Archives: Episodes

Venezuela: a view from the Left

Contrary to the image projected by the western media, Venezuela is not a socialist country. Over 70% of the economy is in private hands and that proportion will increase with the current wave of privatisations initiated by the Maduro government. In this podcast we talk to the International Secretary of the Venezuelan Communist Party, Carolus Wimmer, about developments in the country including the increasing persecution of the Communist Party. We also talk about an important appeal. Read more »

Levelling Up – What is it?

In this episode Stewart McGill is joined by Stephanie Martin from the Communist Party of Britain in Glasgow. They discuss what Johnson's Levelling Up agenda really means, and the Communist Party's radical alternatives offering real local, regional and national democracy coupled with greater economic equality. Read more »

The Political Economy of the Cost of Living Crisis

The Bank of England governor, Andrew Bailey, recently warned against the threat of inflation caused by increasing wages. This is straight forward victim blaming, even the FT pulled him up on this, Martin Sandbu asked why did he not call on powerful businesses to “moderate” their profits, rather than asking less powerful workers to “moderate” their wage demands. Perhaps, as Sandbu observes, because mainstream economics has a “blind spot” for the power of capital, and correcting this would mean asking uncomfortable questions about “who bears the cost” of rising inflation and who benefits. Inflation is about profits and capital maintaining and increasing its margins, it's not a natural phenomenon beyond human control. Here we demystify and explain the real reasons behind the cost of living crisis. Read more »

The Housing Crisis – Part 3: Solutions

Stewart McGill talks to Ruth Styles and Lorraine Douglas in the final part of the podcast trilogy on the Housing Crisis, this time the focus is on the solutions.  Additional Reading Communist Party Housing Charter: Homes for the People - https://communistparty.org.uk/publications/homes-for-the-people/ Publication: Homes for the People Not the Profiteers - https://communistparty.org.uk/publications/homes-for-the-people-not-the-profiteers/ Read more »

The Housing Crisis – Part 2: The Destruction of Public Housing and Communities

In this episode of CommieCast, Stewart McGill talks to Ruth Styles and Lorraine Douglas about the impact of the destruction of public housing and why it matters. We cover the damage inflicted by Tory policy of selling off council houses and why Labour never did  anything to reverse these policies at local and national level; and how the housing crisis both reflects and perpetuates inequality of wealth. Read more »

The Housing Crisis – Part 1: Origins and Solutions

In this CommieCast episode, host Stewart McGill interviews housing professionals and activists Lorraine Douglas and Ruth Styles on the origins of the housing crisis including the impact of the mass entry of the commercial banks into the market. This provides a unique insight and analysis into this crucial area that has become a major cause of inequality of wealth, income and life opportunities.   Read more »

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