Kevin Bean
Latest articles by Kevin Bean
A right based on need
Moral outrage against Braverman’s repugnant ‘lifestyle choice’ remarks is justified, but clearly not enough. Kevin Bean makes the case for the political economy of the working class when it comes to housing
Doubling down on genocide
Sir Keir’s Chatham House speech shows exactly where he stands. But, asks Kevin Bean, where will the official Labour left go, given the massive popular movement against Israel’s war on Gaza? An uncertain tincture of courage combines with continued fear for careers and expense accounts
Europe swings right
With far-right parties making big gains and set for further advance in EU elections in 2024, Kevin Bean asks how the left should respond
Demography is destiny?
Family, home and nation politicians gathered in Budapest to bemoan falling birth rates and rising levels of migration. Kevin Bean stands up for the political economy of the working class
Expect nothing from Sir Keir
Birmingham city’s declaration of bankruptcy comes after a decade and more of austerity and the systematic erosion of local government. Kevin Bean calls for a return to democracy but on a much higher level
Fuelling the politics of hate
Once again the Tories are targeting migrants. Bibby Stockholm is meant to serve as a deterrent but, in fact, it’s a political weapon designed to prevent electoral meltdown, argues Kevin Bean
A tale of three by-elections
Kevin Bean of Labour Party Marxists looks at the state of bourgeois politics and the controversy over so-called green policies
Doing deals with Sir Keir
Is building a Labour Party mark two a viable strategy? Kevin Bean of Labour Party Marxists looks at the Unite policy conference and beyond
Enemies of the people
Kevin Bean asks why delays, objections and challenges to the Illegal Migration Bill are far from unwelcome to the Tories
A year of strikes
We must go beyond Labourism. Kevin Bean assesses the upsurge in trade union action and its limitations
Putting capital and careers first
Starmer’s purge of left candidates shows he is serious about governing ‘responsibly’, says Kevin Bean
Gloomy shades of death
Attended by a maximum of just 19 members, the online AGM testified to complete strategic failure. Kevin Bean reads the last rites
Demography is not destiny
Sinn Féin is now the biggest party in local government. But, asks Kevin Bean, what does this mean for the prospects of some kind of national reunification?
On course for No10
Labour had a good night, the Tories a horrible one. But, asks Kevin Bean, should we aim for a Labour Party mark 2 or should we aim for something higher, something far more useful?
Race, prejudice and stupidity
Diane Abbott’s version of identity politics has proved to be a gift for Sir Keir and his drive to complete the marginalisation of the left, argues Kevin Bean
Back to the old sod
Carefully scripted and tightly choreographed, Biden’s Irish visit was really about November 2024. Kevin Bean looks at the electoral politics of ‘Oirishness’
Joe’s stopover visit
Kevin Bean looks behind the hoo-ha of the 25th anniversary celebrations marking the signing of the Good Friday agreement
Driving a dead man out
Kevin Bean asks what lies behind Sir Keir and the NEC barring Jeremy Corbyn from standing as an official Labour candidate in Islington North
Turning retreat into attack
Why are so many trade union officials settling for below-inflation deals? Kevin Bean says unions must be democratised, and renewed strength used to beat Rishi Sunak’s latest anti-trade union legislation
Silent and supine
Kevin Bean looks at the shameful official left and the split between Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell over the Ukraine war
Made for each other
Kevin Bean looks beyond Tory faux outrage about Sir Keir appointing Sue Gray as chief-of-staff, and asks what it means for the prospects of the official left
Sunak’s Brexit deal
English sausages and Stilton cheese have little to do with the Windsor Framework. Kevin Bean looks at the wider strategic context
Stoked by government ministers
Kevin Bean reports on the Knowsley riot, its causes and the inadequacies of the economistic left’s responses
Play your part
Robbie Rix reports on the Weekly Worker fighting fund
A pack of knaves
Kim Johnson stood up for Palestinian rights, only to recant a few hours later. Kevin Bean rounds on the cowardly official Labour left
Salvaging the wreck?
Kevin Bean of Labour Party Marxists assesses the parlous state of the official left - illusions must be cast aside
Taking the next step
The government has no clear strategy. However, to fight back we need more than trade union militancy, argues Kevin Bean
Abolition versus reform
Brown’s proposals amount to mere tinkering and the left’s response is woefully inadequate. Kevin Bean calls for a single-chamber parliament, a federal republic and national self-determination
End of a chapter
The lame reaction to the latest expulsion exposes the bankruptcy of the official Labour left, says Kevin Bean
Bosses want migrants
Anyone who has paid even the slightest attention to the media will know that the boss class wants to increase migration in order to keep down pay levels and increase profits. Kevin Bean says, once again, the SWP gets it wrong
General election now?
Much of the left is tailing Sir Keir and the liberal media in promoting the poison of presidentialism. Kevin Bean presents the republican alternative
Man of the markets
Kevin Bean predicts that the prime minister will not have an easy ride. Already all the signs of trouble are there and a renewed outbreak of factional war looks likely
Welcome to Britaly
Because it is in steep decline, the British capitalist class has lost control over what is now a fractious, incompetent and thoroughly corrupt Conservative Party. Not a few are looking to Labour for salvation, reports Kevin Bean
Rout on all fronts
Official leftwingers cry foul, but have absolutely no answers, says Kevin Bean of Labour Party Marxists
Onslaught on Labour left
Kevin Bean reviews The Labour files, Al Jazeera Investigations, director Phil Rees (all four parts available on YouTube)
Sir Keir’s good week
The left is disorientated, in denial and still suffering from an orchestrated campaign of suspensions and expulsions. Kevin Bean calls for reviving Labour Against the Witchhunt and some serious rethinking
Political wing of capitalist class
While the right is relishing the prospect of government, the left is marginalised and thoroughly demoralised. Kevin Bean, expelled secretary of Wavertree CLP, reports on the Liverpool conference
Back to direct rule
Though Boris Johnson has every interest in promoting one clash with Brussels after another, now there is the war in Ukraine and the coming struggle with China. Kevin Bean puts arguments over the Northern Ireland protocol into their wider strategic context
Crisis in permanence
Sinn Féin is hailing an historic turning point, but, despite that, Irish reunification is still a long way off. Anne McShane and Kevin Bean look at the results
Sheer unadulterated murder
Kevin Bean looks back to the events of Bloody Sunday and blames the killings not merely on individual members of the paratroop regiment but those sitting round the cabinet table in Downing Street
Why we resigned
Not unity but division: joint statement by four former members of LAW’s steering committee
Hold them to account
Kevin Bean of the University of Liverpool branch reports on the attempts by the UCU leadership to sabotage union democracy
Build on what we achieved
Kevin Bean of Liverpool UCU looks back at the university pensions dispute
Defeat is victory
Gerry Adams may take pride in the legacy of Sinn Féin under his leadership, but Kevin Bean wonders how he will ultimately be regarded
Taking stock at half-time
Morale remains high, as UCU members prepare for the second phase of strike action. Kevin Bean says members are increasingly questioning neo-liberal orthodoxy
Wave of militancy
Kevin Bean of Liverpool UCU (personal capacity)
Genesis of ‘new Sinn Féin’
Kevin Bean looks back to the 1980s and 90s and the taming of the republican movement
A man and his movement
Kevin Bean examines the role played by Gerry Adams in Sinn Féin
Possibilities and challenges
Are Donald Trump, Jeremy Corbyn and Marine Le Pen from the same mould? Kevin Bean completes his analysis
Understanding the ‘populist moment’
Populism has been used as a catch-all definition covering everyone from Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders to Evo Morales and Rodrigo Duterte. But what is populism and what is its historical background? Kevin Bean gives some answers
From guns to government
Kevin Bean unravels the enigma of Martin McGuinness - IRA commander and deputy first minster of Northern Ireland
Historic moment or business as usual?
Kevin Bean looks at the possibilities for Sinn Féin following the assembly elections
Revolution and counterrevolution
In this article, based on a presentation to Communist University 2016, Kevin Bean examines the subjective and objective factors that prevented the development of a powerful working class republicanism in Ireland