government does not have the ideological or intellectual tools to stop Brits from being squeezed, says Mike Buckley
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The Economic Crime Bill Doesn’t Nearly Go Far Enough
If the Government really want to seize the assets of Russian oligarchs, the Economic Crime Bill doesn’t go far enough, says Gareth Roberts
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Coercion and Deterrence: Putin’s Irrational Nuclear Threats are a Risk to the Whole World
The Russian President’s threats to use nuclear force should be a wake-up call for the West, writes Dr Andrew Corbett
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Putin’s Gamble and the First Shots of a Revolution
Paul Niland argues that the Russian President has doubled down on his gamble by invading Ukraine, with dire consequences for his undemocratic rule in Russia
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Kleptocracy Versus Democracy: Vladimir Putin’s Biggest Fear
Trump, Giuliani, Manafort and a host of Russian oligarchs have all felt threatened by Ukraine’s efforts to tackle corruption and improve democratic accountability, reports Matt Bernardini
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The Real Trojan Horse: Beware Russians Bearing Gifts
As Russian troops reach Kyiv, state terror is rained on innocent civilians. Peter Jukes and Hardeep Matharu explore why the British Conservative Party has ignored Putin’s violent extremism in the mother of all intelligence failures
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Corruption Fatigue: The Conservative Plan to Quash its Partygate and Russia Scandals
Sam Bright explores the psychological warfare enacted by Boris Johnson and his party to buttress its political position
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Boris Johnson Allowed Russian Interference into the UK as Putin Prepared For War
The Prime Minister has at best stood by as the Russian President sought to destabilise the West – and at worst facilitated him, reports Adam Bienkov
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Is Priti Patel trying to Militarise Britain’s Domestic Counter-Extremism?
An ex-Royal Marine Special Forces operations planner turned spy agency consultant is advising on the appointment of the next top counter-extremism commissioner
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Ukraine is a Warning Shot – This is About Us All
Kyiv resident Paul Niland explains why the West must finally recognise the real cause of Russia’s aggression – and take a firm and collective stand against Vladimir Putin
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Unelected Lords are our Last Defence Against the Government’s Undemocratic Elections Bill
Now in the upper chamber for its second reading, Maddy Dhesi sets out how the controversial Elections Bill is a dangerous attack on British democracy in the name of British democracy
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The Times Smears Black Lives Matter and Stonewall: Another Example of Bad, Unaccountable Journalism
The Murdoch newspaper’s allegations about the campaigning organisations were simply false. Brian Cathcart looks at the evidence
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Is an Attack on Ukraine the First Step of a Sino-Russian Pact?
CJ Werleman looks at evidence that a Russian invasion of Ukraine is likely to trigger a wider security crisis with China in the Indo Pacific region
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The Conservatives Face their January 6 Moment
Boris Johnson’s full embrace of Trumpian tactics poses a fundamental dilemma for his party – and for British democracy, says Jonathan Lis
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Vladimir Putin Holds Up a Dark Mirror to Boris Johnson
Though the British Government and the Kremlin appear to be in conflict, Peter Jukes and Hardeep Matharu trace the underlying currents of oligarchy that unite them.
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‘Settlement Equals Guilt,’ the Sun tells Prince Andrew. Where does that Leave the Sun?
Brian Cathcart on the flagrant hypocrisy of Sun outrage on the subject of ‘buying off’ victims
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The West Must Stand Up To China’s Media Takeover
Chinese state propaganda outlets are spreading their message across the globe with little pushback from the West, reports CJ Werleman
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It’s Never Just About Cake and Parties – It’s a Playbook For Apathy
As ‘partygate’ rolls on, AV Deggar explores how the scandal has been framed to exhaust the electorate
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Why We Should be Worried About Boris Johnson’s Civil Service Promotion of Gisela Stuart
Baroness Stuart’s crucial role in EU Referendum controversies should rule her out of a top position demanding impartiality and integrity, says former Labour MP Ian Lucas
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Opening Our Eyes to the Cost of Empire: Why We Must Demand the Return of Nigeria’s Benin Bronzes
Paddy Docherty explains how research for his book on the 1897 invasion of the Kingdom of Benin left him ashamed – an emotion he believes must be converted into action
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Sunak’s Inadequate Response to the Energy Crisis Reflects the Treasury’s ‘Business As Usual’ Approach on Climate Change
The Treasury’s role in not forestalling investment in renewable energy sources is a key reason the Government cannot address the root causes of the cost of living crisis, says Thomas Perrett
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10 Favours the Government has done its Press Friends – At Our Expense
The corporate newspapers are playing their full part in the corruption of the UK and they are being handsomely rewarded, says Brian Cathcart
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Boris Johnson’s Partygate Defence Is Reaching the ‘Kicking a Cat’ Stage
The Prime Minister’s allies are making increasingly ridiculous attempts to save his career, reports Adam Bienkov
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On Trial: Freedom of the Press
Focusing on the currents cases against Carole Cadwalladr and Tom Burgis, Manasa Narayanan and Daisy Steinhardt explore how libel laws allow the rich and powerful to silence journalism
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‘Levelling Up’ Will Fail – Because Inequality is the Conservative Business Model
Rebalancing the circumstances of the richest and poorest is not in Boris Johnson’s DNA, says TJ Coles
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The Instagram Administration: How the Conservative PR Apparatus Captured the British State
Jacob Rees-Mogg’s new title shows that the Conservative Party is using state institutions as party political weapons, says Sam Bright
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Boris Johnson’s Savile Lies and the Conservative Smear Machine
The Prime Minister’s smears against Keir Starmer are part of an increasingly dangerous approach to politics which draws inspiration from the US, reports Adam Bienkov
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Johnson and Co’s Lies and Slurs Corrupt All of Society
The impact of misleading and inflammatory statements made in the House of Commons does not remain confined to Westminster, says Edward Hardy
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The Rent Trap: Britain’s Broken Housing Market
Rachel Morris delves into one of the major causes of poverty, inequality and insecurity in modern Britain
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Rishi Sunak’s Energy Delusion
The Chancellor’s suggestion that a future of dirty, expensive energy is inevitable and that the public must simply accept it is false, says Nafeez Ahmed
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Operation Rebrand: Munira Mirza
Framing the abandonment of a sinking ship as an act of laudable moral courage is the British media’s latest laughable act, says Mic Wright
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Rishi Sunak’s ‘Help for Energy Firms’ Show Who He’d Serve as Prime Minister
The Chancellor is refusing to raise taxes on companies making billions for their shareholders from rising energy prices, reports Adam Bienkov
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Hollow Monuments: The Reality of Boris Johnson’s Levelling Up Plan
The Prime Minister’s plan for regional rebalancing shows that he is more interested in building his personal legacy than improving lives, says Sam Bright
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Global Britain or Lonely Britain?
Despite its claims of exceptionalism and freedom for success outside the EU, the reality is the UK is no longer in the room where it happens, says former British diplomat Alexandra Hall Hall
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COVID Hindsight and the Lockdown Parties
Sascha Lavin considers the Downing Street parties in context – without the reassurance of the COVID vaccine programme
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Boris Johnson’s Tenure is Disastrous Enough: Spare Us the Pretence that it Surprises You
Musa Okwonga lays the blame for the Prime Minister’s lawless rule squarely on the shoulders of the Conservative politicians and pundits who promoted him
