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SubscriptionsSection: Argument
Honestly held opinions and provocative argument based on current events or our recent reports.
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China Increases Influence in Russia’s Backyard as ‘Strategic Partnership’ is Tested
Last year China overtook Russia to become Kazakhstan’s biggest trading partner, with two-way trade topping $41 billion. In Central Asia, it is Beijing, rather than the West, that has the capacity to end the era of Russian dominance
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In Nelson, Mosques and Immigration Aren’t Just White Nationalist Talking Points
More than half of the town of Nelson’s population is Muslim – yet a ‘lack of unity and tribal rivalry’ has split the community over who to vote for
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‘Why the Media Is To Blame for Just Stop Oil Protests’
‘For the media to be interviewing political leaders and not even asking the questions is shocking’
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‘Labour Won’t Reverse Brexit But a Starmer Victory Will Lead to an Immediate Reset of Trust and Goodwill with the EU’
While we should not expect too much of an incoming Labour government, we should not forget just how dark the last few years have been, writes Chris Grey
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Labour and ‘Negative Cohesion’: Who’s Afraid of Starmageddon?
The Conservatives are about to pay the price for 14 years of epic misrule. But while a Labour ‘supermajority’ is in the best interests of the country, it is no guarantee of a return to stability, argues Simon Nixon
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Starmer’s ‘Supermajority’: A Product of Conservative Propaganda and Client Journalism
How a Conservative campaign line became the weaponised mantra of the Daily Mail – and infected the entire general election campaign
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‘Wales Could Lead the Way Across the Globe if it Criminalises Political Lying’
A dishonest doctor gets struck off the medical register. The banker who steals from his clients goes to jail. A deceitful military officer gets cashiered. Why should politicians not expect to play by the same rules?
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The Presidency of Kamala Harris: The Terror that Dare Not Speak Its Name
Ahead of this week’s presidential debate, which raised serious concerns about Joe Biden, Bonnie Greer shared her thoughts on why his Vice President may not be seen as an option to succeed him
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A Tale of Two Very Different Debates: Biden and Trump’s Horror Show, Sunak and Starmer’s No Surprises
From lies, incompetence, porn, and golfing bravo in the US – to dull and boring, with a side of rude and shouty in the UK
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The Politics of Farage and Reform is No Joke of a Matter – The Established Media Must Learn Its Lessons and Start Holding Them to Account
The normalisation of racism and dog-whistles will only get worse if the press continues to treat Farage as an entertaining figure representing the ‘real views’ of the British people – it must stop, writes Byline Times’ Editor
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Rainbow-Washing and Not Enough Real Reporting: Pride Month and the Media
The latest episode of the hit Media Storm podcast focuses on the shortcomings of Pride Month when it comes to journalism and the corporate world
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‘Labour Should Fight Nigel Farage in Clacton – We’re Sitting on a Democratic Powder Keg and the Reform Leader has the Match’
“We’ve heard a lot in the campaign about D-Day. If ever there was a time to fight them on the beaches, then this is it.”
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The Veteran’s Vendetta: ‘Why Johnny Mercer’s Attacks on a Former Serviceman and Political Rival Are So Problematic’
Mercer has said it is the ‘long-standing policy of successive governments not to comment on the activities of our Special Forces’ – but expects his political rival, Fred Thomas, to deviate from it
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A Revealing Argument from The Times of London: ‘Don’t Worry About Journalistic Ethics, What Matters is the Money’
Columnist Gerard Baker glossed over the Murdoch press’ criminality in a recent comment piece – and the accusations against his own Editor. Why?
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‘By Mobilising Their Members Onto the Streets, Is this a New Dawn for the Power of Conservation Charities to Enact Change?’
The influence of wildlife charities has been insignificant in the face of the financial and lobbying might of the vested interests profiting from nature destruction, writes Charlie Gardner
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‘Nigel Farage’s Endorsement of Andrew Tate’s Matrix Won’t Win My Vote’
There are three legal cases against Tate pending – involving accusations of abusive behaviour towards women, human trafficking, and sexual assault
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‘Britain’s Long History of Corruption and Cover-Ups and the Dire Consequences for Those the Government Chooses to Ignore’
If a likely new Labour government wants to truly mark a difference from the Conservatives, it needs to fix the systemic failings, writes former diplomat Alexandra Hall Hall
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‘A Person Lost Everything and We Call It Illegal Migration? It’s Not Fair’
The latest episode of the hit Media Storm podcast focuses on the more positive narratives around refugees that journalists could disseminate – and why they selectively choose not to
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Will Lewis and The Washington Post: ‘Real Journalists Don’t Ignore the Failings of Their Own Industry the Way the UK Press Does’
In the US, reporters on The Washington Post are investigating their own bosses – and their stories get published. It is hard to even contemplate such fearless reporting happening in the UK, writes Brian Cathcart
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Tactical Voting and the Tyranny of the MRP
Tactical sites should acknowledge the limitations of MRP projections for their advice, and look hard at how – and whether – they should publish the MRP data, and be more willing to press their manual override buttons
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‘Marina Hyde’s “The Rest is Entertainment” Comments on Fossil Free Books and Baillie Gifford Completely Miss the Point’
The politicisation of literary events and artistic institutions began when corporate sponsors bought their way into these spaces, writes Russell Warfield
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Criminal Barrister Makes Case for Why Main Political Parties Missed Chance to Combat Crime and Fix Justice System this Election
A lawyer with 25 years of experience in the criminal justice system critiques the “underwhelming” pledges made in party manifestos
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‘Keir Starmer’s Defence of the Two Child Benefit Cap is Indefensible’
The Labour leader’s refusal to commit to scrapping George Osborne’s austerity-era policy risks committing hundreds of thousands more children into poverty
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‘The West Should use Frozen Russian Billions to Fund Ukraine Victory – Fear is the Only Thing Holding Them Back’
Why is the West holding back from the opportunity to seize the $300 billion of frozen Russian money sitting in its banks?
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‘Russia’s Red Line Warnings Were Bluffs so Rules Restricting how Ukraine can Defend Itself Must Be Scrapped – Putin Can’t do Anything About it’
Restrictions on how Ukraine uses weapons supplied by the West should be ditched so it can “achieve a faster victory”
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‘Lord Walney Wants to Stop the Public From Acquitting Protesters – to Safeguard Those Making Money From the Issues They Demonstrate Against’
He wants juries to stop finding defendants not guilty and to prevent judges from applying laws “differently” when they involve issues like climate change and anti-racism
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United Ireland Referendum Needs to Involve Minority Groups as ‘Balance of Power Sits with Those Left Out of the Conversation’
Migrant communities could be the hidden kingmakers in a border poll, but to engage they must feel safe
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‘Labour Must Revisit £28 billion Green Pledge: It’s Affordable, Profitable, Crucial for Net Zero and will Create Jobs’
Labour ditched its plans in February but has announced a new net zero transition policy – it isn’t enough
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Rishi Sunak and the Mickey Mouse Manifesto: A Work of Bleak Fiction for Another Age
The Conservative manifesto might make a line in an exam paper in 30 years. But voters desperate for change are unlikely to take notice
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‘We Can Stop Lying in Politics – But Will a New Government Pay Attention to the Public’s Demand for Honesty?
At this moment in history, lying can no longer be dismissed as an unpleasant by-product of the political game – and we can do something about it, writes Compassion in Politics’ co-founder
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Rishi Sunak’s D-Day Dodging Shows he has Abandoned his National Service
The Prime Minister, who wants to force young people to spend an entire year of their lives serving their country, wouldn’t even devote one afternoon to it himself
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‘Disabled People Must Have the Capacity and Freedom to Vote’
There are 14 million disabled people in the UK – are politicians even considering them in this election campaign?
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Brexit is the Election Elephant in the Room – But Business Leaders Know the Truth
Brexit has barely been mentioned during the election campaign – but the impact on businesses and the economy is so much worse than the public might think
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The Truth About Immigration That Sunak and Starmer Aren’t Willing to Tell you About
Both party leaders are promising to slash immigration numbers without being honest about the big costs it will inevitably bring to our economy and public services
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Why Deploying Western Special Forces to Ukraine may Help Prevent Global Conflicts
With conflicts simmering across the globe, NATO should help Ukraine more and introduce special operations forces and intelligence assets in preparation for future wars
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‘Donald Trump’s Hush Money Verdicts May Not Hurt his Presidential Run But Will Damage America’s Democracy and Image’
The former US President was convicted of 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment to adult actress Stormy Daniels
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How Nigel Farage, Major Media Outlets and Ofcom ‘Normalised Islamophobia and Then Justified It’
Farage would be cancelled if he said the same things about Jews as he does Muslims – yet he gets endless airtime
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The Big Questions Nigel Farage Should be Asked by the Media
Why is a party with so few elected representatives and even fewer ideas being given such an easy ride?
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How Climate Change Went From a Hot Political Issue to a Tool to ‘Divide and Polarise’ the Public in Just Five Years
Climate leadership is not the vote loser its opponents like to portray it as – but the danger for the climate movement is assuming public support will endure forever, argues Russell Warfield
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‘Only a Bold Vision from Labour Will Restore Any Faith in Our Broken Politics’
Jennifer Nadel, co-founder of Compassion in Politics, argues that Westminster’s dysfunctional system under a potential Labour government could leave the door open to far-right politics in the years ahead
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‘Diane Abbott’s Treatment Raises Big Concerns About Racism and Factionalism in the Labour Party’
Labour figures from across Keir Starmer’s party are furious about her treatment by the leadership
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‘This General Election Will be the Dirtiest But Most Sophisticated Campaign So Far – Don’t be Fooled’
The Conservative “machine” will target voters with messages that speak to them, which appear to come from sources they trust. Here’s what to watch out for
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‘BBC Hopes to Remind Viewers of its Tradition of Authoritative Journalism By Having Clive Myrie Join Laura Kuenssberg for its Election Night Coverage’
Having a figure such as Kuenssberg in such a prominent position during the upheavals of the past 14 years helped the BBC appease its implacable Conservative enemies, writes former BBC producer and journalist Patrick Howse
