Let’s not mistake gay, says Laurie Penny – which is what the Conservative party has always secretly been – for queer, which it never will be.

“It is difficult to imagine a Cabinet appointment more calculated to dismay or outrage Labour supporters than that of Peter Mandelson….”

Despite Gordon Brown’s recent criticisms of the system’s ‘excesses’, his government is completely intertwined with big business, argues Simon Basketter.

Chris Marsden reflects upon the unmentionable Marxist past of Alistair Darling.

David Cameron’s apple-pie promises and feel-good rhetoric might sweep him to power in 2010, but there’s a yawning gap between the vagueness of his words and the likely consequences of his policies. Alex Nunns takes us on a trip into the future to see how Britain might look after four years of Tory rule.

Reporting from the Convention of the Left, Tom Walker sees encouaging signs that the Left has finally figured out how to cooperate to address the important issues facing everyday people.

The pull of national and local identities away from Westminster is a vital clue to understanding and preparing for the unravelling of New Labour argues Hilary Wainwright.

The analysis that appears to be taking hold among the ‘soft left’ is that New Labour is losing ground among its core constituencies because the working class is unable to recognise its true allies. Nothing could be further from the truth, argues Richard Seymour.

The last thing Labour needs is a return to Miliband-style Blairism, writes Seamus Milne. Fortunately, ordinary members are making their views heard.

The Convention of the Left couldn’t be happening at a better time – but can the left really work together? Tom Walker blogs from the Conventio

The Morning Star reflects on the Labour Party conference and the Convention of the Left- both of which are taking place in Manchester.

Conference isn’t the only show in town. Socialists, radicals, trade unionists and Labour supporters are holding our own convention…

Convention of the Left is the counter-conference challenging New Labour’s annual rally in Manchester, from 20 September to 24 September 2008. Read about the main ideas behind the movement here.

By backing tax policies that outdo Tory plans for public sector cuts, Nick Clegg is nailing his party to a Thatcherite mast.

The time has come, says Jim Mortimer, when the present Labour government, following the example of earlier governments, should declare that public policy is in favour of collective bargaining between employers and workers

Sonia Gable pieces together the discrepancies in the BNP’s accounts

Jonathan Rutherford discusses ‘compassionate Conservatism’.

Rupert Read reflects on the election of Caroline Lucas MEP as the Green Party’s first leader.

Policy Exchange, the Social Affairs Unit and the Centre for Social Cohesion are driving the political agenda on Muslims in Britain while thinktanks on the left are largely silent, writes Arun Kundnani.

Our former prime minister’s address in Malaysia was met with both amusement and disbelief, writes Inayat Bunglawala.