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September 08
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Columns
Allowing councils to offer competitive mortgages would tackle the real cause of the housing market crisis

Steve Reed
Wednesday, September 03, 2008

The stalled housing market is one of the factors threatening to push the UK economy into recession. The consequences of that would be dire – higher unemployment, pressure on public spending, impacts on crime and family breakdown. The government must do what is necessary to stop that happening, and a strong partnership with local government will help. It was good to see the government recognise a role for local councils in this week’s package to help prevent homelessness and repossessions and provide more council housing.


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The Tories have the right analysis but the wrong answers for education

Oli de Botton
Wednesday, September 03, 2008

Michael Gove is a sharp politician. His speech this month at the ippr described a society where the state is remote and individuals are unable to shape the services they want. The crucial relationships that sustain our wellbeing are failing; relationships between parents and teachers, GPs and patients, politicians and frontline public servants. In other words, he acknowledged what progressives have always known, that we are all implicated in each other’s lives and that when our sense of the collective break downs our power to effect change evaporates.


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An ambitious housing strategy will provide a new sense of purpose for Labour’s third term

Rachel Reeves
Tuesday, September 02, 2008

This week the government will unveil a package to support the UK housing market. One year on from the beginning of the credit crunch, support for struggling families will be welcome. And by focussing on the issues most hurting voters we can restore our reputation for fairness and competence. The package should include help for those at risk of repossession, support for first-time buyers and an increase in the supply of social and affordable homes.


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Obama's extraordinary speech tackles critics head on

Will Straw
Friday, August 29, 2008

When candidates sit down to write a nomination acceptance speech, they decide on what boxes to tick. Political commentators listen hard and interpret the nuanced nods to this social issue or that foreign policy. What was striking about Obama's speech tonight was the manner in which he turned directly and addressed the central criticisms leveled at him.


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All eyes are on Obama as he prepares for speech of his life

Will Straw
Thursday, August 28, 2008

The abiding story of the first three days of the Convention has been unity. Before the weekend, as I reported yesterday, Hillary Clinton's most ardent supporters were pushing for a roll call vote to mug Obama of his nomination; Clinton's speech settled some nerves but a number of commentators felt that it didn't go far enough with Clinton failing to countenance her earlier claims that Obama was not ready to be Commander in Chief. Even yesterday, a few - primarily white women over 50 - were parading up Denver's main drag in Hillary t-shirts parading signs saying, 'Smart Choice' and 'Party Unity My Arse.'


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The latest from the Democratic National Convention

Will Straw
Wednesday, August 27, 2008

After a triumphant opening night in which Michelle Obama gave a candid, moving and fluent speech, the baton passed on Tuesday evening to Hillary Clinton. The once presumptive nominee faced a tricky task of masking her own disappointment but avoiding any accusations of disunity. She did so in true style declaring, "I'm a proud supporter of Barack Obama."


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The Execution of Ya’qub Mehrnahad and us

Alan Johnson
Tuesday, August 26, 2008

The genius of the Auschwitz survivor Primo Levi was, as Norman Geras observed , to use ‘common experience to illuminate the experience of the Nazi universe of death, and vice versa'.


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The race for the Scottish Labour leadership is between three distinctive personalities

Judith Fisher
Thursday, August 21, 2008

I've been a member of the Labour party for more than a decade, and yet, despite the four ‘elected' leaders we've had in Scotland, this is the first leadership contest I've had any say in.


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Votes at 16 would allow young people to defend their public services at the ballot box

Richard Angell
Tuesday, August 19, 2008

The National Policy forum in its wisdom has voted to recommend to Labour party conference that reducing the voting age to 16 be in the next Labour manifesto. This has started a lively debate in the party and the country at large - one that we should all welcome and get on board with.


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Finlandisation is back

Alan Johnson
Friday, August 15, 2008

Finlandisation is back. During the cold war the term described those states which had a formal independence but existed in barely disguised servitude to Moscow. Finland, noted Jean-Francois Revel in his 1983 book How Democracies Perish, ‘preserved the inviolability of its territory, what was left of it, and the right to live privately in a non-totalitarian society’ but was forbidden to accept Marshall Plan aid, join the EEC or sign trade agreements with Europe. It took its orders from Moscow in foreign policy.


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Future events

PhotoLeeds: Winning a fourth term: what’s the road to victory?
13 September 2008
11:00 to 12:30

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PhotoLabour party conference
20 September 2008 to 23 September 2008

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PhotoToo much information? Can we trust the state to use data for our benefit?
21 September 2008
12:45 to 14:00

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PhotoProgress Rally
21 September 2008
18:00 to 19:30

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PhotoBuilding schools for the future, or schools for the past?
22 September 2008
08:00 to 09:00

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Blog The Progressive
Winning in 2010
Stephen Burke
01/09/2008 | 10:58
David Lammy is spot-on in his analysis for Progress of the challenges facing Labour. Three things need to be done...

Could things get better for Gordon? My top 3 suggestions for the autumn fight back
Mike Ion
29/08/2008 | 11:01
The successes of Team GB at the Beijing Olympics have ensured that Gordon's summer has been a good deal better...

What we're reading: Progressive blogs
Progress Online
28/08/2008 | 12:16
Hillary Does Her Duty 'Hillary hit almost all the right notes tonight, and she hit them with authority. Obama supporters...

Will Straw at the Democratic National Convention
Progress Online
27/08/2008 | 10:20
After a triumphant opening night in which Michelle Obama gave a candid, moving and fluent speech, the baton passed on...

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