Incredibly, just as starvation -again - looms in Gaza amid lethal bombing which - again - hit a hospital, a school and refugee tents... And, just as Israeli bombs target everywhere in Lebanon, with the aim of turning ordinary Lebanese against Hizbollah, what do Starmer and Sunak choose to discuss during PMQs? The “threat” posed by China against Taiwan!

    Yes, anything but embarrass themselves in the face of the escalating Middle East crisis - in fact, now an urgent humanitarian crisis. Because they are fully complicit. They have stood shoulder to shoulder with Netanyahu, no matter how far he has gone in his war against the Palestinians and his war against all those who dare to support them.

    It’s much better to distract with a good dose of anti-Chinese rhetoric and in this case, playing up to the xenophobia of right-wing Tory, Iain Duncan-Smith et al, at Sunak’s bidding.

    So, just 3 days after US leaders saw fit to caution the Israeli government by sending a letter detailing, point by point, what they were “unhappy” with, as regards IDF policy in Gaza, the British government chose to stay silent. Obviously Starmer hadn’t yet been briefed by Washington’s Chief Dog: he wouldn’t dare say anything without permission, after all!

    Of course, all the US political leadership actually did ask of Netanyahu, was to kindly tone down his aggression a little and allow a little bit more humanitarian aid into Northern Gaza, or... it “might” have to “review” its military aid to Israel. But the 30 days that Washington offered the IDF in which to comply, would mean that the US election will be over by then - which could nullify any such requests and cautions anyway!

    During the House of Commons debate, however, the Lib-Dem’s Ed Davey did ask Starmer to sanction the two ultra-Zionist ministers in Netanyahu’s cabinet, Bezalel Smotrich, self-confessed “fascist” (and proud of it) and national security minister, Itamar Ben Gvir who is moving settlers onto Palestinian land in the Occupied West Bank.

    But everyone knows that none of these empty gestures, nor even (or maybe especially!) the multiple UN resolutions calling on Netanyahu and his army to desist, make the slightest difference.

    Since the “Palestinian question” has been a factor of instability in the Middle East for over 100 years, Netanyahu’s success in finally “eradicating” it would suit the imperialists fine.

    Too bad for imperialism, though. This, its most brutal of proxy wars, has ensured that the Palestine question has assumed an importance and a primacy as never, ever, before. And what is also clearer than ever, is that the working class and poor of this region must find their own way to solve it...

The government rolled out the red carpet (literally!) for business leaders on Monday, in the plush London Guildhall, topped off by an evening reception at St Paul's cathedral - hosted by none other than the King, Himself. In attendance were VIPs from tech giants, pharma companies, banks, insurers, etc....

    Even the boss of Dubai-based DP World, owner of P&O Ferries was there, despite Transport Secretary Haigh having called P&O a "rogue operator". In 2022, P&O fired 800 workers via Zoom, replacing them with temps employed through a foreign company, on £1.80 per hour! In fact as long as operators dock in British ports fewer than 120 times in a year, they can still exploit crews as much as they like. Thankfully, Starmer just gave Haigh a slap on the wrist, made peace with the Sultan from Dubai, and secured his £1bn investment!

    It goes without saying that - despite their groans and moans - none of the bosses is threatened by Starmer’s Employment "Rights" Bill! True, ministers claim it closes loopholes which "unscrupulous" businesses use to exploit workers. But it conveniently leaves others wide open! So companies will still be able to "fire and rehire" if they face "immediate risk of bankruptcy". And since their books are sealed, who's to say otherwise?

    Higher wages? Security at work? Only "exploitative" zero-hours contracts are to be banned - and that definition is up for grabs! The "new rights from day one", like claims against unfair dismissal, paternity leave, or the pittance of sick pay, may cause Talk Radio presenters to froth at the gills, but workers know how carefully these token concessions were chosen: they mean zilch. A "work placement" can still be ended at a moment's notice; sacking is perfectly legal during probation periods, extendable to 9 months. As for taking bosses to Tribunals - the waiting list is 2 years; and anyway, few workers ever win a case.